Literary Calendar 2026

 Suggested activities:
•	Read A Dog of Flanders 
•	Visit the monument and the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp and pay homage to Nello and Patrasche
•	Take a long walk, perhaps with many dogs in tow. Ouida, a devoted lover of animals, once shared her home with more than thirty of them
•	Write a list of resolutions. Write something about literature on it

1. January

In memory of Marie Louise de la Ramée (Ouida)

Happy New Year! Resolutions written and ready. Have you started yours?
On this first day of the year, we celebrate the birth of Marie Louise de la Ramée, the British novelist better known by her pen name Ouida, born 1 January 1839.
Her distinctive pseudonym came from her own childhood pronunciation of Louise, a name that would later grace the covers of novels brimming with passion and compassion.
Among her most beloved works are Signa and A Dog of Flanders (Nello & Patrasche), the latter forever entwined with the city of Antwerp, where a touching statue of boy and dog lies peacefully in the cobblestones of Handschoenmarkt, near the Cathedral of Our Lady.
This tender monument, seamlessly merging art and pavement, was crafted by artist Batist Vermeulen (“Tist”), a tribute as gentle and enduring as the story itself.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read I, Robot
•	Read his biography
•	Stay in a small room today and position your desk against a blank wall
•	Remember Isaac Asimov’s timeless words: 

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.

2. January

Science-Fiction Day

Why is Science Fiction Day celebrated on 2. January?
Every year, science-fiction fans mark 2. January as Science-Fiction Day, a fitting tribute to one of the genre’s greatest minds: Isaac Asimov, often called the father of robotics.
The date coincides with Asimov’s birthday, or at least the one he celebrated himself. While no official birth record has ever been found, 2. January was the day Asimov claimed as his own, and fans have honoured it ever since.
Born into a Jewish family in Russia, Asimov emigrated to the United States with his parents as a child. His father ran a small second-hand store in Brooklyn, where young Isaac spent hours devouring the pulp magazines on the shelves. Those colourful tales of futuristic worlds and scientific wonders sparked his imagination and laid the groundwork for the science-fiction classics he would later write. His fascination with both science and history also shaped his unique storytelling, bridging the analytical and the imaginative in ways few authors have matched.
Interestingly, Asimov suffered from claustrophilia (a preference for small, enclosed spaces). His writing desk faced a blank wall, creating the perfect cocoon for concentration. From that humble set-up, he produced an astonishing body of work: over 500 books across genres and an average of 13 full-length works a year.

 Suggested activities:
•	Raise a toast to Tolkien at exactly 9 p.m.
•	Even better, do it in the Lauterbrunnental

3. January

J.R.R. Tolkien Birthday Toast

Every year on 3 January at 9 p.m. sharp, the Tolkien community around the world raises a glass in honour of the author.
The toast is delightfully simple: „The Professor!”
This tradition celebrates the life, work, and birthday of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.
But why 9 p.m. local time? There’s no deep historical reason behind it, rather, it’s a practical choice. Nine o’clock is a moment when most people can pause, wherever they are, to join in spirit with others across the globe.
I’ve often wondered who first began this tradition.
Alongside the toast, I like to honour Tolkien with an image of Lauterbrunnen, the Swiss valley believed to have inspired the landscapes of The Lord of the Rings during his 1911 pilgrimage.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Sheep-Pig or another of his stories
•	Don’t eat meat today. Instead, treat yourself to two pieces of Cadbury chocolate (though I’ll be choosing Swiss chocolate, I simply prefer the taste)
•	Settle down with a crossword puzzle, ideally from The Daily Telegraph

4. January

Remembering Dick King-Smith: An Anniversary Tribute

Today we remember the legendary and much-loved author Dick King-Smith, who passed away on 4 January 2011 in Bath.
His website dickkingsmith.com remains an absolute delight to this day and is well worth a visit if you haven’t seen it yet. It is a charming reflection of the man himself.
Many readers will know him best for The Sheep-Pig, later adapted into the film Babe. In the story, Farmer Hogget wins a small, orphaned piglet at a fair “a fine ham,” he assumes. What he doesn’t anticipate is his sheep dog, Fly, who takes Babe under her wing and teaches him everything she knows.
With this gentle yet subversive tale, Dick King-Smith captivated millions. He could be considered the literary equivalent of Morrissey, having reportedly inspired countless readers to give up eating meat altogether. Fittingly, pigs were his favourite farm animals.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read the classic.
•	Then, for today, try slipping into an alter ego, one for work and another for your private life. Consider its character development with practical applications

5. January

First published in 1886, the novel Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Who hasn’t heard of Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless tale of dual identity, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? The first edition of this classic was published on 5 January 1886.
Dr. Henry Jekyll is a well-respected physician. Yet, in his will, he has named as his heir a mysterious man named Mr. Hyde, a person rumoured to have violently knocked down a young girl in the street. Mr. Enfield recounts this disturbing story to his cousin, the lawyer Mr. Utterson, during one of their walks.
Soon, another shocking event occurs: a member of parliament is murdered in the street, and a maid witnesses the crime. Suspicion once again falls on the elusive Mr. Hyde, whom Dr. Jekyll appears to be sheltering. When Utterson confronts Jekyll, the doctor shows him a letter supposedly from Hyde, but it is later revealed that Jekyll wrote it himself. Is he protecting the killer, or hiding something far more sinister?
Eventually, Jekyll’s butler seeks Utterson’s help, as his master has locked himself in his laboratory. When they finally break in, they find Hyde on the floor. The terrible truth is soon uncovered: a potion has allowed Jekyll to transform into Hyde, giving physical form to the darker side of his nature.
It is said that the inspiration for this story came from the Scotsman William Brodie, who led a respectable life by day and a criminal one by night.
Apparently, Stevenson kept a Brodie chest of drawers in his childhood bedroom.
By the way, do you know the full name of Dr. Jekyll’s alter ego?
His alter ego is Edward Hyde.

 Suggested activities:
•	If you have a cat, spend some intentional time together today
•	Sit down with a book and read in your cat’s presence
•	Read Misty the Abandoned Kitten by Holly Webb

6. January

In Memory of My Beloved Cat, Mütze
 
On 6 January 2009, at 3 p.m., my dear cat Mütze passed away.
I found her at the train station in Winterthur in the winter of 1995. Whether she had been abandoned or had run away, she was clearly lost and in a fragile state. From that moment on, she became my companion.
Today, I want to honour her by celebrating cats in literature, those graceful, mysterious creatures who seem almost destined to live among books. 
Cats, literature, and bookshops share a quiet symbiosis. From the mischievous Cheshire Cat to countless appearances in non-fiction and comics, cats lend depth, wit, and warmth to every story they enter.
Mütze adored newspapers; perhaps she, too, sensed the quiet magic of words. With their calm presence, sharp intuition, and dignified independence, cats remind us that solitude can be a form of strength and that true companionship never needs to be loud.

Also announced today was the Premio Nadal, awarded to David Uclés for La ciudad de las luces muertas (The City of Dead Lights).

 Suggested activities:
•	Read John Callaghan’s book
•	Spend the day doing everything as quietly and unspectacularly as possible, aim for the kind of discretion that barely leaves a statistical trace

7. January

The Day Nobody Was Born

Today we remember all those who never asked to be “special.”
The Day Nobody Was Born by John Callaghan is a touching children’s book about a boy named Will Stills, whose birthday falls on 7 January.
Will is perfectly ordinary, just a normal kid, yet the world insists on seeing him as something extraordinary. Why? Because a powerful media group has turned his birthday into a spectacle, throwing him the most unbelievable parties imaginable.
A gentle reminder that sometimes, being ordinary is more than enough.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read the opening of one of her novels.
•	Then look at the first sentences of her other books and try to predict the line that will open the new one she begins today.

My guess for her next novel: 
Thiago wasn't his real name.

8. January

Is Isabel Allende starting a new book today? 

The Peruvian-born author Isabel Allende has a unique writing ritual: she begins every one of her books on 8 January. The date holds deep personal meaning, it was the day she started writing a letter to her dying grandfather, a letter that eventually inspired her acclaimed debut novel, The House of the Spirits.
Whether this tradition is born of discipline or superstition remains a mystery.
Allende spent much of her childhood in Chile before later settling in the United States, where she was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honour in 2014, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The House of the Spirits (1982): 
Barrabás came to us by sea.

Eva Luna (1987):
My name is Eva, which means life…

Paula (1994):
Listen, Paula.

Daughter of Fortune (1999):
Everyone called her Eliza.

Portrait in Sepia (2000):
I came into the world one Sunday in 1862…

City of the Beasts (2002):
On the day my mother fell ill…

Inés of My Soul (2006):
I was born the year the Spaniards discovered America.

The Japanese Lover (2015):
The first time I saw Ichimei…

A Long Petal of the Sea (2019):
Víctor Dalmau did not know what awaited him…

Violeta (2022):
Dear Camilo…
.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Max and Moritz.
•	Read the author’s biography.
•	Play a harmless prank on someone. Emphasis on harmless: aim for amusement, not insurance claims

9. January

Anniversary of Wilhelm Busch’s Death (9 January 1908) 

Today we remember Wilhelm Busch, the legendary German poet and illustrator, a true classic who deserves a place on every bookshelf in the German-speaking world. 
Anyone who grew up without his timeless “Max and Moritz” has, in my opinion, truly missed out. The seven mischievous pranks of those two boys are nothing short of sensational, unforgettable characters, witty verses, and brilliant illustrations all woven together.
Busch’s work blends humour, moral insight, and imagination in a way that only true geniuses, perhaps even Hans Christian Andersen himself, could achieve.

 Suggested activities:
•	Dust off your old recorder and play a tune 
•	Open one of the above-mentioned books and search for a passage that mentions the instrument. You might be surprised… and you might even have a little fun!
•	Attempt to read a book while playing the recorder
•	Convert the text into a melody on the flute
•	Should this be too demanding, repurpose the flute as a bookmark for the day
•	Or simply hold the flute and look intentional

10. January

Today is Recorder Day in Germany!

Perhaps this day deserves recognition as a global holiday, I’m sure the French, at least, would happily join in.
But what does the humble recorder have in common with literature, apart from the inevitable school music books? Surprisingly, it appears in several novels across genres: in Astrid Lindgren’s The Children of Bullerbyn, Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World, and Hermann Hesse’s Under the Wheel.

 Suggested activities:
•	Eat an apple (bonus points if it’s a German one)
•	Read one of the works mentioned above
•	Reenact William Tell’s legendary apple scene or, if you prefer watching, check out Chaplin’s hilarious version in The Circus (1928)

And if you can’t find a single apple in sight? No worries, Robert Gwisdek’s Der unsichtbare Apfel (The Invisible Apple) will do the trick.

11. January

Happy German Apple Day!

Today we celebrate the humble apple, not just a snack, but a star of literature! Think of the Old Testament’s tempting fruit, the poisoned apple in Snow White, the one that haunts Goethe’s Faust, or the apple that hits hard (literally) in Kafka’s Metamorphosis (page 41).

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Evil Under the Sun or any Agatha Christie that suits your mood
•	Pay a visit to the Burgh Island Hotel in Devon, preferably without becoming part of a murder plot
•	Go surfing
•	Tackle a puzzle that’s been lingering in your mind far longer than is reasonable

12. January

Where is the setting of Agatha Christie’s novel Evil Under the Sun?

On 12 January 1976, the world lost crime fiction icon Agatha Christie. My favourite Poirot novel, Evil Under the Sun, is set on a fictional smuggler island which is inspired by the Burgh Island Hotel in Devon, southeast of Plymouth. Christie herself stayed at this hotel several times.
At low tide, Burgh Island can be reached on foot; at high tide, visitors travel by the island’s famous sea tractor. It was also an ideal place for Christie to indulge another of her passions, surfing. Alongside her well-known love of dogs, she was an enthusiastic and early surfer.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a Paddington Bear story or any of Michael Bond’s other books
•	Visit London Paddington Station (or just imagine you’re there!)
•	And if it’s raining, pop on your Wellington boots in true Paddington style!

13. January

Remembering Michael Bond

No, not that Bond. This gentleman had nothing to do with 007, but everything to do with someone just as unmistakably British: Paddington Bear.
The story began with a simple, last-minute gift. One Christmas Eve, Michael Bond bought his wife a teddy bear and from that small, loving gesture, Paddington was born. With his red hat, blue duffle coat, and trusty Wellington boots, the polite little bear from Peru soon found his way into the hearts of children and adults alike.
Paddington, however, was not Bond’s only creation. He also introduced readers to the charming guinea pig Olga da Polga, first appearing in The Tales of Olga da Polga (1972), and even wrote several crime novels.
Today, we remember Michael Bond on what would have been his 100th birthday.

 Suggested activities:
•	Dress up as your pet instead 
•	Donate the money you’d have spent on a costume to your local animal shelter
•	Curl up with a book about a well-dressed animal Puss in Boots, Paddington Bear (finish it, or read it again!)
Your furry friends and your bookshelf will thank you!

14. January

Today is “Dress Up Your Pet Day” in the United States! 

Paddington Bear can keep his boots on.
Today is a rather unnecessary celebration, if you ask me, after all, most pets would probably prefer a good nap over posing in a tutu for social media. As we saw yesterday, dressing up is best left to fictional animals like Paddington Bear.
Nevertheless, there is also a body of surprisingly sophisticated literature that approaches this highly sensitive topic with humour and care, most notably Awkward Family Pet Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack. The two authors have gone on to publish several other books in a similar vein, many of which come highly recommended.
The volume mentioned above includes numerous examples of animals in costume, but the staged family portraits featuring pets are particularly memorable. My personal highlights can be found on pages 10, 42, 53, 62, 81 (bottom left), 104, and 139 (especially the blue one).

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit (or virtually explore) Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
•	Read Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame or any of Hugo's other books
•	Listen to the beautiful song “Belle” by Garou, Daniel Lavoie, and Patrick Fiori from Notre Dame de Paris
https://youtu.be/FVnxKAoFzBg?si=jXgY5ZjkaA2W2Jme

15. January

On 15 January 1831, Victor Hugo completed his legendary novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Victor Hugo was a man of many talents not only a writer but also a gifted painter. He’s even said to have written in the nude, perhaps taking inspiration from the famous gargoyles of Notre Dame, who have been gazing naked over Paris for centuries.
The cathedral itself holds plenty of history: it was the site of Napoleon’s self-coronation, and, in an ironic twist, it was another Napoleon, the third, who later sent Hugo into exile. Perhaps he sensed that Hugo had given the cathedral more immortality than any emperor could.

 Suggested activities:
•	You might visit a reptile at the zoo (the closest animal we have to real dragons – better don’t)
•	Dive into a dragon-themed book or movie
•	Get creative by painting or crafting your own dragon

16. January

Appreciate Dragon Day

Appreciate Dragon Day may be a fairly new celebration, only dating back to 2004, when Dragon Spell was released, but it has already breathed fire into the imaginations of fantasy fans everywhere. Created by author Donita K. Paul, the day is all about celebrating dragons and their long, legendary history in myth and folklore.
But where did the myth of dragons come from in the first place? Many historians believe that discoveries of whale bones or dinosaur skeletons may have sparked these legendary tales. Over time, people wove stories around such mysterious finds, often influenced by religious traditions and a desire to inspire awe, or fear…
And yes, you can absolutely have a favourite dragon. Mine is Grisu, the small dragon with very big dreams. While other dragons wanted to scorch castles, Grisu just wanted to be a firefighter. A dragon who fights fires instead of starting them? That’s the kind of dragon worth appreciating.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of her poems
•	Take a mindful walk in nature
•	Pause to notice the small wonders around you, just as she did

17. January

Memorial Day for Mary Oliver (10 September 1935 – 17 January 2019) 

American poet Mary Oliver passed away seven years ago today. A devoted observer of the natural world, she captured its quiet wisdom and beauty in language both simple and profound. Her collection American Primitive earned her the Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
Incidentally, the prize is pronounced Pyoo-litzer.
Oliver shared much of her life with photographer Molly Malone Cook, her partner and muse.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Winnie the Pooh.
•	Support a bear-rescue project.  No bear should have to live in a zoo.
•	Wear a red T-shirt today, one that’s a bit too tight and a little too short.

18. January

Winnie-the-Pooh Day

Alan Alexander Milne, the beloved creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, was born in 1882, and every year, his birthday is celebrated as Winnie-the-Pooh Day in his honour.
At London Zoo, a plaque commemorates the special visit Milne made with his young son, Christopher Robin, to see a gentle bear who would soon become world-famous. Both the bear and Christopher inspired Milne to write the timeless stories of the Hundred Acre Wood.
The real bear, Winnie, had an extraordinary journey of her own. She was an orphaned cub adopted by Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, a soldier who named her after his hometown of Winnipeg. Originally kept as his pet, Winnie eventually found a new home at London Zoo on 9 December 1914, when Colebourn left for France during World War I.
It was there that the little bear captured the hearts of visitors and inspired one of the most cherished literary characters of all time.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his tales or poems
•	Try your luck at a game of chance (Poe was known to enjoy gambling)
•	Or simply toast to the mysterious and melancholic spirit of his art

19. January

Commemoration of Edgar Allan Poe

Today we remember Edgar Allan Poe (born 19 January 1809), the inventor of the modern detective story with The Murders in the Rue Morgue.
Poe was the first American writer to make a living solely from his craft, a challenging feat in his time. Beyond his literary genius, he was also known for unexpected talents, such as being an accomplished swimmer.
His name is said to have been inspired by a Shakespearean character, and his own legacy continues to inspire others: Baltimore’s NFL team, the Ravens, takes its name from his haunting poem The Raven.
Poe’s life was as complex and controversial as his works. At 27, he married his cousin Virginia Clemm, who was only 13, a fact that draws discomfort today, though it reflected different social norms of his era.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book published by Penguin Books
•	Buy a Penguin book from a Penguin Book Vending Machine, originally launched at Exeter St Davids station
•	Dress in black and white to honour their classic tuxedo look
•	(If you’re feeling brave) take a sip of salt water, penguins can handle it better than we can!
•	Or, of course, read a book about penguins

20. January

Penguin Awareness Day

Did you know that 20 January is officially Penguin Awareness Day?
While it’s a time to celebrate these remarkable birds, it’s also a good excuse to appreciate their symbolic presence in culture, from their starring roles in nature documentaries to the iconic Penguin Books imprint that has brought countless stories to readers around the world.
If you miss today, don’t worry, you’ll have another chance on 25 April, which is World Penguin Day.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his powerful dystopian novels
•	Visit Orwell’s beloved Suffolk and river
•	Invent your own pen name
•	Bring one of his iconic expressions such as “Big Brother is watching you,” “thoughtcrime,” or “newspeak” into your everyday life today

My Idea for pen name: Sliver Guri Reuss.
I chose the name Sliver because I wanted to honour both my beloved hometown of Winterthur, with its Lake Gurisee, and my adopted home of Lucerne, shaped by the River Reuss. It represents a slender strand of each, flowing together as one.
It sounds wonderfully poetic, hard to believe it only took me twenty seconds to come up with.

21. January

Today we commemorate George Orwell, who passed away on 21 January 1950

Widely regarded as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century, Orwell’s works, particularly Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, continue to captivate readers around the world. Interestingly, it seems that men, in particular, are drawn to his sharp political insight and darkly visionary storytelling.
Incidentally, 
“George Orwell” was only a pen name; his real name was Eric Arthur Blair. He chose “Orwell” after the River Orwell in Suffolk, a place that held personal significance for him.

 Suggested activities:
•	So perhaps today, more than any other, is the perfect day to raise a toast to the author, not just for the worlds he created, but for the love story that shaped them
•	Choose an object such as two rings (a fitting nod to Tolkien, the true Lord of the Rings) or perhaps a pair of swans
•	Visit Cox’s Cave in Somerset, the honeymoon retreat of the couple before J. R. R. Tolkien went to the front

22. January

The day Tolkien was allowed to marry Edith Bratt

Today, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate J.R.R. Tolkien once again.
On 22 January 1916, Tolkien married his beloved childhood sweetheart, Edith Bratt. He was only sixteen when they first met, too young to marry, as the age of majority at the time was twenty-one (Please do not use 19 January (Poe) as a benchmark). Yet he waited patiently, remaining devoted to her throughout his life.
Their gravestone bears the names Lúthien and Beren, a tribute to the timeless love story between the elf maiden and the mortal man.

