George Orwell’s novel of a dystopian future, 1984, was
published on June 8, 1949. The novel’s all-seeing leader,
known as “Big Brother,” became a universal symbol for
intrusive government and oppressive bureaucracy.
George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair)
(25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950)
Cover of the first issue of Good Housekeeping.
On May 2, 1885, Good Housekeeping magazine debuted in
Holyoke, Massachusetts with this bold stated mission: “To
produce and perpetuate perfection—or as near unto
perfection as may be attained in the household.” And
an American institution begins, with a place in the
Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
Clark W. Bryan (1824 – 1899) Publisher
Cover from August 1908.
The title page to the 1611 first edition of the authorized
version of the Bible.
The King James Bible, the most famous version of the world’s
most influential book, was published on this day in history,
May 2, 1611.
"The King James, or Authorized, Version of the Bible remains
the most widely published text in the English language,"
according to the British Library.
Commissioned by King James I of England in 1604, it is famed
for its artfully written versions of Old and New Testament tales;
its success bringing the Word of God to English-speaking
commoners; and its influence on the American colonies.
The 80 books of the King James Version include 39 books of
the Old Testament, 14 books of Apocrypha, and the 27 books
of the New Testament.
Portrait of King James I of England (1566-1625). Found in the collection of National Museum Stockholm.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin Book Cover First Edition.
Harried Beecher Stowe was an American author and abolitionist
who came from the religious Beecher family and wrote the popular
novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which depicts the harsh conditions experienced by enslaved African Americans.
The book reached an audience of millions as a novel and play,
and became influential in the United States and in Great Britain,
energizing anti-slavery forces in the American North, while
provoking widespread anger in the South. Stowe wrote 30
books, including novels, three travel memoirs, and collections
of articles and letters. She was influential both for her writings
as well as for her public stances and debates on social issues
of the day.
Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem “The Raven,” beginning “Once
upon a midnight dreary,”was published on this day in the New
York Evening Mirror.
Poe’s dark and macabre work reflected his own tumultuous and
difficult life. Born in Boston in 1809, Poe was orphaned at age
three and went to live with the family of a Richmond, Virginia, businessman. Poe studied at the University of Virginia but was
expelled for gambling. He later enrolled briefly at a military
academy.
Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849)
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