November 22, 1993

Contact: Gary Fitzpatrick (202) 707-8542
Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940

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1994 Library of Congress Literary Calendars Published

The Library of Congress, in cooperation with Pomegranate Publications, has released both an engagement and wall calendar under the title A Literary Companion. These calendars combine images from the Library's collections with biographical data, quotes, lore, and notable dates to celebrate authors, their works, and the writing life.

The engagement calendar is illustrated with 53 weekly photographs, including portraits of celebrated and less well- known authors from around the world -- among them Harlem Renaissance poet Claude McKay; writer and editor Malcolm Cowley; poet-novelist Marge Piercy; Welsh autobiographer William Henry Davies; 1928 Nobel laureate Sigrid Undset; and philosopher William James, to name but a few -- along with informative accompanying text on each. Other illustrations feature posters, manuscripts, and varied bibliographic delectations from the Library's collections.

Each day includes a notable event in literary history, from Richard Wright's sailing for Paris and the death of Goethe, to the letter of Evelyn Waugh in the Times Literary Supplement protesting his being repeatedly referred to as "Miss Waugh" in a review. Quotations include -- Mark Twain comparing himself to George Washington ("Washington couldn't lie. I can lie, but I won't") and the succinct first entry Lewis and Clark's historic journals ("All the preparations being completed, we left our encampment").

Twelve writers who have shaped our views of the world-- including Pearl S. Buck, William Butler Yeats, James Joyce, Anton Chekhov, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Zora Neale Hurston -- are featured in the wall version of A Literary Companion. Their photographs are accompanied by biographical essays, and birthdays of literary figures for each day of the year are included.

Each calendar features an introduction by John Y. Cole, director of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

The engagement calendar retails for $11.95 and the wall calendar for $10.95. Both are available in the Library of Congress Sales Shop, and by mail order from the Library of Congress, Box J, Washington, DC 20540. For information on shipping and handling charges for mail order, call (202) 707-6095.

Calendars are also available at bookstores and other outlets nationwide or from the publisher.

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PR 93-147
11/22/93
ISSN 0731-3527