Incidentally, today also marks the opening of the Writers Unlimited literary festival in The Hague, which continues until Sunday, 25 January 2026..

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit “the Ländle” and enjoy its charm
•	Read a book by a Liechtenstein author
•	Think of Liechtenstein when you look at the moon, the nation’s flag traveled aboard Apollo 11 in 1969
•	Let a woman make an important decision today, a small tribute to the fact that women’s suffrage was only introduced in Liechtenstein in 1984

23. January

Liechtenstein was founded on 23 January 1719

I’ve grown very fond of this small principality nestled between Switzerland and Austria. Not only is it stunningly beautiful, but its people are also remarkably kind and welcoming.
The first figure connected with literature from this region was Knight Heinrich von Frauenberg (1257–1314), who composed poems and songs of courtly love, now preserved in the Codex Manesse. Although Liechtenstein did not yet exist at the time, he lived in what is now part of its territory.
Since its foundation, the country has produced only a handful of literary figures, but some stand out, among them the dialect poets Ida Ospelt-Amann (1899–1996) and Edwin Nutt (1922–1991), as well as the contemporary writer Armin Öhri, who has achieved international success.

 Suggested activities:
•	Support an educational project, for example, by sponsoring a child
•	Read a non-fiction book (there’s one for every curiosity; I even read one about radiators once!)
•	Look up the origin of the word “school.” You might be surprised to learn that the Greek word scholē originally meant “leisure” a reminder that learning was once considered one of life’s greatest pleasures

24. January

Today is UNESCO’s International Day of Education

This day serves as a reminder of how vital education is and of the need to make it accessible to everyone. Education comes in many forms: through books, media, and all the ways we share knowledge and ideas.
Yet, millions of children around the world still lack access to schooling. Even here, I find it troubling that so many people use the internet mainly for entertainment, endless short videos or shallow content, rather than as a tool for learning and growth.
True education empowers us to think for ourselves. It helps us resist manipulation, fosters understanding, and builds a foundation for peace and dialogue instead of violence.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a work by Robert Burns
•	Enjoy a traditional Scottish meal, finishing with cranachan for dessert
•	Make sure you learn how to pronounce cranachan properly before you dig in
•	Watch the World Cup qualifiers on an endless loop while you eat. Simply wonderful. I already have my fingers crossed for the Scots in the World Cup

25. January

Robert Burns Night

Today, Scotland celebrates the birthday of its national poet, Robert Burns, born on 25 January 1759 in Ayr.
Known as Burns Night or the Robert Burns Supper, the occasion is marked with poetry, traditional food, and plenty of Scottish spirit. People enjoy classic dishes such as haggis, neeps, and tatties, often accompanied by the stirring sound of bagpipes.
It’s also common to sing “Auld Lang Syne”, the famous New Year’s song whose lyrics can be traced back to Burns himself.
Far beyond Scotland’s borders, his legacy continues to inspire. On the 200th anniversary of his birth in 1959, the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, established the Robert Burns Fellowship, a fitting tribute in a city known for having the highest proportion of residents of Scottish descent in New Zealand.

 Suggested activities:
•	Choose your own literary phrase of the year.
•	Analyse this sentence in detail.

26. January

The Literary Sentence of the Year - The LSo(t)Y

Today we celebrate it, the first sentence on page 126 of the book I’m currently reading.
Throughout the year, I’ll be introducing a series of new “literary awards”, accolades based either on sheer coincidence or complete lack of meaning.
Naturally, the winning sentence is the first full sentence on the aforementioned page.

And the winner is: From time to time Anna-Lena whispered to him about what she thought of the other prospective buyers in the apartment.
(Fredrik Backman: Anxious People)

 Suggested activities:
•	Continue reading the nonfiction book from 24 January (Lifelong Learning)
•	Finish the leftovers from 25 January
•	Read or study together as a family (with multiple generations, if possible)
•	Watch the Scottish World Cup qualifier on an endless loop. After all, Canada is one of the host countries, and today’s holiday is a long-standing tradition there

27. January

Family literacy Day 

Family Literacy Day has been celebrated in Canada since 1999. It’s a day dedicated not only to encouraging reading with children but also to promoting a love of lifelong learning for all ages.
Parents and grandparents play a vital role in nurturing this habit, without their support, inspiring children to read and learn would be much harder. The day also serves as a reminder that learning doesn’t stop in childhood; it’s a journey that continues throughout life.
This year’s theme captures that spirit perfectly: “Make mealtime family learning time.”

https://abclifeliteracy.ca/programs/family-literacy-day/

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a work by William Butler Yeats
•	If you still have leftovers from 25 January, today is the day to finish them, though there’s no guarantee they’re still edible

28. January

Death anniversary of Irish poet William Butler Yeats (W.B. Yeats)

Today we honour Ireland’s first Nobel Prize winner in Literature (1923), the great poet W.B. Yeats.
A memorial sculpture stands in the churchyard of St. Columba’s Church in Drumcliff, where he is buried. His gravestone bears lines from his final poem, “Under Ben Bulben”, a fitting tribute beneath the mountain that inspired him.
Yeats was deeply drawn to symbolism and myth, influences that shaped his poetic vision. Before devoting himself fully to writing, he studied visual arts, and throughout his life, he remained active in Irish cultural and political life.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Kishon’s books
•	Visit Meistersrüte in Appenzell
•	Play a game of chess (Kishon was an avid and passionate chess player)

29. January

Anniversary of Ephraim Kishon’s Death

Today should have been the opening day of the FIBD (Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême). But in November, Culture Minister Rachida Dati cut the subsidies supporting the 9e Art.
So instead, we’re shifting our focus to the above-mentioned subject.
So today we commemorate the Israeli writer Ephraim Kishon, who passed away from a heart attack on 29 January 2005 at his home in Meistersrüte, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland.
Interestingly, the address of his former second residence was once publicly listed in the phone directory. This underscores how markedly the political climate in my country has changed with respect to Israelis. Two decades on, such transparency would be highly unlikely.
Born in Hungary, he survived the Holocaust. Part of me wishes I could still hear his sharp, thoughtful insights on the current situation; yet another part is relieved that he no longer has to witness the renewed hostility now visible in Switzerland.
His humour reached far beyond satire. His observations were razor-sharp, yet always precise and humane. He demonstrated that Israel is capable of approaching even the most sensitive subjects with humour, something others often struggle to do. And that, precisely, is one of the problems we face today: the inability to laugh at oneself and to engage in honest self-reflection.
With the exception of the Bible, his collection Family Stories remains the best-selling Hebrew book of all time.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book by a Jewish author or one exploring Jewish history, culture, or thought
•	Finish reading the Ephraim Kishon book
•	Visit a Jewish museum to deepen your understanding and appreciation of this rich heritage

30. January

Happy Birthday Rachel Salamander

Born on 30 January 1949, Rachel Salamander is a distinguished German literary scholar and bookseller.
In 1982, she founded the main branch of Literaturhandlung in Munich, a pioneering bookshop dedicated to Jewish literature and culture.
Over the years, Literaturhandlung has grown into an essential cultural institution, with additional branches in Dachau and Frankfurt am Main. A beloved Berlin branch served readers for many years before closing its doors on 1 May 2024.
Beyond literature and theology, Literaturhandlung’s shelves offer graphic novels, biographies, and works on contemporary history, all contributing to a deeper understanding of Jewish life and experience.
At a time when antisemitism still casts its shadow, Salamander’s work stands as a quiet act of courage, a testament to culture, memory, and humanity.
For it often seems that those who build, enlighten, and preserve are the very ones most unjustly attacked by those who give little in return.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book backwards, read words backwards
•	Create a book title with a backwards word 
•	Cook a recipe from the end to the beginning (e.g. add the ingredients for a recipe in the wrong order)
•	Try following craft instructions in reverse

31. January

Today we celebrate National Backwards Day!

Yes, it’s real, a whole day dedicated to doing things backwards! There are no limits to your creativity, so turn your routine upside down and have some fun with it.
It’s best enjoyed with friends or family or maybe just take the day off so people don’t think you’ve completely lost it!

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Robinson Crusoe
•	Visit the Alexander Selkirk statue in Lower Largo
•	Read a Robinsonade (a desert-island survival story inspired by Robinson Crusoe)
•	If you have children, or if you’re young at heart and still love playgrounds, be sure to visit a Robinson playground. And if needed, bring along something to read while you enjoy the moment

1.February

Robinson Crusoe Day

Today isn’t Daniel Defoe’s birthday, but it is the day associated with the man who inspired his most famous character. On 1 February 1709, Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor, was rescued after being stranded on a remote island for more than four years.
Cast ashore in 1704, Selkirk survived through remarkable ingenuity: he made clothes from goatskin, fashioned tools from shipwreck scraps, and kept his mind sharp by reading the Bible. His extraordinary story later inspired Defoe’s classic novel Robinson Crusoe.
In his hometown of Lower Largo, Scotland, a monument stands in his honour, a lasting tribute to the real-life castaway whose endurance became legend.













In preparation for 15 February, pay close attention to un-words and make a note of them. This puts us in an ‘Un-Word’ period lasting the next 15 days.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit a public toilet and enjoy a few pages of your current read
•	Or simply read in your own loo, no travel required
•	Dive into a book about toilets, such as Loos of London, Toilets of the World, or Psychoanalysis and Toileting
•	Ultimate highlight: Head to The Old Tavern at 95 Fleet Street, raise a glass, and make use of the facilities where it all began

2.February

The First Modern Public Toilet in England

On 2 February 1852, the first public toilet in England opened its doors at 95 Fleet Street, right next to the Society of Arts. Today, we celebrate this curious yet revolutionary milestone in public convenience!
Why? Because, let’s be honest, the toilet has long been a place of quiet reflection and unexpected reading. Especially for men, it seems, literature and lavatories go hand in hand. Who knows how many Asterix comics, detective novels, or deep philosophical essays have been read behind a locked door?

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book
•	Ignore or remove the cover
•	Visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz

3.February

Johannes Gutenberg Memorial Day

Today we celebrate Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. His most famous creation, the Gutenberg Bible, was the first book ever printed. One of the four remaining complete copies is preserved at the Göttingen State and University Library.
Did it have a cover? No, book covers didn’t exist yet.
But here’s something you might not know: Gutenberg was also a talented craftsman who made mirrors before revolutionizing printing.
His exact date of birth remains a mystery, but we do know that he died on 3 February 1468 in Mainz, where you can visit a museum dedicated to his life and work.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read the non-fiction book Wearing the Trousers: Fashion, Freedom and the Rise of the Modern Woman
•	Go on a word hunt: look for “trouser words” in literature terms like “real” or “truly” that only carry meaning when they’re negated
•	Absolute highlight: Visit a bookshop in France wearing trousers, of course!

4.February

Today We Celebrate Trouser Day

It may not be an official holiday, but it certainly deserves attention!
In 2013, France finally repealed a 200-year-old law that technically forbade women from wearing trousers. A small step for fashion, a giant leap for common sense.
But what does this have to do with literature?
In German, for example, there’s the term “Hosenbuch” (literally “trouser book”) a book consisting of just a single page, slim enough to slip into your pocket.
And fittingly, there’s even a literary connection by name: the German scholar Martin Hose (Hose = trousers).

 Suggested activities:
•	Read an Ilon Wikland’s illustrated book by Astrid Lindgren
•	Choose one illustration from the book. Try copying the illustration yourself.

5.February

Happy 96th Birthday to Ilon Wikland!

Today we celebrate Ilon Wikland, the beloved Estonian–Swedish illustrator best known for bringing Astrid Lindgren’s stories to life through her enchanting drawings.
In 1944, at just 14 years old, Wikland fled Soviet-occupied Estonia, carrying only a small yellow bag, a symbol of courage and hope. That very bag is now displayed at Ilon’s Wonderland Museum in Haapsalu, which also houses the largest collection of her original artwork.
The museum is closed during the winter months, except on Sundays.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Steinbeck’s classic Of Mice and Men
•	Optional (but not recommended): Let your dog “edit” your latest draft in Steinbeck’s spirit

6.February

Publication of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men

Ninety-nine years ago, John Steinbeck published his classic novella Of Mice and Men, a timeless story of friendship, dreams, and hardship in Depression-era America.
Fun fact: legend has it that Steinbeck’s dog once ate an early draft of the manuscript.
Steinbeck went on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature and is perhaps best known for The Grapes of Wrath. One of his screenplays for Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. Writing clearly ran in the family: his son, Thomas Steinbeck, was also an author.
In his later years, Steinbeck signed his letters with his personal “Pigasus” emblem, a whimsical pig with wings.

 Suggested activities:
•	Please refrain from committing adultery in honour of Flaubert
•	Search for your own mot juste, the perfect word, without the help of AI (Flaubert didn’t have that luxury)
•	Or, most simply: read Madame Bovary

7.February

Acquittal of Gustave Flaubert

Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary didn’t just earn him literary fame, it also landed him in serious trouble. Shortly after its publication, the French authorities accused Flaubert of violating public morals, claiming the novel’s portrayal of adultery and disillusionment was scandalous.
Flaubert defended himself passionately, insisting that the book was not a reflection of his own views but a realistic depiction of life. His meticulous craftsmanship he was famously obsessed with finding le mot juste, “the exact right word” was his shield and his art.
On 7 February 1857, the court acquitted Flaubert, and the trial itself propelled him to international fame.


By the way, my mot juste of the year comes straight from Winnie-the-Pooh: Expotition.
It lives on page 107, in the unforgettable chapter titled “In Which Christopher Robin Leads an Expotition to the North Pole.”
And after much bravery, walking, and thinking, the North Pole is, of course, discovered by Winnie-the-Pooh himself.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his novels
•	Visit the Espace Jules Verne in Yverdons-les-Bains
•	Discover the Musée Jules-Verne, housed in Nantes, the city of his birth
•	And if you’re feeling especially adventurous: set your sights on the Jules Verne crater - at the very least, you can try

8.February

Happy Birthday Jules Verne

Today we commemorate the French author Jules Verne, born on 8 February 1828 in Nantes, where a museum now honours his life and work.
Verne’s novels were not only rich in imagination but also deeply rooted in scientific curiosity. His visionary stories inspired generations of writers and scientists alike. For example, in From the Earth to the Moon, Verne envisioned a launch site in Florida, a detail that later became reality with Cape Canaveral.
I have always been especially fond of Michael Palin’s journey Around the World in 80 Days, a delightful tribute to Verne’s enduring spirit of adventure.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book in the bathtub
•	Read a waterproof bath book
•	Visit the wonderful bookstore “Mr B's Emporium” in Bath

9.February

Read in the Bathtub Day

Today is the perfect day to indulge in a little reading relaxation in a warm bath.
And if you’re worried about splashes: fear not! There are waterproof bath books available, originally designed for children but now also made for adults, thanks to the creative minds at Edition Wannenbuch and Paperento.

Edition Wannenbuch & Paperento

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht
•	Apply the V-effect to the book you are currently reading
•	Practice applying the V-effect to everyday situations, an approach that can be especially valuable in today’s increasingly precarious social climate

10.February

V-effect (alienation effect)

On the birthday of one of Germany’s most renowned authors, Bertolt Brecht, we also celebrate one of his most influential theatrical concepts: the V-effect, or alienation effect.
Brecht employed this technique in his Epic Theatre, most notably in The Threepenny Opera. The purpose of the V-effect is to create distance between the audience and the action on stage. Rather than identifying emotionally with the characters, the audience is encouraged to observe the events critically, reflecting on their social and moral implications from a thoughtful distance.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a Sylvia Plath poem/book
•	Visit a grave bearing the name Hughes

11.February

Remembering Sylvia Plath

She was only 30 years old when she took her own life in 1963, just four weeks after the publication of her now-iconic novel The Bell Jar. The tragedy occurred in W.B. Yeats’ former London flat, where she had been living at the time.
Sylvia Plath had long struggled with depression, a condition that also afflicted her son Nicholas Hughes, who later took his own life as well. Nicholas was her son with the English poet Ted Hughes, whose relationship with Plath remains the subject of much debate and speculation.
Although her suicide often overshadows her achievements, Plath’s body of work is remarkably rich, spanning poetry, fiction, children’s books, and even journalism for Mademoiselle magazine.
Plath is buried in Yorkshire, where her grave has sadly been vandalized several times. It’s believed that some feminists removed the name “Hughes” from her headstone and replaced it with “Plath,” a symbolic act tied to lingering anger over reports that Hughes had been unfaithful and abusive before her death.
Perhaps one should just let her rest...

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Private Journals of Edvard Munch
•	Play an art-themed quartet game about art theft
•	Explore a book on art theft and the strange psychology behind stealing the unstealable

12.February

The Theft of Edvard Munch’s The Scream

On 12 February 1994, during the Lillehammer Winter Olympics, one of the world’s most famous paintings, Edvard Munch’s The Scream, was stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo. The thieves took advantage of the nation’s preoccupation with the Games: a ladder and a broken window were apparently all they needed to pull off the heist.
It was, in truth, an act of remarkable folly, after all, such a painting is impossible to sell. One of the perpetrators, Pål Enger, was already notorious for stealing another Munch painting years earlier.
But what does this have to do with literature?
Munch was not only a painter but also a writer. His private diaries offer deep insight into his art, his emotions, and his lifelong exploration of human anxiety and love. Many books and biographies about Munch and The Scream are well worth reading for anyone fascinated by the intersection of art and the inner life.
Personally, I have always been moved by Munch’s paintings of women. They seem to see me, their depth never frightens me, only draws me in. The Scream is not my favourite, though; I’m especially fond of his lesser-known work “Ung kvinne på stranden” (Girl on a Jetty).

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a Maigret novel
•	Explore another book by Simenon
•	Visit a place linked to his life or his novels
•	Mistake a Belgian for a Frenchman

13.February

Happy Birthday, Georges Simenon (13 February 1903)

Born on a Friday the 13th, fitting, perhaps, for a man who would one day create the world-weary Inspector Maigret. (And if you check the calendar today, you might notice what day of the week it is!)
The Liège-born author was astonishingly prolific yet always his own harshest critic. Simenon wrote with tireless discipline, producing up to 80 pages a day in a clear, direct style that appealed to readers from every background. It’s little wonder he also churned out dozens of sensational penny dreadfuls early in his career.
But his talents went far beyond crime fiction: his pen also crafted screenplays and stage plays. After stints in Paris and the United States, he settled in Switzerland in 1957, where he lived until his death.
In Lausanne, a commemorative plaque at 22 Rue de Bourg marks a site near the former Tabac Besson tobacco shop, a place the Belgian author is said to have visited regularly.
Today, his most famous creation, Inspector Maigret, is immortalized in Liège in a square that bears the detective’s name, complete with a statue of Simenon himself at its heart.
And, much like Poirot, we suspect Maigret was often mistaken for a Frenchman!

 Suggested activities:
•	Surprise someone you know (or don’t) with a book.

14.February

International Book Giving Day

Have you given someone a book today?
This wonderful initiative has been around since 2012, and its goal is simple yet powerful to encourage reading and share the joy that books bring.
Your gift doesn’t have to be brand new. It could be a donation to a community bookcase, a charity shop, or even a favourite read passed on to a friend.
Or why not take it a step further and surprise a stranger on the street with a book? You never know whose day you might brighten with the gift of a good story.
Today, I left a book in a book box in northern England. I like to think it will find its reader. I will probably never know.

 Suggested activities:
•	Identify your personal worst word of the last 15 days
•	No cheating: January words don’t count
•	Challenge yourself to use my worst word of the last 15 days in your vocabulary every day

15.February

The Un-word of the Last 15 Days

Today, we celebrate the un-word we’ve encountered this month. Because we celebrate a literary holiday of my own creation.
I hope you’ve been keeping your eyes open for the worst word of the last 15 days.
You might stumble upon your own personal worst word.


