The ThriftBooks Blog
All Articles by William Shelton
The Glory of the Harlem Renaissance
By William Shelton • February 17, 2023
Langston Hughes described the experience of the Harlem Renaissance as "…to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame." It was a movement of the senses, steps quickened to the sound of Jazz and Blues, the air was redolent of food reminiscent of Carolina and the Caribbean, the mind was stimulated by new ideas, and the energy was like an electric current to a wire.
Beloved Christmas Traditions
By William Shelton • December 08, 2022
Be it revelry in the commercial consumerism so railed against by Charlie Brown, or a feast of seven fishes, or further still the quiet solemnity, incense, and psaltery organ of a midnight mass service, many different traditions are upheld as we approach Christmas.
When You do What You Love...
The books and topics that get our vintage and collectibles team excited
By William Shelton • November 30, 2022
As Director of the Vintage program at ThriftBooks, I lead a team of like-minded bibliophiles who augment their passion for the printed word with many years of experience working with rare books. Few aspects of professional life are as rewarding as working in an industry which reflects your personal interests, so it is no surprise that when you ask a group of antiquarian book lovers, with myriad and diverse interests, which books they would recommend the answers will be legion.
Reading in Cars to Mama: My Book Lover Genesis Story
By William Shelton • October 27, 2022
For my mother, any moment not spent reading was an irretrievable loss. This included the car, where as a child I had the pleasure of acting as a 1970s audiobook by reading aloud to her. Though her literature tastes were not those of a ten-year-old boy, sharing these moments and stories crafted me into the reader I am, and gave us a lifelong bond we keep 40 years later.
Horror Where You Least Expect It
Literature With a Dark Surprise
By William Shelton • October 18, 2022
Fear, where it is least expected, is all the more rich an experience. Such as when it is found among the pages of a story of romance, or a bucolic tale of life mundane. Here are my favorite tales with surprisingly dark moments.
The Short, Strange Story of How A Confederacy of Dunces Was Published
By William Shelton • September 13, 2022
Remembering HM Queen Elizabeth II
By William Shelton • September 13, 2022
In due time historians will help shape how future generations look back upon the rule of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, but now, in this hour of remembrance, it is the opinion of this author that she was a lady for all seasons. Here is how I remember the venerated monarch.
A Look at Trendsetting Science Fiction Pulp Magazines
By William Shelton • August 23, 2022
In 1926 the launch of Amazing Stories introduced a new genre of science fiction in the form of a pulp magazine. Writers like Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and even Stephen King began their careers in magazines like these. Let's take a brief look at some of the trend-setting pulp science fiction magazines which are well remembered, and highly valued, today.
Five Historic First Ladies
And the Scandals of Their Day
By William Shelton • July 21, 2022
First Ladies, to me, have always seemed so much more interesting than their husbands. Despite entering the white house through non-political means, scandal has touched the lives of every first lady and it is interesting to observe how a select few dealt with the misfortunes of politicking and gossip.
Fathers of Literary Importance
By William Shelton • June 07, 2022
Fatherhood is a complicated, and complex, role. While taking time to ponder our fathers, or father figures, this month, we should harken back to literature. There is a great chance that our fathers might have used similar role models when measuring their own father, or modeling the dad they wanted to be.
A Historical Look at Life Hacks
Books Full of "Tips and Tricks" from the Past
By William Shelton • May 22, 2022
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