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Maurice Sendak, a literary maestro and illustrator extraordinaire, left an indelible mark on the world of children’s literature. Born on June 10, 1928, Sendak’s creative genius blossomed through a career that spanned over five decades. Best known for his iconic work “Where the Wild Things Are,” Sendak’s contributions extend far beyond one beloved tale. …
Edgar Allan Poe, a literary icon of the 19th century, is renowned for his tales of mystery, macabre, and melancholy. Born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachussetts, Poe’s life was as enigmatic as his stories. His works, characterized by dark atmospheres and psychological depth, have left an indelible mark on the world of literature.…
Martin Luther King Jr., a towering figure in the American civil rights movement, left an indelible mark on history through his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and nonviolent protest. King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in a middle-class family, he excelled academically and eventually pursued a doctorate in systematic theology.…
Theodor Herzl, a name etched in the annals of history, is hailed as the visionary architect of modern Zionism. Born in Budapest in 1860, Herzl’s profound impact on the course of Jewish history and the establishment of the State of Israel is immeasurable. His life’s work, culminating in the publication of “The Jewish State” in…
Neil Armstrong was born in August of 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio with dreams of taking flight from a young age. At two years old, his father took him to the Cleveland Air Races, inspiring the young Armstrong to someday take to the sky himself. At five or six, he had the opportunity to fly for…
Born in the spring of 1904 in New York City, J. Robert Oppenheimer was an American theoretical physicist and the director of the Manhattan Project’s Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from Harvard University in 1925 and a doctorate in physics from from the University…
Matthew and Adrienne Raptis of Raptis Rare Books were recently featured in the Palm Beach Civic Association‘s Palm Beach TV Sunday Newscast which highlights the unique lifestyle of Palm Beach. Palm Beach TV Sundays: September 17, 2023 HUMAN INTEREST | OUR TOWN | September 15, 2023 Leave the fast-paced world behind as we step inside Raptis Rare Books…
Born in the summer of 1965, English author J. K. Rowling (born Joanne Rowling) is one of the most successful and well-known authors in modern history. She was born into a middle-class family in Yate, Gloucestershire. When she was four years old, her family moved to Winterbourne, Gloucestershire, where she attended St. Michael’s Church of…
Born in the summer of 1956, American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain was a truly one-of-a-kind figure in the world of culinary art. Known equally for his talent and for his unique perspective and humor, his books and television programs were adored by many and secured him as a household name all over the world. Born…
Sylvia Plath was born in the fall of 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts to parents of Austrian and German descent. Destined to become one of the foremost writers of her time and genre, she was born into an intellectual household. Her father was an entomologist, professor of biology, and scientific author. Plath herself began showing her…
Born in Chicago, Illinois in the fall of 1930, Shel Silverstein is remembered as one of the most prominent voices in children’s literature and poetry in the 20th century. His career, however, spanned multiple genres, including cartoons, plays, and music. He was the recipient of two Grammy awards and was among the nominees for the…
One of the most influential economists of the twentieth century, American economist Milton Friedman received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and the complexity of stabilization policy. His work is so significant that it is now required reading for any student of economic…
Named by Harold Bloom as one of the four great American novelists of his time (alongside Thomas Pynchon, Philip Roth, and Don DeLillo), Cormac McCarthy published twelve novels over the course of his lifetime, spanning the Southern Gothic, Western and post-apocalyptic genres. Economic in style, his fiction was dark and often violent, featuring characters who,…
The author of such notable books as Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse, English writer Virginia Woolf is an established name in the realm of fiction. A pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device, her unique style and method of storytelling has distinguished her as one of the more important…
The first President of the United States, George Washington served as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and later presided over the 1787 convention that drafted the United States Constitution. He is popularly considered the driving force behind the nation’s establishment and came to be known as the “father of the…
Widely considered one of the most influential American Presidents to date, Ronald Wilson Reagan remains one of the most iconic figures within the American Republican Party. As the leader of the modern conservative movement, Reagan altered the the political dynamic of the United States and his policies and beliefs have been frequently invoked by several…
One of the most fascinating genres to collect, Americana encompasses a broad range of titles, the most rare and desirable being the earliest texts printed in America. Containing resounding messages that played a significant role in the foundation and political history of the United States, among the most important books in American history are Thomas…
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on November 20, 1990, Michael Crichton’s best-selling science fiction novel Jurassic Park definitively established its author as “the most commercially successful science fiction writer of all time” (Robinson, 208). Designed by American artist and graphic designer Chip Kidd, the novel’s striking dust jacket design remains one of the…
Listed by Guinness World Records as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, the “Queen of Crime” Agatha Christie published sixty-six detective novels and fourteen short story collections throughout the course of her lifetime which sold more than two billion copies. A master of suspense, plotting, and characterization, in her prime, Christie was rarely out…
Regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century, Graham Greene published over 25 novels throughout the course of his writing career which spanned nearly 67 years. Although he objected to being described as a Catholic writer, Catholic religious themes are at the root of much of Greene’s writing,…
Often referred to as “the father of American literature”, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, or Mark Twain as the world now knows him, published a large body of work including several works of both fiction and non-fiction in addition to a vast number of short stories and essays. Raised in the port town of Hannibal,…
This upcoming Saturday, November 30th marks the 145th anniversary of the birth of one of the most significant figures of the 20th century, Sir Winston S. Churchill. Born in Oxfordshire to a wealthy, aristocratic family, Churchill joined the British Army in 1895 at the age of twenty-one and saw action in British India, the Anglo–Sudan War, and the Second Boer…
In celebration of Independence Day we are pleased to share a selection of rare books and historic documents related to America’s great Founding Fathers, particularly those instrumental in drafting the United States Declaration of Independence. Adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, The United States Declaration of Independence announced the sovereignty of…
Adrienne Raptis of Raptis Rare Books was recently featured in an interview with The Scout Guide Palm Beach on How To Create an Impressive Personal Library. View the original article, published April 20, 2018 here. HOW TO CREATE AN IMPRESSIVE PERSONAL LIBRARY BY THE SCOUT GUIDE April 20, 2018 In addition to serving as beautiful décor and…
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