Next year, we aim higher (or lower): the Un-word of the Entire Year. Preparations are already underway. Vigilance is advised.
This year’s personal low point in vocabulary is the word “bogus.” I encountered it on page 156 of Willem Frederik Hermans’ Beyond Sleep, where it means something along the lines of “fake” or “false.”
Which makes it the perfect laureate for this proudly self-invented, utterly unnecessary, and deeply bogus award.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Cave of Time, the very first book in the Choose Your Own Adventure series
•	Try turning a book you’re currently reading into your own interactive experience, imagine stepping into the story and becoming part of its world

16.February

Happy Birthday, Edward Packard!

(Born February 16, 1931)
Edward Packard, an American author from New York, has written more than 50 novels and is best known as the creator of the Choose Your Own Adventure series, a groundbreaking form of interactive fiction that lets readers shape the story through their own decisions.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Mo Yan’s short stories or watch Red Sorghum
•	Create your own pen name inspired by advice your parents once gave you

17.February

Happy Birthday, Mo Yan!
Born on 17 February 1955.

Today we celebrate Mo Yan, the 2012 Nobel laureate in Literature and the first Chinese writer to receive this honour.
“Mo Yan” is a pen name meaning “Don’t speak!”, advice his parents gave him to stay cautious with his words in a society where expression was often restricted.
He is best known for his vivid storytelling, including his acclaimed novel Red Sorghum, which was later adapted into an award-winning film.

My pen name began as a phrase my mother used to say: “Be careful.”
Translated into Zulu, that quiet piece of advice lives on as Qaphela.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a biography of Martin Luther
•	Write your own “thesis” about an issue relevant to today’s world

18.February

Today We Commemorate Martin Luther
(Died 18 February 1546)

Today we remember Martin Luther, the German theologian and reformer whose ideas transformed both religion and language. His writings, including the famous 95 Theses and his translation of the Bible, had a profound impact on the German language and the course of European history.
Luther was also a writer of hymns and fables, known for his sharp wit and insight. One of his memorable quotes reminds us of the power of clear expression:
“To say much with few words is an art. But it is great folly to use many words and yet say nothing.”
Through his marriage to Katharina von Bora, a former nun, Luther helped establish the tradition that Protestant ministers may marry, a legacy that endures today.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Nadja or excerpts from the Manifesto of Surrealism
•	Create your own surrealist poem or collage inspired by Breton’s ideas

19.February

Happy Birthday, André Breton!
(Born 19 February 1896)

Today we celebrate André Breton, the visionary writer, poet, and founder often called the “pope” of Surrealism.
In 1924, Breton published the groundbreaking Manifeste du surréalisme (Manifesto of Surrealism), which defined the movement and its aim to liberate thought from rational constraints. Among his most famous works is the novel Nadja, a poetic exploration of love, madness, and the unconscious.
Originally from Normandy, Breton spent much of his life in Paris, where his home at 42 Rue Fontaine became a gathering place filled with books, art, and surrealist treasures. He is also buried in Paris.
He had a medical background and was also an atheist.

 Suggested activities:
•	Today's activity is simple: clean up your bookshelf

20.February

Clean Out Your Bookcase Day

Today is the perfect day to tidy up or rearrange your bookshelf.
The idea behind this day is simple: as you clear out your shelves, donate the books you no longer need to a charity or community book exchange. After all, every story deserves a new reader.
It might even make sense to celebrate this day before 14 February, when books are often given as gifts, that way, you’ll have room for new literary treasures!
As for who came up with this charming little holiday, that remains a mystery.

 Suggested activities:
•	Speak only your mother tongue
•	Ban all Anglicisms (and similar intruders)
•	Pretend other languages simply don’t exist
•	Invent a brand-new word in your language

21.February

International Mother Language Day

Today we celebrate the language that first shaped our thoughts and tripped off our tongues — our mother language.
Linguistic diversity isn’t just about words; it’s about heritage, identity, and culture. It deserves to be protected, practiced, and proudly spoken.
UNESCO declared this day back in 2000, encouraging us not only to honour our own languages but also to explore those of others. A noble goal though the name does invite a little mischief.

And for full transparency: I wrote this in English on 20. February because today, I refuse to adapt my language to anyone else. I’m confident UNESCO will approve of my creative interpretation of their holiday.
Mini Muettersprach isch Schwiizerdütsch und ich liebä sie!

I have invented a word in my native language: Plottfubäl (short: a Fubäl (pronounciation: foobell).
It refers to a very specific category of books: those I technically should read, but very much do not want to. Reasons may include excessive page counts, unconvincing covers, or topics that politely ask for my interest and receive none in return.
I am realistic about its future. It will almost certainly not be accepted into any official dictionary, footnoted by linguists, or taught in schools.
And yet, the word exists.
Funny how that works. Do you also have a Plottfubäl on your bookshelf? And if you were to invent a word for them, what would it be?

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a crime novel or a true crime story
•	Remember the victims. If you personally know someone who suffered from a crime, take a moment to think of them

For me, that person is my former primary school classmate, Andrea Rüegsegger, who was brutally murdered without a clear motive. She had feelings for one of the perpetrators, and tragically, he wanted to get rid of her…

22.February

Today is European Crime Victims’ Day

True crime has become immensely popular, whether in books, documentaries, or films, these stories continue to fascinate us.
My favourite programmes in this genre are See no Evil and the long-running German classic Aktenzeichen XY … ungelöst (“File Number XY – Unsolved”). I deeply admire every detective who solves crimes, often starting from the tiniest of clues. Today, my thoughts go to them, and above all, to the victims and their families.
Crimes against children are especially horrifying. One of the most powerful works on this subject, in my view, is Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Promise, along with its outstanding film adaptation starring Heinz Rühmann and Gert Fröbe. Even though I now know the story by heart, I still feel the same sense of dread and tension as young Annemarie Heller when she meets the “magician” in the forest.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read at your washing machine’s manual carefully, you might discover a few features or tricks you didn’t know about
•	Visit a place where paper is still made by hand (the Paper Mill Museum in Basel is highly recommended) and take a moment to remember the man whose inventive spirit continues to shape our daily lives

23.February

Today We Celebrate World Washing Machine Day!

In 1767, the German inventor Jakob Christian Schäffer created the forerunner of the modern washing machine, then known as a “stirring wing machine.” For this ingenious contribution to everyday life, we owe him our heartfelt thank you!
But Schäffer, born in Querfurt near Halle, was a true polymath. As a natural scientist, he published a seminal work on the fungi and sponges of Bavaria, research that even caught the attention of Goethe himself.
His curiosity reached far beyond household inventions: by observing wasps, Schäffer developed the idea of making paper from wood, paving the way for an entirely new approach to papermaking.

 Suggested activities:
Read a work by an Estonian author, for example:
•	Jaan Kross – master of historical fiction
•	Andrus Kivirähk – known for his imaginative and witty storytelling
•	Henrik Visnapuu – a lyrical poet and modernist voice
•	Enn Vetemaa – acclaimed for his sharp social satire

24.February

Happy Birthday, Estonia! 

Today, we celebrate the national holiday of this remarkable Baltic nation.
While 24. February marks its official Independence Day, 20 August also holds deep significance, it was on that day in 1991 that Estonia regained its independence from Russia.
Estonia boasts a rich literary tradition, though many of its writers remain little known beyond its borders. If you haven’t yet explored Estonian literature, today is the perfect opportunity to do so and discover a new voice or perspective.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read at your washing machine’s •	Create your own bookmark
•	Take part in one of the suggestions on the website mentioned above

25.February

WOBODA – World Bookmark Day

Do you ever find yourself picking up yet another bookmark, even though you already have a drawer full at home?
Well, I do and that’s why I love that there’s actually a day dedicated to celebrating them! After all, bookmarks have been around for over 2,000 years.
The website World Bookmark Day, International Friends of Bookmarks is a real treasure trove for enthusiasts. 

World Bookmark Day - International Friends of Bookmarks

There are plenty of fun ways to take part, you can submit or download bookmark designs and even join a bookmark raffle featuring entries from all over the world.
It’s a delightful celebration of one of the smallest but most charming companions to every good book.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a classic fairy tale
•	Read Grimm’s Herr Korbes and Das Lumpengesindel
•	Rewrite a well-known story with your own twist
•	Invent a brand-new fairy tale of your own
•	Explore the Fairy Tale Trail in Bever, in the beautiful Engadin region of Switzerland
•	Dress up as your favourite fairy tale character!

26.February

Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Once upon a time, on 26 February, a very special day was created in the USA — Tell a Fairy Tale Day.
This enchanting day celebrates the magic of fairy tales and storytelling in all their forms. It’s the perfect occasion to let your imagination wander.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Little Polar Bear by Hans de Beer
•	Rad The Wager and the Bear by John Ironmonger 

27.February

Happy International Polar Bear Day! 

Today we celebrate the majestic polar bear, a symbol of the Arctic and a reminder of the urgent need to protect our planet’s fragile ecosystems. 
It’s only fitting that these magnificent animals have a day dedicated entirely to them.
The date was chosen to coincide with the period when polar bear mothers are nestled in their dens, caring for their newborn cubs, a powerful symbol of nurture and survival in the harshest of environments.
Polar bears have also inspired countless stories in literature, especially in children’s books and nature writing.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read the Kalavala
•	Read the Kalevala in its original Finnish
•	Listen to the hauntingly beautiful “Joutsenlaulu”
https://youtu.be/QHCIKsuXnqY?si=6KAPGPllfMYB886G

28.February

Kalevalan ja Suomalaisen Kulttuurin Päivä

The Kalevala is the Finnish national epic, compiled by Elias Lönnrot. On 28 February 1835, Lönnrot signed the preface to the first edition of his monumental work, a date now celebrated in Finland as Kalevala Day.
The Kalevala weaves together ancient stories, myths, and folklore, preserving Finland’s oral traditions for generations to come. Its title means “the land of Kaleva,” and at its heart stands the wise old shaman Väinämöinen, a hero of knowledge, song, and magic.
More than just a literary masterpiece, the Kalevala embodies Finnish identity itself, a celebration of the nation’s culture, language, and spirit.

 Suggested activities:
• Read one of Bertrand Piccard’s books
• Explore a book about the Piccard family (e.g., Piccard – Pioniere ohne Grenzen by Susanne Dieminger)
• Do something ecological today that also proves to be economical

1.March

Happy birthday, Bertrand Piccard (1 March 1958)

Other countries may have royal families — Switzerland has the Piccards. Whenever I hear this name, I feel a deep sense of pride to share a homeland with such a remarkable and visionary family.
Originally trained as a psychiatrist, Bertrand Piccard later followed the adventurous path of his grandfather Auguste and his father Jacques. In 1999, together with Brian Jones, he became the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a balloon. As the founder of Solar Impulse, he has remained devoted to pioneering innovation in aviation.
Equally impressive are the 1,500 solutions he has presented to governments around the world, demonstrating that ecological choices can also be economically sound.
He is also the author of several books, including Changer d'altitude, Objectif Soleil, and Une trace dans le ciel.
I bow to this extraordinary man and offer him my warmest birthday wishes.

 Suggested activities:
•	Starting today, see if you can track down the worst opening sentence of a book by 2 March 2027

2.March

Remembering the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (BLFC)

From 1982 to 2024, an annual competition sought out the worst opening sentence of a fiction novel. First held in 1982, the contest was conceived by Professor Scott Rice and dedicated to Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, whose novel Paul Clifford famously opens with the line popularized by Snoopy: “It was a dark and stormy night.”
The inaugural year attracted just three entries, but by its second iteration the competition had captured national media attention and drawn more than 10,000 submissions.
I’d like to commemorate this wonderful idea today by noting down the worst opening sentence I encounter in a book I read over the coming year. On 2 March 2027, I will publish the chosen sentence on my website, in the spirit of tribute and remembrance.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book that deepens your understanding of wildlife and conservation
•	Choose an animal or plant and protect it, symbolically or literally, if someone gets too close or treats it carelessly
•	Take part in an event or share your own contribution on social media
•	Get involved: Visit the official UN World Wildlife Day website for more ways to participate
Get Involved | Official website of UN World Wildlife Day

3.March

Today we celebrate World Wildlife Day

a day dedicated to raising awareness about the threats facing our planet’s animal and plant species, from poaching to habitat loss and the ongoing deforestation of rainforests.
A vast body of literature explores these issues, whether you’re interested in global biodiversity, the Amazon, the oceans, or a specific animal or plant species.

 Suggested activities:
•	Heroically finish reading The Old Man and the Sea (Yes, even the part where nothing continues to happen)
•	Or finish any book you’ve abandoned halfway
•	Or just finish something, a task, a chore, a sentence, the act of closing a door
•	And if you happen to meet a fisherman today… toss his fish back into the water and confiscate his fishing rod. (In the spirit of literary justice, of course)

4.March

Today we celebrate the grand and glorious Day of Finishing Things

Why today? Because on 4 March 1951, Ernest Hemingway finally hauled his novel The Old Man and the Sea ashore and called it done.
Set in Cuba, the book is, if you ask me, one of the sleepiest “classics” ever to bob on the waves of literature. Perhaps my intellect isn’t seaworthy enough… or perhaps seventy pages of “man fights fish” really are exactly as thrilling as they sound.
The story grew out of Hemingway’s own love of fishing. The man adored cats, but his relationship with fish was… let’s say “one-sided.” Rumour has it he once killed seven marlins in a single day. 
He earned the Pulitzer in 1953 and the Nobel in 1954, presumably for his writing, not his marlin massacres.
If Hemingway were here today, I’d proudly tell him that I’ve read his book several times and that each time I secretly hope the fish wins.

 Suggested activities:
•	Give a book to your child, or to a child you know
•	Consider giving a book to a child who may not otherwise have access to literature

5.March

World Book Day 

5 March marks World Book Day in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A celebration dedicated to the joy of reading.
With fewer children today discovering the pleasure of books, a day like this feels more important than ever. The goal is simple: to make reading fun and accessible for every child.
Children receive book vouchers, take part in reading events, and enjoy activities that bring stories to life. Many organizations also donate books, ensuring that every child has the chance to experience the magic of reading.
Because after all, every child deserves a book to call their own.

Get Ready for World Book Day 2026 - World Book Day

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the Affordable Art Fair in London
•	Buy an “affordable” book, support the arts without bankrupting yourself
•	Create your own masterpiece. Handmade art is always in budget. Or better yet, craft something out of street rubbish. There’s certainly no shortage of raw materials

6.March

Today we celebrate Affordable Art Fair Day

This year’s fair takes place from 4–8 March in Battersea Park, London, proof that you don’t need a billionaire’s bank account to enjoy a bit of culture.
But what even counts as art? It’s not just paintings and sculptures; it’s music, literature, stories, sounds, and all the glorious things humans create to make life a little less boring. Books, in particular, are beautifully democratic: thanks to libraries and second-hand shelves, art in its most portable form is available to everyone.
And let’s be honest, price tags don’t equal brilliance. Especially with modern art, the gap between “genius” and “accidental mess” can sometimes be… interpretive.

Battersea Spring


Today is a very special day for music: the legendary Morrissey is releasing his new album Make-Up Is a Lie.
At last, I can hear The Night Pop Dropped in proper quality instead of relying on that live recording from the concert in Lyon. 

Wonderful! 

 Suggested activities:
•	Call a literature telephone in your country (if one exists)
•	Call someone and tell them a story
•	Read a book by Michael Augustin (who launched the literature telephone in Germany)
•	Listen to an audiobook while holding the telephone receiver to your ear, a fun way to imitate a literature telephone
•	Or simply come up with your own creative idea

7.March

Today could, in fact, be Bret Easton Ellis’s birthday

but since it falls just one day before International Women’s Day, the timing feels a little awkward. After all, Ellis was sharply criticized by the National Organization for Women (NOW) in the United States for his portrayal of women in American Psycho.

So instead, let’s shift our attention to something less contentious and celebrate Telephone Day. On 7 March 1876, exactly 150 years ago, Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone.
Strictly speaking, it’s a bit unfair that Bell’s name remains so closely linked with the invention, as he wasn’t the true originator. Philipp Reis or Antonio Meucci would arguably deserve that recognition far more.
But back to literature, what does the telephone have to do with it?
Quite a lot, actually. In various places around the world, there are so-called literature telephones or Dial-A-Poem services, where you can listen to poems or other literary texts over the phone. Apparently, Andy Warhol was the one who inspired this idea in the 1960s.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book by a woman (for example, J.K. Rowling, who speaks her mind with conviction or Isabel Allende’s The Soul of a Woman)
•	Give a book to a woman you appreciate

8.March

Today, on 8 March, we celebrate International Women’s Day

Yes, we are remarkable and we deserve to be celebrated. At the same time, I want to acknowledge the many wonderful men who show us kindness and respect every single day.
International Women’s Day was first established before the First World War, at a time when women in many Western countries were still far from enjoying equal rights. Thankfully, much has improved since then. Still, I sometimes feel that the progress we’ve made is fragile, especially in light of growing social tensions and ideological extremes of all kinds.

The photo shows Heinz Schwarz’s statue Clémentine, located at Place du Bourg-de-Four in Geneva and dating from 1974.
The meaning of the statue has been interpreted in different ways. One interpretation sees it as a symbol of solidarity with oppressed women, an idea that resonates strongly with today's International Women's Day.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Mickey Spillane’s novels
•	Channel your inner Mike Hammer: observe your surroundings with a detective’s eye 

9.March

Happy Birthday, Mickey Spillane

Born on 9 March 1918 in New York, the writer is not only celebrated for his hard-boiled crime novels but also for the many film adaptations based on them. His most famous creation, private detective Mike Hammer, is almost universally known. Less widely remembered is Spillane’s work as a children’s book author.
I have especially vivid memories of the film I, the Jury, in which Armand Assante plays Hammer, hired to shadow unfaithful spouses. A new assignment draws him into the orbit of the enigmatic and dangerously captivating Barbara Carrera.
My brother Roger owned the video and strictly forbade me from watching it which, of course, made it irresistible. It quickly became one of the most-played tapes in his collection, because I always put it on whenever he wasn’t home. I absolutely loved the music!

 Suggested activities:
•	Read J’irai cracher sur vos tombes and then watch the film adaptation, you may understand why Vian was displeased
•	Discover his most famous novel, L’Écume des jours
•	Watch Les Liaisons dangereuses, in which Vian appears as an actor
•	Listen to one of his songs and enjoy another side of his remarkable talent

10.March

Happy Birthday, Boris Vian (10 March 1920)!

A true polymath, Boris Vian was celebrated not only as a novelist but also as a jazz trumpeter, singer, and songwriter. Among his childhood playmates was none other than violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin, and he is even said to have encouraged Serge Gainsbourg to pursue music. Vian also wrote under several pseudonyms, most famously Vernon Sullivan, and alongside his artistic pursuits, he worked as an engineer.
One of his most notorious works, J’irai cracher sur vos tombes, brought him considerable attention and controversy. During the first screening of its film adaptation, which he reportedly found disastrous, Vian suffered a fatal heart attack.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Douglas Adams’s wonderfully absurd books
•	Watch an episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus
•	Listen to Pink Floyd’s album The Division Bell, its title was inspired by Douglas Adams
•	Make a donation to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. As an animal rights advocate, Adams supported numerous wildlife organizations, including this one established in her memory

11.March

Happy Birthday, Douglas Adams
(11 March 1952)!

The beloved British author from Cambridge is best known for his iconic masterpiece The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. His sharp wit and imaginative storytelling also found a home in the legendary comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus, for which he contributed as a writer and actor.
Fun fact: Douglas Adams is often credited as the first person in the United Kingdom to buy an Apple Macintosh, a testament to his lifelong enthusiasm for technology.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works, or simply spend a little time on the road (I suggest an activity that does not require a driving licence)
•	Read a book by another author of the Beat Movement

12.March

Happy Birthday, Jack Kerouac!

