Ben Railton Book Recommendations & Book Mentions

Ben Railton

Particularly excited to teach once again the whole of Nella Larsen’s Quicksand and Passing through @dem8z’s great edition! https://t.co/YlcAxIlC3h

Ben Railton

Speaking of important new books, here’s @NewFrame_News on John L. Williams’ bio of CLR James: https://t.co/xg8qJi2mVF

Ben Railton

Many, many many, Americans have traveled to Cape Cod, most of them of course in the last century or so. But long before it was much of a tourist destination, Henry David Thoreau took four trips to the Cape between 1849 and 1857, compiling his observations into one manuscript.

Ben Railton

For today's post in my #MemorialDay2022 series, I highlight a regionalist short story that features these continued Decoration Day celebrations, Constance Fenimore Woolson's "Rodman the Keeper" (1880). @PedagogyAmLitSt https://t.co/uBETBq4SNp

Ben Railton

On July 30, 1942 Irving Berlin & Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" was first released. So for the 80th anniversary of perhaps the quintessential Christmas song, & in a moment where we could all use some wintry vibes, it's time for a blog series on Christmas (songs) in July!

Out of stock

Ben Railton

150 years ago today, the English-language edition of Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days was published. While Verne's book is a work of fiction, it both inspired a great deal of travel writing & helps us think about complex questions of how authors depict travel stories.

Ben Railton

Following up their viral thread on Louisa May Alcott as transgender, we should all make sure to check out @peytonology’s podcast Jo’s Boys: https://t.co/0QaR9S8Dgy

Ben Railton

Going back at least to Owen Wister's bestselling novel The Virginian, a staple of Wild West storytelling has been the laconic hero. From Wister to John Wayne's carefully curated image to Timothy Olyphant's paired characters in Deadwood & Justified, this type has endured.

Ben Railton

Teaching William Wells Brown in 19C Af Am Lit today, including excerpts from his striking multi-disciplinary & -vocal novel Clotel; or, the President's Daughter (1853), which is a fictionalized account of an enslaved daughter of Thomas Jefferson's! https://t.co/jR8g7Diync

Ben Railton

Continuing with how reading Nella Larsen's Passing after Gatsby in my American Lit II class helped open up new ways to read Fitzgerald's novel and think about identity & community in early 20th century America! @PedagogyAmLitSt https://t.co/Gj1MIVYNGu