Are you looking for a good book for this weekend? Let us tell you about one that will really hold your attention. It’s a little hard to describe the overall plot, but […]
Why Would You Want a Book of a Million Random Numbers?
It Was a Dark and Stormy Opening Line
One of the most famous opening passages of any novel comes from a book that is hardly recognized today. George Bulwer-Lytton introduced the world to Paul Clifford in 1830 with the words, […]
The First Attempted Murder in Antarctica Was Because of Spoiling the Ending of a Book
We are generally a bunch of law-and-order types here at Commonplace Fun Facts, and we cannot condone the wanton violation of the law. That being said, there are times when even the […]
Uncovering The Revolutionary Scandal Of George Washington’s Overdue Books
The words “presidential” and “scandal” unfortunately show up together far too often. It has gotten to the point where it is assumed that every presidential administration will have at least one significant […]
The Weird, Wonderful, Wacky, and Whimsical Writings of Sir Thomas Urquhart
Certain historical figures are worth studying for the sheer entertainment value. Near the top of that list would be Sir Thomas Urquhart, the Scottish author of the 17th century. What can we […]
The Quaint and Curious Book “Unlikely Stories, Mostly”
The entertaining (and downright weird) book Unlikely Stories, Mostly by Alasdair Gray becomes entertaining — and downright weird — before the reader gets to the first story. When it was released in […]
What Can You Expect With a Name Like Millard Fillmore?
Some people seem destined for greatness on the basis of their names, alone. Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, for example, may have achieved success as secretary of the interior and associate justice of […]
Was He Brilliant, Lucky, or Bonkers? The Eccentric Life of Lord Timothy Dexter
In the world of eccentrics, Lord Timothy Dexter stands in a class by himself. He made several fortunes through either the keenest business instincts in history or by the wildest strokes of […]
Odd Titles Make Riveting Reading and Draw Diagram Prizes
It is true that you can’t judge a book by its cover. It’s also true that the title of a book does not tell the whole story. Sometimes, however, the title tells […]
Take a Page From the Book With the Longest Title
We have already delved into the longest sentence ever published in a book, the beloved children’s book written in response to a bet, and the shortest poem on record. Oddly, we have […]
The Tantalizing Tale of Tarzan’s Trademarked Tones
If you are ever lost in the jungle and you are about to give up hope, there is one sound that will instantly let you know that help is on the way. […]
Iceland Has the Most Authors and Readers Per Capita of Any Country
For book lovers, when it is cold and snowy outside, nothing can compare to staying inside and diving into a good book. Perhaps it is because of the perpetual wintery weather that […]
How Marco Polo Owes His Fame to an Inquisitive Inmate
History so often hinges upon accidents, such as the time Gutenberg was forced to invent the printing press because he missed an important date by an entire year, or the time Constantinople […]
A Word for Book Collectors
Do you have a tendency to collect books but never get around to reading them? The Japanese have a word for you: tsundoku. Read more words we need. Read more fun facts about […]
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Bacon
Thomas Jefferson was a man of great abilities, but modest tastes. The man who wrote of the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, described the things that would […]
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