Born on 12 March 1922, the French-Canadian writer came into the world in the United States.
His 1957 novel On the Road remains unforgettable and is said to have inspired the film Easy Rider.
Ironically, Kerouac himself never held a driver’s licence.
According to several publishers, his manuscript was “unpublishable.” It took him seven years to find someone willing to take a chance on it, so in that sense, he was “on the road” as well.

 Suggested activities:
•	Reflect on your actions according to the four-pillar principle, preferably before acting, but afterwards is still better than never
•	Read a book on this topic and scrutinize every word and every sentence with deep awareness and strict adherence to the four-pillar principle. Yes, even the footnotes. Especially the footnotes

13.March

Today we celebrate Conscious Day

This day encourages us to reflect on our choices: Are we acting morally, sustainably, and thoughtfully? After all, every decision we make leaves a mark, even choosing which coffee mug to use again today.
Conscious Day is also a day of remembrance, meant to promote peace through, well… finally thinking things through. Its noble mission rests on four pillars:
•	Sustainability
•	Inclusion
•	Meaning
•	Impact

National Conscious Awareness Day - National Conscious Day 13th March

 Suggested activities:
•	Buy a book from an independent or small publisher on this day (e.g. my own)
•	Share a photo of the book cover on social media to spread the word
It’s a small but meaningful gesture, one that helps support indie publishers, discover unique voices, and celebrate the diversity of stories beyond the mainstream

14.March

Indie-Book-Day

14 March is Indie Book Day, a celebration of independent publishers and the creativity they bring to the literary world.


https://www.indiebookday.de/english/

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Visit a Roman site (for example, the magnificent Roman Baths in Bath)
•	Study a calendar
•	Watch the iconic scene from Monty Python’s Life of Brian, which humorously lists everything we owe to the Romans

15.March

It happened on 15 March 44 BC. 

Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times, an event that marked a decisive turning point in Roman history and hastened the end of the Roman Republic.
By concentrating power in his own hands and sidelining the Senate, Caesar had provoked deep resentment among many senators, ultimately leading to his assassination at the hands of a group of conspirators.
Caesar is also closely linked with literature. His famous phrase “Veni, vidi, vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) is legendary, and he authored several works himself, including the Commentarii de Bello Gallico and the Commentarii de Bello Civili. He even wrote poetry. His life and death went on to inspire countless writers, most notably William Shakespeare, who immortalized Caesar in his tragedy Julius Caesar.
Today, we not only remember him, but we also owe him the date as we know it: Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which established the leap year.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Ambjørnsen novels
•	Watch the film “Elling”

16.March

Premiere of the Norwegian film Elling (16 March 2001)

Today we commemorate the Norwegian writer Ingvar Ambjørnsen from Tønsberg, as the film Elling is based on his novel Brødre i blodet (Blood Brothers). The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2002.
Ambjørnsen tells the story of Elling, a man who must find his way back into everyday life after a stay in a psychiatric clinic. The story is both heartwarming and understated, and typical of Scandinavian cinema features no “superheroes,” but ordinary people facing real challenges.
Ambjørnsen himself once worked as a nurse in a psychiatric clinic, an experience that undoubtedly adds authenticity to his portrayal of human vulnerability and resilience.
In addition to his acclaimed Elling series, Ambjørnsen has written a wide range of works, including children’s books, short stories, non-fiction, and novels. He lived for many years in Bergen and later in Hamburg, before apparently returning to Norway so that, as he once said, he could “die in his own language.”

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Honour his legacy with a German lesson

17.March

Happy Birthday, Siegfried Lenz 
(17 March 1926)

Today, the celebrated German writer who passed away in 2014 and would have turned 100.
Born in Masuria, Lenz became one of Germany’s most important post-war authors.
His best-known works include Deutschstunde (The German Lesson), which has been adapted for film several times, Das Feuerschiff (The Lightship), and Hoffmann und Campe. Remarkably, he wrote his first love story, Schweigeminute (Minute’s Silence), at the age of 82.
In his novels, Lenz frequently explored the legacy of Germany’s Nazi past. Beyond prose, he also wrote plays and speeches, and was closely associated with Group 47, the influential writers’ circle.
He is buried in the Nienstedten Cemetery in Hamburg.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Try translating one of his poems into your native language
•	Look up the term Hermeticism, a concept many readers may not be familiar with

18.March

Happy Birthday, Stéphane Mallarmé
(18 March 1842)

When one speaks of Symbolism, Mallarmé’s name is never far away. Alongside Rimbaud, he is regarded as one of the most important poets of the French language and is often seen as a founding figure of literary Hermeticism.
Despite his literary brilliance, Mallarmé earned his living primarily as an English teacher, work he found more burdensome than inspiring.
On Tuesdays he hosted his famous Mardis, or “Tuesday Salon,” welcoming many of the leading poets and writers of his time.
Sadly, hosting a Tuesday Salon will have to wait, as his birthday falls on a Wednesday this year.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the Kuopion Korttelimuseo, where a dedicated exhibition hall honours the author
•	Read one of her works, such as Sylvi or The Worker’s Wife

19.March

Happy Birthday, Minna Canth 
(19 March 1844)!

The Finnish writer and women’s rights pioneer is the reason why Finland celebrates Social Equality Day on her birthday.
Minna Canth’s remarkable achievements were shaped in part by her parents, who believed strongly in giving their daughter the best education possible. Born in Tampere, she married a teacher at a young age and, as was common at the time, devoted many years to raising their seven children. Her literary career began while writing for her husband’s newspaper, where she fearlessly highlighted social injustices. She became the first Finnish-speaking female journalist, writing whenever she could find a spare moment.
The theatre was her great passion. With works such as The Worker’s Wife, she quickly gained recognition as a powerful dramatist. After her husband’s death, she single-handedly cared for her children while also managing her father’s shop, yet she continued to write and advocate for change.
Minna Canth emerged as a leading voice for women’s rights, playing an influential role in the movement for women’s suffrage and equal voting rights in Finland.

 Suggested activities:
•	Please do not copy Mr. Blumberg 
•	Perform a quick self-check: How severe is your bibliomania today?
•	Do not attempt treatment. Side effects may include… reading even more
•	Casually infect at least one other person with the reading bug

20.March

Bibliomania Day

Who do we commemorate on this day? In truth, it’s less about a person and more about a love, or perhaps an obsession, with books. When I glance at my own growing stacks of unread titles, I can certainly relate!
But the date itself was chosen quite deliberately. It marks a curious anniversary that of Stephen Blumberg, known as the “Book Bandit.” Over the course of 20 years, Blumberg stole around 23,600 books from 268 libraries and museums across the United States and Canada, until he was finally caught on 20 March 1990.
His extraordinary (and criminal) devotion to books even earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

 Suggested activities:
•	Pay with a Poem
•	Surprise Someone with an Original Poem
•	Read a Poem Aloud
•	Write Your Own Poem

21.March

World Poetry Day

World Poetry Day was established by UNESCO in 1999 to celebrate linguistic diversity and keep the art of poetry alive and appreciated around the world.
One particularly charming initiative linked to the day comes from the coffee company Julius Meinl. Their campaign, “Pay With A Poem,” invites people to exchange a handwritten poem for a cup of coffee or tea, but only in participating cafés.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book about water or one with “water” in its title
•	Read a non-fiction book about water

22.March

Today is World Water Day

A fitting moment to pause and consider the state of our planet’s most essential resource. Our oceans are filled with plastic, glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, and with a rapidly growing global population, access to clean drinking water is becoming one of humanity’s most urgent challenges. In many parts of the world, it already is.
Water also plays a significant role in literature. The topic appears frequently in non-fiction, for example, The Drinking Water Dictionary, but you’ll also find “water” surfacing in fiction, such as in John Boyne’s novel.

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend one of the festival events
•	Visit the festival bookshop
•	Read a book by one of the invited guest

23.March

Oxford Literary Festival 2026

This year’s Oxford Literary Festival will run from 21 to 29 March. The annual event brings together national and international authors for talks and readings held across Oxford University and venues throughout the city. The programme spans an impressive range of topics: history, fantasy, graphic novels, the classics, health, and much more. There is even a dedicated festival bookshop to explore.
Activities

Oxford Literary Festival

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a work by one of the authors listed on the right
•	Read a biography of Robert Koch
•	Explore a non-fiction or academic book about tuberculosis

24.March

World Tuberculosis Day

World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on 24 March. On this day in 1882, Robert Koch announced his discovery of the tuberculosis pathogen, an achievement that later earned him the 1905 Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Since 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) has used this day to raise global awareness about tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis in Literature
Beyond medicine, tuberculosis has also played a significant role in the lives of many writers. Several notable authors suffered from or died as a result of the disease, influencing both their lives and their work:
•	Franz Kafka
•	Robert Louis Stevenson (shown in the picture)
•	Joachim Ringelnatz
•	Thomas Mann
•	George Orwell

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a work by a Greek author (for example, Homer’s Iliad or writings by Nikos Dimou)
•	Enjoy Greek cuisine or raise a glass of Greek wine

25.March

Today we celebrate Greek 
Independence Day

The date commemorates the start of the Greek uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1821, a struggle that lasted until 1829 and ultimately led to the establishment of the first Hellenic Republic.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works (e.g., The Glass Menagerie)
•	Dive into a biography of his turbulent, fascinating life
•	And yes, be careful when opening medicine bottles!

26.March

Happy Birthday, Tennessee Williams
 (26 March 1911)

The celebrated American playwright was born Thomas Lanier Williams III, though he adopted the name Tennessee, a nickname given to him by a college friend that eventually became his literary identity.
Williams is remembered not so much as a novelist, but as one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. His masterpieces Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Glass Menagerie, and A Streetcar Named Desire reshaped American theatre. Ironically, he was never particularly fond of the film adaptation of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, despite its acclaim.
His life ended as dramatically as some of his characters: he died after accidentally choking on the cap of a medicine bottle.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Do a good deed, extend help to someone in need, echoing March’s own courage and compassion, even when he was wounded in battle
•	Explore another writer named March and discover something new
Listen to some marching music, a playful nod to his name and his military past

27.March

William March

Today on the 27th day of March, and with it comes a fitting moment to honour a writer who shares the month’s name: William March (1893–1954)
An American author and decorated U.S. Marine, March served bravely alongside French forces in World War I. His wartime experiences shaped much of his writing, imbuing it with sharp insight and emotional depth. His most celebrated work is the short story collection Company ‘K’, a powerful portrayal of soldiers' lives on the front lines.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Peter Ustinov’s books
•	Explore Peter Ustinov as an Author by Rolf Breuer
•	Not in the mood to read? Watch one of his films instead
•	Visit his grave in the quiet community of Bursins, located between Lausanne and Geneva

28.March

Today we remember Sir Peter Ustinov, who passed away in Geneva on 28 March 2004

Many people know him first and foremost from his memorable film roles, whether in Spartacus or as the brilliant and charismatic Hercule Poirot. However, Ustinov was far more than an actor. He was also a gifted writer of essays, novels, novellas, and screenplays, and he worked successfully as a director. Over the course of his career, he won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and received numerous lifetime achievement honours, including the Britannia Award and several German awards such as the Bambi and Goldene Kamera.
From 1971 until his death, Ustinov lived in the beautiful village of Bursins in French-speaking Switzerland and later became a Swiss citizen.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit this evocative corner of Montmartre and spend the night at the Hôtel Littéraire Marcel Aymé
•	Lose yourself in Le Passe-Muraille or another of his works
•	Or simply try walking through the wall

29.March

Happy Birthday Marcel Aymé

The French author Marcel Aymé was born on 29 March 1902. In his honour, his former residence in Montmartre, once at 26 Rue Norvins, now bears the name 2 Place Marcel Aymé. There stands the exquisite statue by Jean Marais, portraying Aymé as le Passe-Muraille—the man who could walk through walls, and the character who rendered his creator immortal. I have visited this sculpture many times and still regard it as one of the quiet treasures of Paris.

 Suggested activities:
•	read Black Beauty 
•	consider donating to a horse sanctuary

30.March

Happy Birthday, Anna Sewell

English author Anna Sewell was born on this day, 30 March 1820.
She is best known for her beloved novel Black Beauty. Dependent on horses for transport after an ankle injury, Sewell developed a deep bond with them and was appalled by the cruelty they often endured. Her writing became a powerful call for kindness and better treatment of horses.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a Donald Duck pocket book in which his iconic car appears
•	Then, keep an eye out on the streets for cars displaying the number 313

31.March

Donaldismus-Day

On 31 March, we celebrate the beloved Disney character Donald Duck.
While there’s another day dedicated to him on 9 June, his official “birthday”, the March date has a special twist. It was chosen because of the number 313, the license plate on Donald’s famously unreliable little car in the Disney universe.

 Suggested activities:
•	Create your own edible book
•	Then “devour” a book you no longer want (bon appétit!)

1.April

Edible Book Day

No, it’s not an April Fool’s joke, today really is Edible Book Day, also known as the Edible Book Festival.
On this deliciously creative day, people make and share edible creations inspired by books: from cakes shaped like novels to dishes that play on book titles. Naturally, these imaginative masterpieces are proudly shared on social media.
It’s the perfect celebration for those who love both reading and eating.
Fittingly, the date also marks the birthday of Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, the French gastronome and author of The Physiology of Taste.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Hans Christian Andersen’s wonderfully beautiful fairy tales and let yourself be carried away by his timeless storytelling
•	Pick up a classic children’s book as well — perhaps one you remember from your own childhood 

2.April

ICBD = International Children's Book Day

International Children’s Book Day is celebrated on the birthday of the beloved storyteller Hans Christian Andersen.
Established in 1967, this long-standing tradition aims to inspire a love of reading among children and to promote children’s and young adult literature around the world.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of her books

3.April

Happy Birthday, Marguerite Poland 
(born 3 April 1950)

Marguerite Poland is a celebrated South African author from Johannesburg, renowned for her contributions to both children’s and adult literature. With a background in African languages, much of her writing is deeply influenced by African oral storytelling traditions. Her experiences working as a social worker also shaped her insight into diverse communities and voices.
Among her most notable works are the award-winning children’s book The Mantis and the Moon, the novel Woodash Stars, and the historical fiction A Sin of Omission. In addition to fiction, she has also written non-fiction.

 Suggested activities:
•	Explore Traum und Wirklichkeit (Dream and Reality), a book that presents key moments of his life through text and imagery. The cover alone is worth it
•	Read one of his children's books, such as Na warte, sagt Schwarte (Just You Wait, Says Schwarte), inspired by his love for pigs

4.April

Happy 85th Birthday, Helme Heine

Today, we celebrate the 85th birthday of Helme Heine, the Berlin-born author and illustrator whose children’s books have delighted generations. His first publication was Elefanteneinmaleins, and he went on to achieve great popularity in Germany with the creation of the beloved little dragon Tabaluga, developed together with musician Peter Maffay. In addition to his children’s literature, Heine has also written for adults, and his artistic style remains instantly recognizable.
For more than 30 years, Heine has lived and worked in New Zealand, where his studio is famously said to resemble a UFO. He is also active as a sculptor. Before settling there, he spent many years living in South Africa, where he developed a fondness for pigs, an affection that later found its way into his stories. Despite his experiences across continents and cultures, he values privacy and tranquillity.
Over the years, Helme Heine has been honoured with numerous awards for his contributions to literature and the arts.

 Suggested activities:
•	Find a physical map and locate a destination on it
Tip: Spread the map out on the floor and toss a small object onto it with your eyes closed. Then try to manually track down that location using the map’s details (you can also use a dartboard-style throw for fun)
•	Travel to the destination chosen by the dart — and once you arrive, settle in and read a book there

5.April

Today we celebrate National Read a Roadmap Day

In an era dominated by smartphones and GPS, this day invites us to reconnect with traditional paper maps and the skill of navigating without digital help. It’s also a gentle reminder to unplug now and then and engage more with the world around us.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Luke 24, especially the Emmaus narrative
•	Bake something using a recipe from an Easter-themed baking book

6.April

Today we celebrate Easter Monday

Easter is closely linked to the Christian tradition, and in many countries Easter Monday is a public holiday for this reason. If you explore the Bible, this day draws special attention to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 13–35, which recounts the Emmaus story, the moment when two disciples recognize Jesus as he breaks bread with them.
Even if you are not religious (as I am not), Easter can be a meaningful time to learn about or reflect on the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of Christianity.

 Suggested activities:
•	Choose a health-related book and commit to applying at least one practical tip today, ideally something you can continue incorporating into everyday life
•	Explore this year’s theme, Together for Science, which underscores the vital role of evidence, facts, and science-based guidance in protecting health

7.April

Today we celebrate World Health Day

This day marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 7 April 1948. Each year, World Health Day focuses on a specific health-related theme to raise awareness and encourage global action.
Health is also a significant topic in literature. Many novels explore personal stories shaped by illness, while shelves are filled with guidebooks on nutrition, wellness, and longevity. There are also numerous professional medical texts, for example, the Pschyrembel Clinical Dictionary, widely used in the medical field.

 Suggested activities:
•	Whether at home or outdoors, choose something you can see or hold and take a moment to feel grateful for it
•	Read a few lines from a book that is particularly dear to you

8.April

Today we celebrate All Is Ours Day
bserved each year on 8 April.

It’s a day dedicated to appreciating what we have, to pause, take notice, and feel grateful for the things and people we often take for granted.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit Edinburgh, for example Holyrood Palace, where a unicorn can be spotted on the façade
•	Read The Last Unicorn (1968) by Peter S. Beagle, the novel that inspired the animated film of the same name
•	Go on a “unicorn hunt”, see if you can find unicorn imagery or statues in your local area

9.April

Today we celebrate Unicorn Day, held every year on 9 April

Although many people like to imagine they might be real, unicorns as we know them are mythical creatures, essentially a blend of a horse and a narwhal. They symbolize purity, innocence, and magic, and according to legend, only a virgin can capture one.
The unicorn is also Scotland’s national animal, proudly displayed on the country’s coat of arms. There, it is depicted wearing a golden chain, a symbol rooted in Celtic tradition.

 Suggested activities:
•	Share a poem on social media today
•	Carry its words with you—and pass them on

10.April

Poem in your Pocket Day (PIYP Day)

Since 2002, Poem in Your Pocket Day (PIYP Day) has celebrated the joy of sharing poetry with others. Originally launched in New York, the event has become well known across the United States and Canada. Participants simply choose a poem, whether printed or digital, carry it with them throughout the day, and share it with others in any way they like. While the tradition began with in-person sharing, today it’s most often celebrated through social media.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Thomas Harris’ books
•	Call your mother (Harris phoned his own beloved mother every day until her passing)

11.April

Happy Birthday, Thomas Harris

The American author was born on 11 April 1940 in Jackson, Mississippi. Even readers who don’t typically follow literature are likely to know his iconic Hannibal Lecter trilogy.
I have to admit that I first encountered The Silence of the Lambs as a film. I even had to watch it twice. The first time was during a holiday in Scotland, in a quiet B&B with two other guests. The atmosphere in that remote house felt a little too still, and after the male guest excused himself early, I decided it was safer to retreat to bed as well.
Harris’ stories are hard to classify; they are neither pure horror nor straightforward thrillers. What they guarantee, however, is a lingering sense of unease and plenty of goosebumps.

 Suggested activities:
•	So let’s begin: drop everything and read! (Ideally something by the birthday girl herself, Beverly Cleary)

12.April

Today is D.E.A.R. Day—Drop Everything and Read

Every year on 12 April, individuals and families are encouraged to pause their routines and make reading a priority. The date was chosen in honour of American author Beverly Cleary, who would have turned 110 today and was the first writer to introduce the idea of this celebration.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Try translating a short text from French into English
•	Wait for Godot — or simply wait for someone who never arrives

13.April

Happy Birthday, Samuel Beckett (13 April 1906)

Today marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Beckett, the acclaimed Irish writer from Dublin. A remarkably versatile author, Beckett produced novels, prose, poetry, and plays. His most famous work is undoubtedly Waiting for Godot. Having spent most of his life in France, he wrote many of his works in French and later translated them into English himself, for example, En attendant Godot. His connection to France can be traced back to his Huguenot ancestors, who are believed to have fled there to Ireland.
In 1969, Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, though he chose not to attend the ceremony. He is buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris, where he is remembered not only for his literary achievements but also for his service in the French Resistance during the Second World War.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book about volcanism
•	Read David Keyes’ When the Sun Went Out
•	Read Klaus Mann’s The Volcano (though set in an entirely different context)

14.April

Today we celebrate Volcano Day

Sixteen years ago, Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull (Eyjafjalla Glacier) erupted, sending vast clouds of ash into the atmosphere. Many will remember the impact: airports across Europe were shut down, and air travel came to a standstill. And astonishingly, this was only Iceland’s sixth-largest volcano.
Patience quickly became essential. With flights grounded, countless travellers turned to trains instead, resulting in longer journeys, but perhaps also more time to read.

