Good day, readers. Today is February 10th, the 41st day of the year 2024, with 325 days remaining.
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.
Henry Ward Beecher
Today in Literary History:
On this day in 1890, Boris Pasternak, a Russian poet, novelist, and literary translator, was born. Best known for his novel Doctor Zhivago, which was banned in the Soviet Union for decades but celebrated outside of it, Pasternak’s work explores the tumultuous times of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent civil war, providing deep insights into human emotion and the complexities of love and loss.
Notable Birthdays:
- Laura Dern (born February 10, 1967), an American actress, director, and producer, celebrates her birthday today. Renowned for her roles in films that often explore complex characters and narratives, Dern has also made significant contributions to literary cinema through her performances in adaptations of literary works.
- Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1937), an American singer and songwriter known for her soulful and poignant music, also marks her birthday today. Her work, while musical, is noted for its narrative depth, exploring themes of love, society, and human relationships that resonate with literary quality.
Today’s Readings:
From Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak: “He was alone in the middle of a vast steppe as if it had been an ocean. He had no plan, no scheme, no expectation, no conscious inkling of anything special happening to him in the future, yet the surrounding vastness held an intimation of fate.”
Literary Fact of the Day:
On February 10, 1923, Wilhelm Röntgen, the German physicist who produced and detected electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range known as X-rays, died. His discovery not only revolutionized medical diagnostics but also influenced a range of scientific and non-scientific literature, exploring the implications of seeing the unseen.
Poem of the Day:
“A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe:
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
Advice for Writers:
Inspired by Boris Pasternak’s intense and poetic storytelling, consider how you can weave historical contexts into your narratives. Historical settings can provide a rich tapestry against which your characters’ dramas can unfold, adding depth and resonance to your work.
Have a thoughtful and inspired day, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your explorations through literature and history deepen your understanding of the world and yourself.