 Suggested activities:
•	Try playing a simple piano melody using only your left hand
•	Read one of his poems and reflect on its imagery, tone, and atmosphere

15.April

Happy Birthday, Tomas Tranströmer (15 April 1931)

Today we remember the birthday of the Swedish poet, who passed away in 2015. Tranströmer’s works have been translated into more than 50 languages, and in 2011 he received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his influential and evocative poetic voice.
After suffering a stroke that left the right side of his body paralyzed, Tranströmer continued to create art. His disability led him back to music, and he learned to play piano pieces using only his left hand.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Bosshard’s poems
•	Walk down from the Zugerberg, passing the old oak tree along the way

16.April

Hans Bosshard – Zuger Mundart-Dichter, 16.4.1889 – 29.09.1969

Hans Bosshard, the beloved poet of the Zug dialect, was born on 16 April 1889. Today, we commemorate his life and lasting contribution to local culture.
Along the hiking trail from Zugerberg down toward the town of Zug, walkers pass his memorial, a peaceful spot with a beautiful view over the lake. A bench invites visitors to pause, rest, and reflect on the poet’s deep connection to the region he so vividly captured in words.
Bosshard was not only a poet but also a dedicated teacher. In 1962, he published the Zuger Mundartbuch (Zug Dialect Book), preserving the rich sounds and expressions of his native tongue.
Nearby, above the Blasenberg inn, stands a proud oak tree, the very one he once celebrated in a poem. Decades later, it continues to grow, a living reminder of Bosshard’s enduring bond with the landscape of Zug.

Photo: Commemorative plaque on the road from Zugerberg toward Zug

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend an Arsenal match
•	Read one of his books, ideally near a stereo, for authenticity
•	Send him a letter addressed to “Nick Hornby, at Arsenal Football Pitch” and discover whether the postal service still believes in miracles

17.April

Happy Birthday, Nick Hornby (17 April 1957)

If you ever hear the words football, music and literature in the same sentence and Nick Hornby doesn’t immediately spring to mind, then I’m afraid you may be holding the book upside down. A devoted Arsenal fan, he turned football fandom into literature with Fever Pitch and managed to write about music in a way that makes even non-musicians nod thoughtfully and pretend they own rare vinyl.
My well-loved copy of High Fidelity has now aged into a pleasant shade of yellow, and on page nine I once scrawled in pink pen: “This is the best book in the world.” To be fair, this was before I discovered Arto Paasilinna’s The Year of the Hare, which slightly complicated my personal ranking system, but Hornby still holds an honorary lifetime position on the podium. I underlined several lines, cheered at the mention of the legendary Opal Fruits and The Jesus & Mary Chain, and proudly treasure the postcard Nick Hornby once sent me in response to my enthusiastic fan mail which I had addressed simply to: at the Arsenal Football Pitch. Astonishingly, it arrived.
Literary talent appears to run in the family, his sister Gill Hornby writes too, and for good measure she married novelist Robert Harris. No pressure at family dinners.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a newspaper column
•	Analyze the writer’s viewpoint and how it’s conveyed
•	Try a blackout exercise: obscure selected words to create a new, much shorter piece of text

18.April

Today We Celebrate National Columnists’ Day

While many of us now read the news online, nothing quite compares to holding a real newspaper in your hands, the texture of the pages, the faint smell of ink, the quiet ritual of turning the sheets. Countless writers began their careers as columnists, and many continue to move between journalism and literature with ease.
Today, we honor the craft of the newspaper column: concise, insightful, and often boldly opinionated.






*The text is from today's New York Times (International Edition)

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of her novels or short stories
•	Watch a film adaptation
•	Avoid antagonizing any birds, especially near open windows
•	Try out an androgynous or boyish outfit (hair decisions optional and fully reversible only in theory)
•	Explore one of her grandfather’s works

19.April

Today we commemorate Daphne du Maurier, the British author who died on 19 April 1989 in Par, Cornwall

Her best-known works, Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, and The Birds, became globally famous through Alfred Hitchcock’s film adaptations, though she was already a talented and prolific writer in her own right. She also wrote plays and short stories, proving that mood, suspense, and psychological unease were not limited to novels.
Du Maurier published her debut, The Loving Spirit, in 1931 at the age of just 24, borrowing the title from Emily Brontë’s poem Self-Interrogation. She became one of the highest-earning female authors of her generation, prompting some to refer to her, with questionable accuracy, but great enthusiasm, as “the J.K. Rowling of her day.”
One can only imagine what she might have said about modern gender debates, given that as a child she cut her hair short and preferred to dress like a boy. There is no knowing whether she would have joined a panel discussion or simply escaped to a cliff-top path with her notebook.
Literary talent clearly ran in the family: her father, George du Maurier, was a celebrated actor, and her grandfather was the cartoonist and novelist responsible for Trilby.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book by this author
•	Read a book by this author
•	Read a book by this author

20.April

Remembering Arto Paasilinna — The Finnish Master of Wit and Warmth

Today, I want to pay tribute to one of my favourite authors, the Finnish writer Arto Paasilinna.
When I first began learning Finnish, I also wanted to understand more about the country and its culture. So one day, I wandered into the Vogel bookshop on Marktgasse in Winterthur. Near the entrance stood a rotating display of paperbacks, and that’s where I discovered Paasilinna’s legendary novel, The Year of the Hare.
That book didn’t just save a hare, it saved me as a reader. At the time, I had barely read any books. But from the moment I opened those pages, something changed. Since then, not a single day has passed without me reading at least a few pages of a book.
Arto Paasilinna, born on 20 April 1942 in Kittilä, left behind a literary legacy full of humour and his unmistakably Finnish storytelling style. He passed away on 15 October 2018, but his stories continue to remind us how absurd, tender, and beautiful life can be.

 Suggested activities:
•	Look for English vocabulary that is new to you
•	When reading, pay attention to long or unfamiliar words

21.April

Big Word Day

This annual event is well known in English-speaking countries. Its goal is to celebrate and enrich the English language by encouraging people to create and use long, unusual words. It’s also a great opportunity to learn and explore new vocabulary.

My Big Word is: Tarmacadam from the novel Twist by Colum McCann (page 19).

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Hans Arnold’s illustrated books
•	Watch the film
•	Explore the booklet included with ABBA’s Greatest Hits album

22.April

Happy Birthday to Hans Arnold

Born on 22 April 1925 in Sursee, Switzerland, he emigrated to Sweden in 1948, where he built an extraordinary career as an illustrator.
From ABBA’s Greatest Hits (1975) to Astrid Lindgren’s Allrakäraste syster, Arnold proved himself a remarkably versatile artist whose works often embraced a surrealistic touch.
While he remained almost unknown in his native Switzerland, he became a celebrated figure in Sweden, even inspiring a documentary film, Hans Arnold – Art of the Witch-master.

 Suggested activities:
•	Pick up one of his books and enjoy a good read
•	Take a leisurely stroll along the Carl Spitteler Quai in Lucerne

24.April

Carl Spitteler 

Switzerland has had only one Nobel Prize laureate in literature to date — Carl Spitteler, born on 24 April 1845 in Liestal. Today, we commemorate his life and work.
Originally trained in theology, Spitteler chose not to pursue a religious career. Instead, he worked as a teacher in St. Petersburg and later as a freelance journalist.
In 1892, Spitteler settled in Lucerne, where he became an honorary citizen in 1909. An inheritance from his wife’s family allowed him to dedicate himself fully to writing.
In Lucerne, a quay on the lakeside has been named in his honour. It is also home to Roland Duss’s sculpture Die Liegende (The Reclining Woman), which stands as a tribute to the celebrated author.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the Crime Fiction Festival in South Tyrol
•	Settle in with a gripping crime novel
•	Step into the world of Sherlock Holmes, or your favourite sleuth, and solve a mystery right in the streets of your own neighbourhood

25.April

Krimifestival Südtirol

The South Tyrol Crime Festival will take place on 25 April at the Astra Brixen Cultural Centre. Launched in 2025, the festival is a relatively new event, but after its great success in its first year, it now returns for a second edition.
The festival was co-founded by the acclaimed crime-writing duo Dark & Troi.

https://www.krimifestival.com/

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend the festival
•	Pick up and read a book featured in the program

26.April

Final Day of the 2026 Isny Literature Days (April 12–26, 2026)

Have you ever heard of Isny im Allgäu? This charming town of about 15,000 residents lies in the far south of Germany, and for more than 20 years, it has hosted its very own annual literature festival.
The Isny Literature Days offer far more than readings: the program features workshops, performances, and activities designed for all age groups, creating a vibrant cultural celebration for the entire community.
The Literature Days opened on Sunday, 12. Aprilm with the traditional literary brunch at the historic Gasthof Adler, where the winning entries of the Isny Writing Contest were presented. This year it was inspired by Lena Schätte’s quote: “I say yes, yet shake my head.”

https://www.isny.de/kultur-kunst/kultur-erleben/literatur/isnyer-literaturtage.html

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Paradise Lost 
•	Sell something online for exactly £10

27.April

Today we mark the moment John Milton sold the copyright to Paradise Lost for the modest sum of £10, a deal agreed on 27 April 1667

Milton, born on 9 December 1608, was one of England’s most influential poets and the author of one of the greatest epic works in the English language. During his university years, he was teasingly nicknamed “The Lady of Christ’s” due to his pale complexion and youthful appearance.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Ludwig Tieck’s short stories
•	Explore Tieck’s masterpiece, Puss in Boots
•	Create a paper cutout of Tieck. There are plenty of beautiful templates to choose from. 
•	And today, for once, let your cat use your boots—no questions asked

28.April

Remembering Ludwig Tieck

Today marks the anniversary of the death of Ludwig Tieck (1773–1853), the brilliant mind behind Puss in Boots. 
Like many, I used to credit this timeless tale to the Brothers Grimm. But it was actually Tieck, one of the pioneers of German Romanticism, who first brought it to life in 1797.
Originally destined to become a theologian (his father’s dream), Tieck followed his heart instead into the world of theatre, poetry, and storytelling. He even translated Shakespeare.
A true Romantic, Tieck was among the first to write about the Middle Ages with wonder and imagination, inspiring writers like Eichendorff.
Here’s to the dreamers who follow their passion and leave behind stories that never fade.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read 29 April 1989
•	Explore one of her other poems or collections
•	Create your own poem 29 April

29.April

Today we celebrate Sujata Bhatt’s poem 29 April 1989

Bhatt is a poet of Indian origin who now lives in Bremen, Germany. Before settling there, she studied and lived in the United States. In addition to her own writing, she is also active as a translator, working to bring literature into her native language, Gujarati.

I created my own poem:
The fourth month now just fades away,
Like any other passing day.
Though many cheer when comes in May,
I pause a while, and softly say:

For April 29 stirs within me
a gentle yet fleeting memory—
a day that has just passed, both dear and sad,
One day after the birthday once my father had.
©Sybil

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a Pettersson and Findus book and really look at the illustrations
•	Explore one of his lesser-known works for a hidden gem (or two)

30.April

Happy 80th Birthday, Sven Nordqvist (30 April 1946)

Who doesn’t know the legendary, whimsical tales of Pettersson and Findus? Few picture books are created with such extraordinary charm, humour, and visual storytelling. Every page is packed with tiny surprises, and it’s often the smallest background details that steal the show.
In true creative-genius fashion, Nordqvist was initially rejected by art school. Instead, he studied architecture, a twist that may well explain the meticulous precision and playful complexity in his illustrations. He also once built a miniature golf course for his children, which feels entirely on brand.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book about rituals or witchcraft, such as Melanie Marquis: Beltane – Rituals, Recipes & Lore for May Day
•	Explore a book on Irish mythology

1.May

Happy Beltane or Lá Bealtaine, as it’s called in Irish and Celtic tradition

In the Celtic calendar, Beltane marks the beginning of summer, traditionally celebrated on the evening before 1st May. It’s a time when communities once gathered to light great bonfires, believed to offer protection and ensure prosperity. A maypole, symbolizing life and fertility, is also decorated.
Today, the celebration still echoes through various customs. Labour Day observances and Walpurgis Night celebrations often draw on these ancient springtime traditions.

Please avoid visiting forests at night. In the past, animals were sometimes driven through fires as part of the ritual, but today we respect and protect our wildlife.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the St. Mangen’s Church in St. Gallen
•	Read the book Wiborada von St. Gallen

2.May

Commemoration Day for Saint Wiborada

Today we honour Saint Wiborada, the patron saint of book lovers and a revered recluse.
Living in the early Middle Ages, Wiborada chose a life of solitude and devotion. Rather than entering a convent, she had herself enclosed in a small cell attached to St. Mangen’s Church in St. Gallen, where she lived as an anchorite. Her only connection to the outside world was a small window through which she offered spiritual advice to those who sought her counsel.
In 925, Wiborada reportedly had a vision foretelling a Hungarian invasion. The townspeople heeded her warning and secured their treasures in time. When the attackers came, Wiborada refused to flee and was martyred for her faith.
Her final resting place remains in St. Mangen’s Church, where a replica of her cell still stands, available for anyone wishing to experience a week of solitude in her memory.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read about the same topic from two different media sources and compare tone, focus, and framing
•	Look out for a local event, talk, or exhibition connected to this UNESCO day

3.May

Happy World Press Freedom Day

Since 1994, this international day has been observed every year on 3 May, honouring the fundamental importance of press freedom and commemorating journalists who have been threatened, attacked, or even killed in the line of duty. The day was established by the United Nations and is rooted in the 1991 Windhoek Declaration, a landmark statement supporting independent and pluralistic media.
A free press is a cornerstone of democratic societies: public debate, transparency, and the ability to express facts and opinions openly all depend on it. Meaningful opinion-forming is only possible when people encounter a range of perspectives, something that feels increasingly challenging today.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Final Problem
•	Visit the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland

4.May

Sherlock Holmes dies on 4 May 1891

While on a health retreat in Switzerland, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle discovered what he considered the perfect setting for Sherlock Holmes’s final adventure — the dramatic Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen.
It was there, on 4 May 1891, that Holmes met his arch-enemy, Professor Moriarty, and together they plunged into the roaring depths in The Final Problem.
When the story was published in The Strand Magazine in 1893, grief-stricken readers in London held funeral processions to mourn the detective’s death.
Today, a memorial wreath at the Reichenbach Falls honours this famous literary moment, where fiction and reality continue to intertwine.


Picture:
Sherlock Holmes statue
St Pauls & St Georges Church, 20 Broughton St, Edinburgh
This statue is situated opposite the building were Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Todd Strasser’s books
•	Create a pen name inspired by translations of your own name, bonus points for subtle wordplay and mysterious flair

5.May

Happy Birthday, Todd Strasser, better known by his pen name Morton Rhue 

(born 5 May 1950)
His pseudonym is a clever linguistic play: Morton contains the French word mort (death), which echoes his first name Todd, and Rhue resembles the French word rue (street), a nod to Strasser, meaning “someone from the street” in German. Few pen names hide such multilingual wordplay.
His most famous work is The Wave, based on a real classroom experiment that took place in Palo Alto, California in 1967, a chilling reminder of how quickly group pressure and authority can shape behaviour.

I immediately set out to translate my own name and arrived at Seer Carter. The rest, I’ll leave for you to figure out.

 Suggested activities:
•	Observe your own behaviour: Do you consistently act in the spirit of Knigge’s principles?
•	Read one of his books and explore the origins of modern etiquette

6.May

On 6 May 1796, exactly 230 years ago today, Adolph Freiherr Knigge passed away

He achieved worldwide fame for his guidelines on etiquette in both professional and everyday life. 
How do we greet someone properly?
How should we behave at the table?
And is it acceptable to eat pizza with our hands?
Many of his principles are so ingrained today that we hardly give them a second thought. Yet those who lack manners still fail to follow even the simplest rules.
It would be fascinating to know how Knigge would judge some of our modern habits: constant cell phone use in public spaces, eating fast food on trains and in pedestrian areas, or the all-too-common problem of littering.
Knigge himself was not an advocate of rigid court etiquette; his recommendations were grounded in respect and consideration for others.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead
•	Watch the 1949 film adaptation starring Gary Cooper
•	Make a conscious effort to act as an individual and make a positive difference in a small everyday situation

7.May

Today we commemorate Ayn Rand and her novel The Fountainhead, first published on 7 May 1943

This work marked the Russian-American author’s first major success.
At the centre of the story stand two opposing figures: Howard Roark, an individualistic and visionary young architect, and Peter Keating, who embodies conformity and convention. Their conflict raises a central question of the novel: Which ultimately prevails, the individual or the collective?
Howard Roark is widely believed to have been partly inspired by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

 Suggested activities:
•	Adopt a donkey through The Donkey Sanctuary or a local rescue organisation
•	Read The Complete Book of the Donkey by Dr. Elisabeth Svendsen, founder of The Donkey Sanctuary
•	Enjoy My Donkey Benjamin by Hans Limmer, a delightful story celebrating the friendship between a little girl and her donkey

8.May

World Donkey Day

It’s no coincidence that World Donkey Day falls exactly one week after Labour Day, a fitting tribute to these hardworking animals who have supported people for centuries. Sadly, in many parts of the world, donkeys are still overworked and mistreated.
The Donkey Sanctuary, an international organisation dedicated to the welfare of donkeys and mules, continues to make a remarkable difference for both animals and people.
I have a personal connection to their work: my beloved adopted donkey, Timothy, sadly passed away in 2024, but he has been lovingly succeeded by the equally charming Peanut.
Many still think of donkeys as stubborn or slow, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. These gentle creatures are deeply social, empathetic, and intelligent, often far more so than we give them credit for. And remember: if a donkey seems stubborn, it might just be reminding you to slow down and rethink your approach.

 Suggested activities:
•	Why not try it yourself?
Choose a simple, everyday object and bring it to life through your own poem

9.May

Birthday of Charles Simic – Thing Poem

On 9. May 1938, Charles Simic, the poet behind the famous object poem Fork, was born in Belgrade.
What makes an object poem special?
It takes an ordinary object and turns it into something extraordinary. The focus is entirely on the object, often described in vivid or surreal ways that make us see it anew.

 Suggested activities:
Read a book by an author whose books were burned:
•	Bertold Brecht
•	Erich Kästner
•	Erich Maria Remarque
•	Anna Seghers
•	Stefan Zweig

10.May

Against the Un-German Spirit

On 10 May 1933, the Nazis launched their campaign “Against the Un-German Spirit.” Thousands of books, mainly by Jewish authors, but also by others whose views were deemed politically unacceptable, were banned and publicly burned.
Today, as we witness rising antisemitism and growing intolerance once again, it feels important to remember this day. It reminds us how easily freedom of thought and expression can be suppressed. In times when much of the media struggles to remain neutral and independent, it becomes ever more crucial for each of us to think critically and seek out truth for ourselves.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Take a short trip and write your own travel reflection

11.May

Happy Birthday, Camilo José Cela 
(11 May 1916)

Today marks what would have been the 110th birthday of Camilo José Cela, the Spanish author who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1989. His novel The Family of Pascual Duarte is widely regarded as one of Spain’s most significant literary works since Don Quixote.
Cela’s novel The Hive was originally published in Argentina due to censorship in Spain. The book offers a vivid portrayal of life in the years leading up to the Spanish Civil War. His support for Franco, however, remains one of the most controversial aspects of his legacy.
Cela also shaped modern travel literature through his evocative travelogues, including Journey to the Alcarria, in which he recounts his travels on foot across rural Spain.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his poems or stories
•	Visit a museum where his works are on display (e.g., the British Museum in London or the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool)

12.May

Happy Birthday, Dante Gabriel Rossetti 
(12 May 1828)

Born Gabriel Charles Dante Rossetti, he chose to place Dante first in honour of the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Rossetti was a rare artistic talent, equally gifted in both painting and poetry.
He became a central figure in the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a mid-19th-century artistic movement deeply inspired by Italian art and committed to portraying nature with meticulous detail. Rossetti was especially known for his striking and idealized portraits of women; his work Venus Verticordia, for example, evokes an almost modern, ethereal beauty reminiscent of singer Kate Bush. His self-portrait is also notably captivating.
In 1870, he published his collection Poems, which caused controversy for its bold and sensual themes, far more daring than typical Victorian literature. Rossetti also had an unusual fondness for exotic animals and famously kept a personal menagerie that included wombats and kangaroos.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his poems or stories
Read one of these works of crumb-based brilliance while consuming a meal garnished with croutons. For full immersion, consider eating them without soup, just to assert dominance.

13.May

Today is National Crouton Day, and yes, we’re apparently dedicating 24 full hours to honouring small, crunchy cubes of stale bread. Humanity continues to impress.
These humble little toast-nuggets have inspired authors worldwide, proving that no subject is too trivial, too strange, or too carbohydrate-based for literature. If you’re looking for some high-brow thematic reading, you may select from such crouton-centric masterpieces as:
•	Kristine A. Lombardi: Crouton: One Cat's Adoption Tale
•	Todd Hallbauer: Nightmare Crouton
•	Wayne F. Burke: Escape from Planet Crouton
•	Leigh Ann Baka: Have You Come About the Croutons? 
A title that raises far more questions than it answers.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Under Milk Wood
•	Perform a public reading of Under Milk Wood
•	Hold a reading of Under Milk Wood in a public place in New York

14.May

Today we celebrate International Dylan Thomas Day

Observed every year on 14 May, this day marks the anniversary of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’s first public reading of Under Milk Wood, which took place in New York in 1953.
Thomas’s literary career began much earlier, his first poetry collection was published in 1934. Despite being born and raised in Wales by Welsh-speaking parents, he himself did not speak the Welsh language.
Thomas was known for both his genius and his wild, bohemian lifestyle. At one memorable party hosted by Charlie Chaplin, he became so intoxicated that he drove his car into the tennis court net. Yet, these chaotic moments only seemed to enhance his legend. His influence reached far beyond poetry: even Bob Dylan chose his stage name in homage to him.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Homo Faber or one of his works
•	Discover the Letzigraben Outdoor Pool in Zurich, a landmark of modernist design created in 1949 by Max Frisch.

15.May

Remembering Max Frisch

Today we commemorate one of Switzerland’s most famous writers, Max Frisch, who was born on 15 May 1911 in Zurich.
His most famous work is undoubtedly Homo Faber. But what does the title mean? The Latin phrase translates to “the creative human being” or “man the maker”.
A commemorative plaque now marks his last residence at Stadelhoferstrasse 28 in Zurich, honouring the enduring legacy of this remarkable author.

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend the International Literature Festival Dublin
•	Read a work featured in one of the festival’s programmes 

16.May

International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD)

The International Literature Festival Dublin, founded in 1998, takes place from 15–24 May 2026. Over the course of the festival, visitors can enjoy readings, panel discussions, and literary-themed guided walks throughout the city.
The festival’s logo features a blue hippocampus, not only a mythical sea creature, but also a reference to the part of the brain associated with memory, imagination, and how we perceive the world. This dual meaning reflects the festival’s celebration of both creativity and storytelling.

Today, you can discover a range of fascinating events, including:
•	Jean-Baptiste Andrea: Fictions of Art and Desire 
•	James Murray: Yeats, Joyce & Dublin 
•	Alan Windram: Cool for Cats 

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books
•	Support or donate to his foundation Lolwe
•	Try identifying and naming different types of snow, inspired by Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow

17.May

Happy Birthday, Peter Høeg 

(born 17 May 1957)
The acclaimed Danish author secured his place in literary history with the novel Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow, a global success that later became a film starring Julia Ormond, also highly praised in its own right.
Høeg’s path to writing was anything but conventional: he has been a ballet dancer, actor, and sailor. Beyond his artistic achievements, he is committed to humanitarian work. He founded the Lolwe Foundation, which supports communities across Africa, including initiatives such as building corn mills. Despite his generosity and impact, Høeg remains deeply private and avoids the spotlight. His Kenyan wife is an important part of his international life and engagement.

 Suggested activities:
•	Discover the church in Konolfingen
•	follow the Dürrenmatt Trail
•	experience his world by reading one of his works

18.May

Unveiling of the Stained-Glass Window in Konolfingen

On 18 May 2008, a remarkable stained-glass window was unveiled in the Reformed Church of Konolfingen, in the canton of Bern. This is no ordinary window, it was designed from an original pen-and-ink drawing by the writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
The church stands in Dürrenmatt’s birthplace, directly opposite his former home, the Konolfingen rectory. Born in 1921 as the son of a Reformed pastor, Dürrenmatt maintained a lifelong connection to the village.
Today, visitors can follow the Dürrenmatt Literary Trail, which celebrates his life and work in the place where his story began.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read L’Étranger
•	Play or watch football, Camus was a devoted fan and famously said that what he learned about ethics, he learned on the football pitch

19.May

On 19 May 1942, Albert Camus published his landmark novel L’Étranger (The Stranger)

The story follows Meursault, an emotionally detached man living in French-ruled Algeria who becomes involved in a senseless murder, shooting an unnamed Arab on a sun-scorched beach. The novel explores themes of indifference, existentialism, and society’s response to those who refuse to conform. Meursault’s trial becomes less about the crime and more about his character, challenging readers to question moral expectations.
Camus himself was born in Algeria, a background that shaped much of his writing and philosophical outlook. In 1957, at the age of only 44, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the second-youngest recipient after Rudyard Kipling. Tragically, Camus died just two years later in a car accident.

 Suggested activities:
And how best to commemorate this tireless writer? 
•	Perhaps with a cup of coffee, or several. Balzac himself was known to consume as many as 50 cups a day to fuel his relentless writing sessions. The amount, of course, is up to you
•	experience his world by reading one of his works

20.May

Happy Birthday Honoré de Balzac

Honoré de Balzac was born on 20 May 1799, in Tours, France.
His most famous work, La Comédie Humaine, offers a vast panorama of French society in his time, an extraordinary collection of stories that together form one of the great achievements of world literature.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit his final residence in Twickenham and stay at the Hotel Alexander Pope
•	Read The Rape of the Lock
•	Read An Essay on Criticism

21.May

Today We Commemorate Alexander Pope (May 21, 1688 – May 30, 1744)

The English poet Alexander Pope lived a life marked by extraordinary literary achievement despite significant health challenges. Standing only 1.37 m tall, he suffered from tuberculosis, asthma, and a severe spinal curvature that required him to wear a supportive corset throughout his adult life.
Known as “The Wasp of Twickenham” for his sharp wit and pointed satirical remarks, often aimed at prominent figures of his time, Pope remains one of the most quoted writers in English literature. A stained-glass memorial window in Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey honours his legacy. He is buried in Twickenham beside his parents.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a Sherlock Holmes story
•	Try solving a mystery of your own
•	Visit Baker Street in London
•	Smoke a pipe
•	Play the violin
•	Or, for the less adventurous: simply peer at something through a magnifying glass

22.May

International Sherlock Holmes Day

Today marks the birthday of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the brilliant mind behind Sherlock Holmes. There are many ways to celebrate this remarkable author and his hero.

It is said that his final words were addressed to his wife: “You are wonderful.”
Yes, and so was he.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Try to fit as many squares as possible into your day today

23.May

Birthday of Friedrich Achleitner

On 23 May 1930, the Upper Austrian writer Friedrich Achleitner was born.
(Incidentally, the stress in his name falls on the second syllable.)
Achleitner became known for his experimental novel Quadrat-Roman (Square Novel), published in 1973.
Who is the protagonist of Quadrat-Roman?
A square.
In this unusual work, the square becomes the central character, each page offering new linguistic and graphic experiments that blur the line between literature and visual art.
(Fun fact: the word “Quadrat” is also stressed on the second syllable.)

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Read one of his books or comics
•	Watch Käpt’n Blaubär (Captain Bluebear)
•	Visit the Captain Bluebear statue on the Gera River in Erfurt near the Schlösserbrücke (sadly, Hein Blöd was vandalised in 2019, a reminder that even beloved childhood characters aren’t always safe from thoughtless behaviour)

24.May

Happy Birthday, Walter Moers (born 24 May 1957)

Walter Moers, a writer and illustrator from Mönchengladbach, is the imaginative mind behind the fantastical world of Zamonia, the beloved Captain Bluebear, and the satirical comic character Das kleine Arschloch (The Little Arsehole).
Captain Bluebear is known for recounting wildly imaginative seafaring adventures to his three grandchildren Yellow, Green, and Pink. The character first appeared on Die Sendung mit der Maus (The Show with the Mouse), a well-known German children’s television programme.
Despite the colour, humour, and boundless creativity of his work, Moers is famously reclusive. He avoids public appearances.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Wear lilac – what else…

25.May

Wear the Lilac Day

Wear the Lilac Day perfectly captures the spirit of fantasy author Terry Pratchett. Fans mark the day to remember the fictional Glorious Revolution in the city of Ankh-Morpork, where survivors wore lilac in honour of the fallen.
Tragically, in 2007, Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and fittingly, lilac is also the colour associated with Alzheimer’s awareness and research.
Tip: If you want to know whether someone is a Terry Pratchett fan, just peek into their wardrobe. If you spot a lot of purple, there’s a good chance you’ve found one.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit Whitby in Yorkshire and climb the famous 199 steps to Whitby Abbey
•	Read Dracula (or revisit your favourite edition)
•	Watch a Dracula film and let’s be honest, there’s only one true Count: Christopher Lee
•	Support a bat conservation project

26.May

Happy Birthday, Dracula

On 26 May 1897, Bram Stoker unleashed Dracula upon the world and ever since, this date has been celebrated as Dracula Day. The tradition goes back a long way, established in 1897 by the Whitby Dracula Society.
Interestingly, the name Dracula wasn’t Stoker’s first choice. In Romanian, the word can mean dragon or devil, and the vampire was originally supposed to be named Count Wampyr. Although Stoker never visited Romania, his extensive research led him to the terrifying figure of Vlad the Impaler, who inspired the character we know today. And fun fact: literary Dracula sported a moustache — thankfully, not every detail made it into the movie adaptations!

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Christian Morgenstern’s poem Der Purzelbaum
•	Attempt a somersault while reading (carefully!)
•	Explore a book about somersaults, such as Roger Hargreaves’ Little Miss Somersault

27.May

Today We Celebrate International Somersault Day

International Somersault Day has been celebrated since 2009, founded by German Pastor Jörg Wilkesmann. Inspired by Christian Morgenstern’s delightful poem Der Purzelbaum (The Somersault), he launched the day to encourage people to get moving and bring a bit of playfulness into everyday life. The poem itself is charming and its final verse feels surprisingly relevant even today. 🙂

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a Fleming novel or watch a James Bond film
•	Channel your inner 007: show confidence and boldness, especially in unexpected situations
•	Grab some binoculars and go birdwatching
•	Step in if you see someone harassing or chasing pigeons. Treating animals with respect is non-negotiable

28.May

Happy Birthday, Ian Fleming! 

(28 May 1908)
Today we celebrate the birthday of Ian Fleming, the brilliant mind behind the legendary secret agent James Bond. Fleming famously borrowed the name James Bond from an American ornithologist, a fitting choice, as he was a passionate birdwatcher himself.
While Bond may be the quintessential British hero, the character was partly inspired by a Serbian double agent, with Fleming adding his own touches, including Bond’s well-known reputation as a charming womanizer.
But Fleming didn’t just create spies and villains. He also wrote the beloved children’s classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a story he originally crafted for his son, Caspar. Even today, many of us can’t hear the title without immediately humming the unforgettable tune from the film adaptation.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read A Dry White Season or watch the film adaptation
•	Explore one of his other powerful literary works

29.May

Happy Birthday, André Philippus Brink 

(29 May 1935)
André Brink is regarded as one of South Africa’s most influential writers and was a leading figure in the literary movement Die Sestigers. He wrote in both Afrikaans and English, challenging political and social norms through his work. His acclaimed novel A Dry White Season became the first book to be banned by the apartheid government. The story was later adapted into a successful film starring Jürgen Prochnow and Donald Sutherland.
Brink is said to have inherited his deep sense of justice from his mother, who worked as a teacher. His legacy even extends into the natural world: a South African jumping spider was named in his honour Evarcha brinki.
He passed away on 6 February 2015 from a thrombosis while travelling on a flight from Amsterdam to Cape Town.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
•	Explore a biography of Thoreau
•	Take mindful time out in nature or spend meaningful time with a sibling

30.May

Today we commemorate Henry David Thoreau, who published A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers on 30 May 1849. 

He wrote the book as a tribute to his brother John after his passing. It recounts their shared 1839 boat journey along the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, with the narrative condensed into seven symbolic days. Parts of the work were written during Thoreau’s time at Walden Pond.
Thoreau is remembered as a writer, philosopher, naturalist and social reformer. His essay Civil Disobedience remains a foundational text of peaceful resistance, and he is also known for aiding escaped enslaved people and advocating a simple, nature-centred life. His most famous work, Walden, continues to be regarded as a classic and a cultural touchstone.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books
•	Watch the Timm Thaler film
•	Sell your laughter (on second thought — maybe don’t)
•	Try your luck at gambling (just make sure you have already sold your laughter)

31.May

Happy Birthday, James Krüss

(31 May 1926)
Today, the beloved German children’s author, who passed away in 1997, would have turned 100.
James Krüss has been part of my life since early childhood through his 1962 classic Timm Thaler, the story of a boy who sells his laughter. The TV adaptation starring Tommy Ohrner captures the same magic, well worth revisiting!
Born on the island of Heligoland, Krüss remains closely tied to his birthplace; part of the Heligoland Museum is dedicated to him. True to his island roots, he chose to have no grave, his final resting place is the sea, near the home he loved.

 Suggested activities:
•	Say something nice to someone who absolutely isn’t expecting it and enjoy their pleasantly confused reaction
•	Read Diane Stinson’s Nice Words Matter
•	Or, if your surroundings truly leave you no choice, consult Linda Berdoll’s delightfully cheeky guide, Very Nice Ways to Say Bad Things

1.June

Today We Celebrate “Say Something Nice” Day

Observed every year on 1. June, this delightful day reminds us that words carry power. After all, people who wield language skilfully rarely need to resort to force, unless, of course, they’re defending themselves or battling a particularly stubborn jar lid.
Kind words matter. Not everyone always earns them, true, but plenty of people do, and a few might even surprise you. So today, make an extra effort to brighten someone’s mood with something genuinely kind (even though, yes, we should be doing this the other 364 days, too).

 Suggested activities:
•	Explore Utrecht with the help of the literary map

2.June

Happy Birthday Utrecht

On 2 June 1122, the city of Utrecht was granted its city rights, meaning that today it celebrates its 904th birthday.
Utrecht is truly a city of literature. There’s even a special Literaire kaart van Utrecht (Literary Map of Utrecht), marking all the places that book lovers shouldn’t miss during their visit. The routes wind along the city’s beautiful canals, leading you past bookshops, libraries, and other literary landmarks that give Utrecht its distinctive charm.
Yet under the heading of “art,” I feel something important is missing: the remarkable street art of Utrecht-based artist JanIsDeMan. His mural at Mimosastraat 22-2, a giant painted bookcase, is absolutely brilliant. It’s about a fifteen-minute walk from the station, and well worth the detour, especially since you’ll pass more of his works along Amsterdamsestraatweg.
JanIsDeMan has created several other stunning book-themed murals across the Netherlands, and after seeing his work here, I know that Harlingen will be high on my list for my next trip.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Petzi in Switzerland
•	Read a Petzi book

3.June

1-Year Anniversary of the Publication of Petzi in Switzerland

This year marks the first anniversary of the publication of Petzi in Switzerland!
Petzi, originally known as Rasmus Klump, first appeared in Danish newspapers in 1951. The beloved bear was created by Carla and Vilhelm Hansen, whose charming stories quickly captured readers’ hearts.
In fact, the Carlsen publishing house was founded specifically to publish Petzi’s adventures. The German name “Petzi” derives from “Meister Petz,” a traditional name for a bear in German fables.

 Suggested activities:
• Read The Fourth of June
• Explore Benedictus’ autobiography Dropping Names

4.June

The Fourth of June by David Benedictus

When a book features a date in its title, it deserves to be noted, perhaps even celebrated.
Published in 1962, The Fourth of June offers a sharply critical and often unflattering portrait of the prestigious Eton College. Drawing upon his own experience as a former pupil, David Benedictus writes with both authority and insight. Unsurprisingly, the novel was banned at the school, a decision Benedictus reportedly accepted with good humour.

 Suggested activities:
• Read one of his thrillers
• Watch a film or TV adaptation
• Try The Pillars of the Earth — the computer game inspired by his novel

5.June

Happy Birthday, Ken Follett

(born 5 June 1949)
Welsh author Ken Follett is world-famous for his bestselling thrillers, though one might imagine him fitting seamlessly into the world of Dallas or Denver with his success and flair. Interestingly, his passion for reading was sparked not by encouragement, but by restriction: his parents banned television, so he turned to books, a decision that ultimately shaped a literary giant.
His debut novel, The Big Needle (1974), was not written out of artistic ambition alone, but out of financial necessity, specifically to pay off an overdue car repair bill. Today, his books are immediately recognizable on shelves; even the typography of his name feels iconic, as if designed exclusively for him.
Beyond writing, Follett is also a dedicated musician. He plays bass in the folk band Clog Iron.

 Suggested activities:
• Visit one of the historic sites in Normandy (e.g., the Omaha Beach Museum or Gold Beach)
• Read one of the works listed above

6.June

Today we commemorate D-Day — 6 June 1944.

The Allied invasion of Normandy stands as one of the most decisive moments of the Second World War. Its scale, courage, and cost have been examined in countless books, from detailed military histories to reflections on the brutality and futility of war. Authors such as J.D. Salinger and Ernest Hemingway witnessed the conflict firsthand, leaving behind accounts shaped by lived experience.
Notable works include:
• Antony Beevor – D-Day: The Battle for Normandy
• Rolf Keusgens – Omaha Beach: The Tragedy of 6 June 1944
• Paul Verlaine – “Chanson d’Automne” (first stanza), whose lines were used as a coded message by the French Resistance before the landings

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend the festival on a day of your choice and explore its unique events.
•	Dive into one of the featured books to experience the authors’ voices more deeply.

7.June

Bad Homburg Poetry and Literature Festival (May 29 – June 14, 2026)

Now in its 17th year, this vibrant festival once again transforms the spa town into a true literary paradise. The program is as diverse as ever, offering a rich mix of readings, performances, and cultural encounters that celebrate the power of words.

 Suggested activities:
• Read one of her works
• Visit the Musée de la Vie Romantique in Paris, where many of her personal belongings are displayed
• Enjoy the museum’s charming café, worth a visit in its own right

8.June

150 years ago today, on 8 June 1856, George Sand passed away

She did the world a favour by choosing a pen name. Born Amantine Aurore Lucile Dupin de Francueil, she adopted the masculine pseudonym George Sand at a time when women were still largely excluded from the literary sphere. Writing under a male name gave her the freedom to tackle social and feminist themes openly, and she went on to become one of France’s most celebrated female authors.
Sand’s personal life was as unconventional as her literary career. She changed partners often and famously spent a season in Mallorca with her lover, the composer Frédéric Chopin. Their stay was not only a romantic escape but also a retreat chosen for its gentler climate, which benefited her health.
She was laid to rest at her beloved country estate in Nohant, a place deeply connected to her life and work.

 Suggested activities:
• Read High Flight
• Avoid flying for a short while afterward (optional, but understandable)

9.June

Happy Birthday, John Gillespie Magee Jr.

(9 June 1922)
The son of an American father and a British mother, John Gillespie Magee Jr. was both a gifted poet and a dedicated fighter pilot, two callings that might seem worlds apart. Yet in his short life, they intertwined in a way that became both his legacy and his epitaph. Just weeks before his death in a mid-air collision during a training flight on 11 December 1941, he wrote his soaring and unforgettable poem High Flight. Magee was only 19 years old.

 Suggested activities:
• Brew your own iced tea (perhaps using one of the many available recipe books).
• Explore André Michaux’s work: André Michaux in North America.

10.June

Today We Celebrate Iced Tea Day

Although it’s a U.S. holiday that’s still relatively unknown here, it certainly deserves more recognition. After all, few drinks are as refreshing, versatile, and when unsweetened, healthy as iced tea.
The history of this chilled classic stretches back more than 200 years and has its roots in America. Tea plants were first cultivated in South Carolina in the 1600s and 1700s, brought over by the French explorer André Michaux. The idea of serving tea over ice, however, rose to fame much later. In 1904, at the sweltering World’s Fair in St. Louis, British merchant Richard Blechynden began offering his hot tea served cold with ice. And the rest is history.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a work by Athol Fugard
•	Read a book by his daughter, Lisa Fugard, who is also an accomplished writer
•	Watch Gandhi or The Killing Fields

11.June

In Memory of Athol Fugard

(11 June 1932 – 8 March 2025)
Athol Fugard was a renowned South African playwright, novelist, and actor whose work deeply influenced both literature and theatre, particularly during the apartheid era.
The 2006 film Tsotsi, adapted from his novel, won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. As an actor, Fugard appeared in notable films such as The Killing Fields and Gandhi, where he portrayed South African statesman Jan Christiaan Smuts.
His groundbreaking play The Blood Knot was a milestone in South African theatre, featuring both a white and a mixed-race actor in leading roles, an act of artistic resistance at the time.
In recognition of his contributions, a theatre in Cape Town was named in his honour: the Fugard Theatre, which operated until its closure in 2021.

 Suggested activities:
•	Keep your own diary until 1 August
•	Read The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

12.June

Diary Remembrance Day

This day of remembrance holds special significance Germany, and with good reason. On this day in 1942, Anne Frank began writing in her diary, a gift from her father for her 13th birthday. She continued her entries until 1 August 1944, leaving behind one of the most poignant testimonies of the Holocaust.
What would you write in your diary today? Hopefully, something that reflects compassion and humanity, values the world still struggles to uphold, even 84 years later.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books
•	Watch one of his music videos
•	Listen to and support his music

13.June

Happy 50th Birthday, Oren Lavie

(13 June 1976)
Whether in theatre, music, or literature, the multi-talented Israeli artist Oren Lavie has made his mark across a wide range of creative fields.
He has written children’s books such as The Bear Who Wasn’t There and Truman Toad and the Quest for the Perfect Hug: Titles that already promise playful storytelling and imaginative worlds.
One highlight of his musical work is his duet with Vanessa Paradis, “Did You Really Say No” a remarkable piece both musically and visually, with an equally captivating music video.

https://youtu.be/SaK4t6hKKO4?si=lMquoxhYSdFakLAh

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of her works — she wrote around 30 books
•	Write your own “source” note today: document where a story, fact, or idea you shared came from

14.June

In Memory of Harriet Beecher Stowe

(14 June 1811 – 1 July 1896)
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American author and a committed opponent of slavery. Her 1852 novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin became a literary classic and played a significant role in shaping public opinion against slavery. She later published A Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a companion work that documents and explains the sources behind the novel.
Stowe also shared a notable literary connection with Mark Twain, who was her neighbour in Hartford, Connecticut.

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend the conference in Nova Gorica
•	Read literature engaging with the theme of shame (e.g., Salman Rushdie: Shame, James Baldwin: Giovanni’s Room)
•	Check whether themes of shame appear in the book you are currently reading

15.June

This year's Shapes of Shame in Literature conference will take place in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, from 15–16 June

The event will examine shame through political, poetic, and intersectional perspectives, focusing on how it is represented and experienced in literature across dimensions such as ethnicity, class, disability, gender, and queerness. A central aim of the conference is to explore the relationship between shame and guilt, alongside related themes such as psychological frameworks, family and intergenerational influences, and the politics of the body.
The programme will include keynote lectures, panel discussions, and interdisciplinary contributions from fields such as literary studies, cultural studies, psychology, gender studies, and philosophy.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the commemorative plaque at Universitätsstrasse 38 in Zurich
•	Read one of his works
•	Embark on your first outing with your future spouse
•	Or simply follow in Bloom’s footsteps through Dublin
ook you are currently reading

16.June

Bloomsday

Today we celebrate Bloomsday, the annual commemoration of James Joyce’s Ulysses. The novel unfolds over the course of a single day, 16 June 1904, in Dublin, following the wanderings of its protagonist, Leopold Bloom, from whom the day takes its name.
The date also marks a personal milestone for Joyce: it was the day he went on his first outing with Nora Barnacle, who later became his wife and lifelong companion, and who, as she famously claimed, “made him a man.”
Every year, Joyce enthusiasts retrace Bloom’s steps through Dublin, visiting the very locations immortalized in the novel.
Here in Zurich, where Joyce spent many years of his life, a commemorative plaque at Universitätsstrasse 38 marks the place where he wrote five episodes of Ulysses. The city also hosts the Zurich James Joyce Foundation (ZJJF) and even a restaurant bearing his name. Joyce and Nora are both buried in Fluntern Cemetery, making Zurich an enduring part of their story

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Brecht’s poem Die Lösung

17.June

A reflection on Bertolt Brecht’s poem Die Lösung (The Solution)

German poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) wrote Die Lösung in response to the popular uprising of 17 June 1953 in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Following the protests, official leaflets declared that the government had lost the trust of the people. Brecht’s poem offers a sharp, ironic commentary on this stance, posing the provocative question of whether the government, rather than regaining public confidence, might instead “dissolve the people and elect another.” The poem thus critiques authoritarian governance, the distortion of democratic principles, and the absurdity of blaming citizens for state failures.

 Suggested activities:
•	If you skipped Meat Free Monday, make up for it today — go meat-free this Thursday
•	Try one of Linda McCartney’s tasty recipes
•	Listen to Paul’s music
•	Channel your inner style icon with Stella McCartney’s fashion or fragrance

A perfect way to celebrate a family that makes the world a little kinder and a lot more musical. 

18.June

Happy Birthday, Sir Paul McCartney

Today we celebrate the birthday of a true music legend, a Beatle, a visionary songwriter, and a lifelong advocate for animal welfare.
You’ll almost always find a book about The Beatles in the music section of any bookshop, but Paul’s career didn’t stop there. He went on to have an incredible solo career and formed the iconic band Wings, together with his late wife Linda McCartney. Linda herself was not only a talented musician but also a beloved cookbook author, sharing delicious vegetarian recipes long before it was trendy.
The McCartneys are well known for their compassion toward animals, Paul is a passionate supporter of the Meat Free Monday campaign.

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend keynote lectures, panels, and discussions
•	Read and engage with translated life stories
•	Simply translate content into your native language

19.June

Life Writing and Translation Conferenc

18–19 June 2026
The Life Writing and Translation conference will be held at the University of Geneva on 18–19 June 2026. This year’s theme, “The Use of Life Writing in Translation Studies” explores how personal narratives inform the theory and practice of translation.
The event will bring together specialists in translation, interpreting, and terminology to discuss topics such as autobiographies, personal narratives, prefaces and afterwords, and the role of identity in translation.

 Suggested activities:
• Read one of Vikram Seth’s works
• Read or listen to An Equal Music

20.June

Happy Birthday to Vikram Seth 

(20 June 1952)
Born in Calcutta, Vikram Seth is an acclaimed writer and poet whose life spans multiple cultures. He studied in England, where he still resides part of the time, while also maintaining a home in India, where his family lives.
Seth is known for his remarkable versatility, having written across genres, from novels and poetry to children’s literature, translations, and non-fiction. His works are often ambitious in form and scale: A Suitable Boy stretches to 1,349 pages, while The Golden Gate is written entirely in sonnets.
Seth is bisexual and in a relationship with virtuoso violinist Phillippe Honoré. Honoré’s solo violin performances on the Decca album An Equal Music are frequently broadcast on Classic FM and BBC Radio 3. Seth’s novel An Equal Music was inspired by Honoré and is dedicated to him.

 Suggested activities:
• Read selected poems from Les Fleurs du mal
• Attempt to evade your creditors (optional, not recommended)

21.June

The first publication of Charles Baudelaire’s poetry collection Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil) on 21 June 1857 marked a turning point in modern literature. 

The book was divided into six thematic sections and immediately provoked controversy. Shortly after its release, Baudelaire faced legal prosecution due to accusations of immorality and blasphemy, particularly from religious authorities who felt personally attacked. As a result, six poems were officially banned, a sentence that would not be overturned until 1949.
Although this scandal eventually cemented Baudelaire’s literary legacy, it brought him anything but happiness. Already struggling financially, he spent years fleeing his creditors by continually changing residences. His life remained marked by turbulence until his untimely death from complications related to syphilis at the age of just 46.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works

22.June

Death of James Ellroy’s Mother
On 22 June 1958

Geneva Ellroy, the mother of crime writer James Ellroy, was murdered, the victim of a brutal, unsolved sex crime. Ellroy was only ten years old at the time. Decades later, he confronted this personal tragedy in his memoir My Dark Places: An L.A. Crime Memoir, an unflinching exploration of grief, guilt, and obsession.
James Ellroy went on to become one of America’s most acclaimed crime novelists, known for works such as L.A. Confidential and The Black Dahlia. The latter revisits another infamous unsolved case, the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, whose mutilated body was discovered in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book by a Luxembourgish author 
•	Visit Luxembourg

23.June

Luxembourg National Day

Today we celebrate Luxembourg National Day!
For a long time, the people of Luxembourg had to stay flexible about when to celebrate, the date used to change depending on the reigning monarch’s birthday. When it came time to honor Grand Duchess Charlotte, whose birthday falls on 23 January, it was wisely decided in 1961 to move the festivities to 23 June, when the weather is far more agreeable.
The celebrations traditionally begin on the evening of 22 June, with a torchlight procession and fireworks lighting up the capital.
Since the story behind this ever-shifting holiday date is rather amusing, it seems fitting to mention Carlo Schneider, a Luxembourgish cartoonist living in Switzerland. A delightful cartoon trail dedicated to his work runs between Langnau i.E. and Trubschachen, a cheerful walk sure to lift your spirits. Whether he ever captured the National Day in one of his drawings, however, remains a mystery to me.

 Suggested activities:
• Read A Memory of Solferino
• Visit the Henri Dunant Museum in Heiden (Appenzell), where he spent the last 18 years of his life; alternatively explore the Peace Table in Heiden
• Visit one of the many streets in Switzerland named after Dunant
• Travel to Solferino, the Italian town about 10 km south of Lake Garda

24.June

Today we honour one of Switzerland’s most influential figures: Henri Dunant and his seminal work A Memory of Solferino

On 24 June 1859, the Battle of Solferino, decisive in the Sardinian War. took place between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia, backed by Napoleon III. Witnessing the aftermath of this battle, where around 40,000 soldiers were killed or wounded, had a profound impact on Dunant.
Deeply moved by the suffering he saw, Dunant was inspired to advocate for humanitarian aid on the battlefield. His efforts ultimately led to the founding of the Red Cross and the establishment of the Geneva Conventions for the protection of war victims.
In recognition of his work, Henri Dunant became the first-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.

 Suggested activities:
• Read Malina, her only completed novel
• Explore her poetry or other prose works
• Visit Ingeborg Bachmann Park in her hometown of Klagenfurt

25.June

Remembering Ingeborg Bachmann, who would have turned 100 today

Born in Klagenfurt, Ingeborg Bachmann is regarded as one of the most significant German-language poets and writers of the 20th century. In recognition of her impact on literature, the prestigious Ingeborg Bachmann Prize was established in her honour in 1977.
Bachmann had a well-known relationship with Swiss writer Max Frisch. She died on 17 October 1973 at the age of just 47, following a fire in her apartment in Rome.

 Suggested activities:
• Attend the festival
• Read a work by one of the featured authors

26.June

Today marks the opening of the 30th International Literature Festival in Leukerbad (26–28 June)

For the next three days, this small holiday resort in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, will revolve entirely around literature.
The festival has grown far beyond traditional book presentations. It now serves as a platform for contemporary issues, lively debates, and diverse genres, making it a true cultural highlight. Many visitors stay for multiple days to fully experience the programme. Even guided hikes are included, each accompanied by an author or story, blending literature with the region’s alpine landscapes. With writers travelling in from around the world, the festival promises a rich and vibrant mix of voices.

 Suggested activities:
• Read The Lottery
• Try your luck at an actual lottery—hopefully with a much better outcome!

27.June

Today we commemorate Shirley Jackson’s short story The Lottery.

First published in The New Yorker on 26 June 1948, the story is set in a seemingly idyllic small town whose residents gather every year on 27 June for a traditional lottery. Only at the end does the horrifying truth emerge: the “winner” is selected at random to be stoned to death by their community, a ritual upheld solely out of unquestioned tradition.
The publication sparked intense public backlash. Shocked and offended by the story’s brutality, many readers cancelled their subscriptions to The New Yorker.

 Suggested activities:
• Read one of Rousseau’s works
• Visit Île Rousseau in Geneva
• Explore the Jean-Jacques Rousseau Room on St. Peter’s Island, Lake Biel
• If you are a woman, play a subordinate role today

28.June

Remembering Jean-Jacques Rousseau

 (28 June 1712 – 1778)
The Genevan writer, philosopher, and naturalist Jean-Jacques Rousseau is regarded as one of Switzerland’s most influential historical figures. A central voice of the Enlightenment, he also helped inspire the Romantic movement, notably through his novel Julie, or the New Heloise.
Although highly influential, Rousseau remained a controversial thinker. His ideas on education, arguing that learning begins at birth and that experience should precede instruction, reshaped global pedagogical thought. While he championed liberty and equality, his views on women reflected the patriarchal norms of his era, positioning them in subordinate roles within society.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books, preferably something other than The Little Prince.
•	Take the TGV to Lyon, arriving at Gare de Lyon-Saint-Exupéry TGV.
•	Visit Fribourg, Switzerland, and climb the stairs of the Collège Saint-Jean, where he studied from 1915 to 1917; the street beside the college now carries his name.

29.June

Remembering Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

(29 June 1900 – 1944)
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was born into an aristocratic family in Lyon, something reflected in the noble “de” in his name. Both writer and aviator, he saw his identity as inseparable from the skies he flew and the stories he told.
His most famous work, The Little Prince, written while in New York, has become one of the most widely read and beloved books in the world. Today, his legacy lives on in his hometown, where both the airport and a major high-speed railway station bear his name.
Saint-Exupéry’s life reads like one of his own adventures. He and his mechanic once survived a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert, an ordeal that later inspired his writing. In 1944, while flying a reconnaissance mission, he vanished without a trace. His body never recovered.

 Suggested activities:
•	Watch the film
•	Read the novel
•	(Season permitting!) Build a snowman and name it Kasimir
•	Do some mildly tedious chores

30.June

On 30 June 1955, the film Three Men in the Snow premiered

It is based on Erich Kästner’s novel, originally published in 1927 under the title Inferno im Hotel. The story is a delightful comedy of mistaken identity centered around a wealthy man who checks into a luxury hotel disguised as a raffle winner, dressed in shabby clothes. A genuinely modest man also wins the same hotel stay as a prize.
Because the millionaire’s daughter secretly informs the hotel staff of her father’s plan, they assume the humble winner must be the wealthy guest, while the real millionaire is treated with suspicion and assigned unpleasant tasks. What follows is a series of humorous and brilliantly orchestrated misunderstandings.
Although I tend to prefer books over film adaptations, this black-and-white version is truly exceptional. The cast is outstanding, the timing is perfect, and the story remains one of the funniest I’ve ever encountered. The screenplay was written by Kästner himself, preserving the charm, wit, and satirical tone of the original novel.

 Suggested activities:
•	Give a lecture, for all I care—but not in that costume
•	Read one of Gascoyne’s works
•	Save someone instead (for instance, from never reading a book)

1.July

In remembrance of David Gascoyne’s decisive act on 1 July 1936

During a lecture at an exhibition in London, Salvador Dalí appeared in characteristically theatrical dress: a diving suit crowned with a brass diving helmet, two borzois at his side, a billiard cue in hand. The spectacle, however, turned perilous when Dalí collapsed and began to suffocate inside the helmet.
It was the poet David Gascoyne who acted without hesitation. Cutting open the suit and removing the helmet at the critical moment, he saved Dalí from what might have been a fatal end.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the museum in Montagnola
•	Read one of his works

2.July

Happy Birthday Hemann Hesse

Today we commemorate the German writer Hermann Hesse.
Born on 2 July 1877, Hesse became one of the most influential literary voices of the 20th century. In 1946, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, reportedly the second Swiss citizen ever to receive the honour.
Although born in Germany, Hesse had a deep connection to Switzerland. He spent much of his life in Montagnola, a village in the Ticino region above Lugano, where a museum now celebrates his life and work.
Hesse struggled with severe depression, brought on partly by the devastation of war and personal loss. He found solace in gardening and in his profound bond with nature, a theme that still resonates through his writings and in the serene atmosphere of the Montagnola museum.
Hermann Hesse passed away peacefully in his sleep in Montagnola on 9 August 1962. Yet his spirit endures through timeless works such as Steppenwolf and Siddhartha, ensuring that he remains unforgotten.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books
•	Eat vegan for the day
•	Reflect on a personal “regret” and imagine how things could have unfolded differently (inspired by The Midnight Library)

3.July

Happy birthday, Matt Haig 

(born 3 July 1975)
The Sheffield-born author and journalist is best known for novels such as The Midnight Library, accessible reads with a philosophical core, often drawing on his own experiences with mental health. In addition to his fiction for adults, he has written children’s books and non-fiction. His children’s book A Boy Called Christmas was even adapted into a film.
I also greatly appreciate his advocacy for animal rights. He is a vegan and an atheist.

 Suggested activities:
•	Leap into a rabbit hole or, failing that, a metaphorical one of your own making
•	Saw one leg off your table and put a golden key on it
•	Stare longingly at something unreachable and mutter, “How I wish I could shut up like a telescope!”
•	Compose songs with unnecessary repetitions. Compose songs with unnecessary repetitions
•	Make arithmetic errors, visit London in Paris. If you’re in Paris, you might be tempted to say “Où est ma chatte?” to a local. Don’t. Just… don’t.
•	Visit the Alice Through the Looking Glass shop on Cecil Road in London (…), buy the book, and then immediately begin not understanding it
•	Paint white roses red
•	Sample mysterious objects you find outdoors. (Disclaimer: this tradition has not been endorsed by medical professionals.)
•	And for the brave: attempt to explain the plot to me

4.July

Alice in Wonderland Day

On 4 July 1862, Lewis Carroll took a boat trip. Nothing unusual there, except that he told a story to a ten-year-old girl named Alice Liddell and her sisters. That story would later become Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Lewis Carroll, by the way, wasn’t actually Lewis Carroll. His real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.
So, how does one commemorate Alice on this day? Ideally, by understanding the book. Unfortunately, that requires a kind of logic not found in this dimension. 

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend the festival
•	Read a work by an author featured in the programme

5.July

Bradford Literature Festival

The next Bradford Literature Festival will take place from 3–12 July 2026. As one of the three largest literature festivals in Europe, it has grown significantly since its launch in 2014.
In 2025, Bradford was named England’s City of Culture, a title awarded by the UK government every four years, a recognition to which the festival undoubtedly contributed.
The programme features more than 700 events, including educational initiatives, family activities, readings, and discussions on contemporary issues. There’s truly something for everyone – I hope. Sadly, it comes across to me as politically quite biased and leaning too far to the left.

 Suggested activities:
•	Make your own Eino Leino memorial plaque. Choose a location that feels suitably poetic.

6.July

Eino Leinon päivä / Eino Leino Day

On 6 July, Finland celebrates its national poet, Eino Leino (1878–1926). This year marks a century since his death, though his poems remain very much alive.
A memorial house, modelled on his birthplace, stands in Paltaniemi, Kajaani, for those who enjoy their literary pilgrimages with a side of architecture. A statue of Leino also graces Riverside Park, Brahenkatu 1, Kajaani, while another keeps watch over Helsinki’s Swedish Theatre on Esplanadi.
Leino was also the first Finn to translate Dante’s Divine Comedy into Finnish. He lived for a while in Rome, where a plaque now marks his former address at Lungotevere Prati 17. 

 Suggested activities:
•	Attend one of the many programme events .

7.July

Zurich Literature Festival 2026

The Zurich Literature Festival will take place from 6–12 July 2026. First launched in 2013, the festival has grown into a key cultural event in the city.
This year’s headlining guest is Irish author Paul Lynch, who will give a featured reading on 9 July at the Old Botanical Gardens, the festival’s central venue. Additional readings and events will be hosted at various locations across Zurich.

 Suggested activities:
•	Avoid eating or drinking any cow-derived products today
•	Read The Cow Who Loved to Read by Vinod
•	Explore Cowspiracy by Keegan Kuhn and Kip Anderson

8.July

Today we celebrate Cow Appreciation Day

If there’s one animal we truly owe gratitude to, it’s the cow. Few creatures in the world are exploited as deeply and relentlessly. It breaks my heart every time I see calves being separated from their mothers. Why must it be this way?
Cows have also woven their way into literature, appearing again and again as symbols of gentleness, generosity, and resilience.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books or essays
•	Visit a busy place and consciously observe how you recognize people
•	Watch the film Awakenings

9.July

In Memory of Oliver Sacks 

(9 July 1933 – 2015)
Oliver Sacks, the British neurologist and acclaimed writer, gained international recognition with Awakenings, adapted into a film in 1990 starring Robert De Niro. The book recounts true cases Sacks encountered in the 1960s.
Sacks himself lived with prosopagnosia, a condition that impairs facial recognition, ironically, one of the very subjects he explored in his professional research.
He also examined the relationship between music and the brain in his influential work Musicophilia.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Alice Munro’s short stories
•	Visit Munro’s Books

10.July

Happy Birthday, Alice Munro 

(10 July 1931 – 2024)
The Canadian writer and 2013 Nobel Prize laureate would have celebrated her 95th birthday today. Although she wrote only one novel, she became the first Canadian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. With her many short stories, she mastered the art of conveying the depth of a full novel within just a fraction of the pages.
A particularly charming legacy is the bookshop she founded in 1963 with her first husband in Victoria, British Columbia, Munro’s Books, which still exists today. It’s definitely on my literary travel list.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read the novel. Highly recommended.
•	Then, 55 years later, read Go Set a Watchman, which was, fittingly, published 55 years later.
•	Paint or impersonate a mockingbird. Bonus points if you manage both.
•	Play golf. Harper Lee was an enthusiastic golfer.
•	Listen to the Boo Radleys’ Martin, Doomè It’s Seven o’Clock!. I love the instrumental part at the end of the song!

11.July

Publication date of To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was first published on 11 July 1960.
A British band later named themselves The Boo Radleys, after the novel’s famously reclusive character. In 1992, they released Everything’s Alright Forever on the legendary Creation Records label.
Why they chose the name remains unclear. 

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Twelfth Day of July by Joan Lingard
•	Wear a black suit, black hat, and white gloves with orange sashes (in the spirit of traditional commemorations)

12.July

Since a book with the title The Twelfth Day of July already exists, today we pay tribute to it.

Joan Lingard’s novel addresses a sensitive and complex subject: the friendship between Kevin and Sadie, a Catholic and a Protestant living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The story reflects the political and religious tensions of the time, particularly the divide between those who supported remaining part of Great Britain and those who identified with predominantly Catholic Ireland.
The date, 12 July, is significant because it commemorates the Glorious Revolution and the victory of King William of Orange over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The anniversary is still marked by traditional Orange Order parades.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book about Live Aid, such as Andrew Wild’s Live Aid or Paul Vallely’s Live Aid: The Definite 40 Year Story
•	Explore Bob Geldof’s Geldof in Africa
•	Enjoy Midge Ure’s beautifully illustrated book Midge Ure…in a Picture Frame

13.July

Today we commemorate a milestone in music history: Live Aid, the legendary charity concert held on 13 July 1985

At the heart of the project were Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, two musicians who helped define the sound and spirit of the 1980s. Ure’s band Ultravox produced one timeless hit after another, so much so that he must be tired of hearing the line “This means nothing to me”, yet it remains inseparable from the era.
Live Aid also left its mark on literature; over the years, numerous books have been written about the concert and its cultural impact.
Whether the event fundamentally changed conditions in Africa is difficult to say with certainty. It undoubtedly helped many people, yet greed and environmental irresponsibility, problems Live Aid sought to push back against, are still with us today, and in many ways seem more pressing than ever.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a work inspired by the French Revolution, such as Éric Vuillard’s 14 July or Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables
•	Travel to Paris and visit the Bastille metro station, where murals depict scenes from the Revolution
•	Enjoy something quintessentially French, perhaps a glass of wine or champagne, a croissant, macarons, cheese, or ratatouille and read a book in French

14.July

Today we celebrate the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, now commemorated as France’s national holiday

The date is marked by major celebrations across the country, most famously the military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, along with fireworks and public festivities. Among the prisoners once held in the Bastille were notable figures, including the writer Marquis de Sade.

Vive la France!
PS: Today, you should write a postcard to yourself, which should arrive by 24 August at the latest.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his novels
•	Watch a film adaptation of his work

15.July

Happy 65th Birthday, Jean-Christophe Grangé 

(born 15 July 1961)
Many people know him through the film adaptation of The Crimson Rivers, starring Jean Reno, a gripping and masterfully crafted thriller. But the Paris-born writer, screenwriter, and journalist has an extensive body of work beyond that single title. His novels include The Flight of the Storks, among many others, and he has been contributing to Série Noire on French television since 1989. He has also worked as a journalist for National Geographic.

 Suggested activities:
• Read Bruges-la-Morte
• Explore another of his literary works
• Visit his grave (please do so with respect and consideration for the cemetery and its visitors)

16.July

Today we remember Georges Rodenbach

(16. July 1855 – 1898).
Today we commemorate the Belgian poet and Symbolist writer Georges Rodenbach.
Born in Tournai, in Wallonia, he wrote in French and became renowned for his profoundly melancholic works, most notably Bruges-la-Morte. This novel later served as the inspiration for the opera The Dead City.
Rodenbach’s striking gravestone in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is itself a work of art, and even found its way into my own book about the city.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Cory Doctorow’s books—Enshittification or Context are great choices.
•	Send him an email; chances are his website is still charmingly “out of date.”

17.July

Happy 55th birthday, Cory Doctorow 

(17. July 1971)!
The Canadian-British science fiction author, blogger, and journalist is known for his sharp insights into technology, culture, and digital rights. His vivid imagination is on full display not only in his writing but even in the remarkable name he gave his daughter: Poesy Emmeline Fibonacci Nautilus Taylor Doctorow.

https://craphound.com/bio/

 Suggested activities:
•	Practice attentive, mindful listening.
•	Read The Lost Art of Listening by Michael P. Nichols and Martha B. Straus
•	Read You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy
•	Enjoy The Bad Seed by Jory John.

18.July

Today we celebrate World Listening Day

Today isn’t about speaking—it’s about truly listening. Of course, if everyone committed to listening at the same time, we might find ourselves in complete silence. But perhaps that’s not a problem at all. In the quiet, we can finally hear the natural world around us, sounds far more beautiful than the constant noise we humans create.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the Öpfelkammer in Zurich (his favourite restaurant)
•	For a more official form of remembrance, there’s the Gottfried Keller Centre at Gottfried Keller Strasse 8 in Glattfelden you can visit

19.July

Birthday of Gottfried Keller

Gottfried Keller was born on 19 July 1819 in Zurich and, demonstrating admirable consistency, also died there on 15 July 1890. He remains one of Switzerland’s most important poets and writers.
His early years were difficult: his father died when he was young, and money was scarce. Still, thanks to a scholarship, Keller studied in Munich and Heidelberg, where he initially set out to become a painter.
His best-known work, Green Henry (Der grüne Heinrich), mirrors much of his own life.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read July’s People
•	Explore other works by Nadine Gordimer

20.July

Nadine Gordimer’s July’s People

Nadine Gordimer’s novel July’s People was published in 1981, though the exact publication date remains uncertain. In 1991, Gordimer received the Nobel Prize in Literature for her work.
Set during the apartheid era in South Africa, the novel follows the privileged Smales family, who are forced to flee their home in Johannesburg amid escalating unrest. Written a decade before the end of apartheid, the book anticipated both the collapse of the regime and the profound social changes that would follow.
Gordimer was married twice; her second husband was Reinhold Cassirer, a South African gallery owner.

 Suggested activities:
•	Search for the perfect piece of emanata in your favorite comic or artwork
•	Transform an ordinary picture into an Emanata creation by adding expressive comic symbols

21.July

Happy Emanata Day

From 21 – 23 July, we’re inaugurating a trio of brand-new literary holidays and today we begin with Emanata Day. Emanata are the expressive visual symbols used in comics: the "zzz” floating above a sleeping character, the little puffs of steam rising from a teacup, the sweat drop of worry, or the lightbulb of sudden inspiration. These tiny marks bring emotion, motion, and meaning to the page.

 Suggested activities:
•	Search your bookshelf to see if you already own a schubered book
•	Create a custom Schuber for one of your favorite volumes
•	Avoid making Sammelschuber (collector’s slipcases), today is all about the solo star

22.July

Today We Celebrate The World Schuber Day

Not familiar with a Schuber? It’s a five-sided protective box (slipcase) usually made of sturdy cardboard, designed to fit a book perfectly. A well-made slipcase not only protects a book but also gives it a touch of elegance.
For this special day, however, we’re celebrating individual slipcases only. While collector’s slipcases exist, those that house multiple books together, today we honour the single-book Schuber (slipcase), where the volume slides in neatly with only the spine visible.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book that features Efalin paper.
•	If you can’t find one, buy a sheet of Efalin paper and wrap the book you’re currently reading.
•	Share the joy—give someone a gift made of (or wrapped in) Efalin paper.

23.July

Today We Celebrate the First-Ever Efalin Paper Day — a holiday I have proudly invented

Efalin paper is a high-quality, uncoated, and exceptionally durable material widely used in bookbinding. It comes in a variety of embossed textures and colors, making it ideal for book covers, folders, packaging, and other beautifully crafted items.
Despite its popularity among bookbinders, the origin of the name Efalin remains a mystery. Is it a personal name? A trademark? A coined term? If anyone knows its true roots, the secret is still waiting to be uncovered.

But there's another big World National Day today: Willisauer Ringli Day!

Today, I'd like to pay tribute to what is probably the world's hardest biscuit. I've been celebrating this deliciously crunchy tradition every year since 2019.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a work by either of the two Dumas
•	Embrace the motto “One for all, all for one” in a real-life situation today

24.July

Today We Commemorate Two Dumas

Today we honour both Alexandre Dumas père (24 July 1802–1870) and Alexandre Dumas fils (27. July 1824).
Dumas père is the better known of the two, celebrated for iconic novels including The Three Musketeers, La Reine Margot (later adapted into a celebrated film), and his masterpiece, The Count of Monte Cristo.
His son, Dumas fils, is best known for La Dame aux Camélias, among other notable works.
Contrary to popular belief, the famous motto “One for all, all for one” was not coined by Dumas himself, rather, he assigned it to the Musketeers. The phrase actually originated in Switzerland and was documented as early as 1291 in an agreement between the founding cantons.
Dumas père came from a remarkable family background: his father (or, according to some traditions, his grandfather) was the first person of African descent to serve in the French army and was renowned for his bravery. He was born to a French nobleman and an enslaved woman in the sugar colony of Saint-Domingue.

 Suggested activities:
•	Take a ride on a carousel and let your imagination drift
•	Read from Max Bolliger’s The Old Merry-Go-Round
•	Explore the artistry of Parisian carousels in Kaye Wilkinson Barley & Don Barley’s Carousels of Paris

25.July

Today We Celebrate National Merry-Go-Round Day

What a delightful occasion—an entire day dedicated to the charm and magic of the merry-go-round. These spinning platforms, adorned with beautifully crafted animals and whimsical vehicles, swirl to the sound of cheerful carnival music. A carousel can even become a city’s landmark and treasure, just think of the enchanting carousels found throughout Paris.
The very first carousel patent was filed on 25.July 1871, 155 years ago, marking the beginning of these beloved rides as we know them today.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of George Bernard Shaw’s works
•	Watch Pygmalion (the 1999 film She’s All That is loosely based on Shaw’s play)
•	Eat vegetarian today in honour of Shaw’s principles

26.July

Today we commemorate the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, born on 26 July 1856

He would have celebrated his 170th birthday today
Though christened George, he preferred to call himself Bernard, as he disliked his first name.
Shaw is one of the few creative artists to receive both of the world’s highest honours: he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 and an Oscar for Best Screenplay in 1939 for Pygmalion.
Influenced by Percy Bysshe Shelley, the second husband of Mary Shelley, Shaw adopted a vegetarian lifestyle in 1881, a commitment he maintained for the rest of his life.
In his hometown of Dublin, a plaque in Saint Patrick’s Park commemorates his legacy.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Making of Americans
•	Read Lucy Church Amiably outdoors, ideally near running water—Stein herself is said to have written it in such a setting
•	Watch Chaplin’s film Limelight

27.July

Today we commemorate the American author Gertrude Stein, who died 80 years ago, on 27 July 1946, in Paris

Stein lived with her brother at 27 rue de Fleurus, near the Jardin du Luxembourg, an address that became legendary. Between 1903 and 1914, their home evolved into an informal museum and vibrant salon, where she met and befriended many of the era’s great artists. Among her circle were painters such as Matisse and Picasso, as well as writers like Ernest Hemingway.
One encounter that feels especially meaningful to me is her meeting with Charlie Chaplin. In his film Limelight, Chaplin pays homage to Stein’s iconic line when the protagonist remarks:
“The meaning of anything is merely other words for the same thing. After all, a rose is a rose is a rose. That's not bad. It should be quoted.”
Stein often compared her writing to the work of painters, layered, experimental, and attentive to form. Much like visual artists, she frequently worked outdoors. Critics associated her literary style with cubism for its fragmentation, repetition, and bold structural play.

 Suggested activities:
•	Create your own Quint Buchholz–inspired picture through photography or painting
•	Read (or simply linger over) one of his books and let the images tell their quiet stories

28.July

Happy Birthday, Quint Buchholz (28 July 1957)

The author and illustrator from Stolberg is one of my favourite artists. His work sits somewhere between René Magritte’s surreal dreamscapes and a world entirely his own: quiet, poetic, and full of wonder.
His BuchBilderBuch (Book Picture Book) captures this spirit beautifully, featuring unforgettable images like a boy asleep outdoors, covered by a book, or a gentleman tipping his hat to a passing book.
Beyond his own creations, Buchholz has illustrated works by Jostein Gaarder, collaborated with Elke Heidenreich, and even brought science to life by illustrating a children’s book by Stephen Hawking that explains key astronomical ideas.

 Suggested activities:
•	Support a tiger conservation project
•	Read Raj, the Bookstore Tiger by Kathleen T. Pelley
•	Read Tigers by Mike Richards

29.July

Today We Celebrate International Tiger Day

29. July is dedicated to one of the world’s most iconic animals: the tiger. International Tiger Day raises awareness about the importance of protecting these magnificent big cats and preserving their natural habitats.
Tigers have long been symbols of power, courage, and majesty. Their striking coats allow them to blend seamlessly into the wild, making them both elusive and captivating. They also appear frequently in literature and storytelling, think of Shere Khan from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. In fact, countless children’s books feature memorable tiger characters, including one who even happens to be an excellent golfer. Or no, that was a real person…

 Suggested activities:
•	pick up a paperback and actually read it. If you commute, you probably already have one buried somewhere in your bag

30.July

30 July – The First Penguin Paperback

On 30 July 1935, the first Penguin paperback was published, a small revolution in the world of reading, and a quiet triumph for anyone who ever wanted literature to fit in a coat pocket.

 Suggested activities:
•	Celebrate the day by reading one of J. K. Rowling's books, preferably today a Harry Potter novel.

31.July

31 July – Happy Birthday, Harry Potter (and J.K. Rowling)

Happy Birthday to Harry Potter, born 31 July 1980, and to his creator J.K. Rowling, born exactly 15 years earlier.
Fun fact: Harry has a middle name, James.
I must confess: I’ve never read a Harry Potter book, and I turned off the first film after thirty minutes. 
But I admire J.K. Rowling’s tweets and the principles she stands for. She comes across as a strong, independent woman, and I’m glad to see that she has achieved such remarkable success.

 Suggested activities:
•	Watch the breathtaking performance of Swiss figure skater Stéphane Lambiel, skating to Rossini’s “William Tell.”

1. August

Swiss National Day

Today we commemorate the Swiss national hero, William Tell — a legend, incidentally, invented by a German.
What gives this story an extra twist is its curious origin scent, quite literally. Schiller, it seems, couldn’t write without the aroma of rotten apples wafting through his study. He kept them in his desk drawer for inspiration.
That little detail lends the famous apple-shooting scene a rather new dimension. One might even wonder whether Tell’s marksmanship test was born not from heroism, but from the fumes of fermentation.
As the story goes, Wilhelm Tell refused to bow to the tyrant Gessler. Gessler, aware of Tell’s deadly aim, devised a cruel punishment: Tell was to shoot an apple off his son Walter’s head to win back their freedom.
That apple, and the shot that split it, became a symbol of Swiss independence. 

 Suggested activities:
•	Treat yourself to a beautiful coloring book and experiment with different pens, pencils, and colours
•	Create your own colouring book and gift it to someone special

2. August

Today we celebrate National Colouring Book Day

Colouring books, whether made for children or adults, are often our earliest invitation to be artistic. They’re wonderful companions on the go, perfect for long train or plane rides, or even for keeping relaxed and entertained while waiting in a restaurant. Colouring can ease stress, spark creativity, and offer a simple, soothing break from the day.
The earliest known coloring book is said to be “The Florist,” printed in 1760.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Walter Brendel’s Das Augusteische Zeitalter (The Augustan Age)
•	If you share August’s tastes and temperament, you may want to wait for the next related activity on 25. October

3. August

Today, on August 3, we commemorate August III—how fittingly amusing
August III (1696–1763) served as Duke of Saxony, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Lithuania

He was a notable patron of the arts, especially in opera and painting, though less so in literature. Johann Sebastian Bach is even said to have dedicated the Kyrie–Gloria portion of his Mass in B minor to him.
August III was also known for his colourful personal life: he reportedly had a dozen mistresses and fathered sixteen children.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books
•	Fast for a day
•	Visit Grimstad

4. August

Today we commemorate the Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun (4 August 1859 – 1952)

Hamsun received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920 and achieved international acclaim, particularly for his novel Hunger, a semi-autobiographical work that explores the psychological turmoil of a man suffering from starvation.
A museum dedicated to Hamsun stands in the southern Norwegian town of Grimstad, where he died in 1952, accompanied by a bust in front of the building. Another sculpture can be found in his birthplace of Vågå.
Hamsun is buried in the garden of the Nørholm estate in Norway. A bust marking his grave was unveiled in 1960 and contains his urn in a concealed cavity. The estate remains privately owned by the Hamsun family and is not open to the public.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his short stories
•	Read one of his novels
•	Visit Étretat in Normandy

5. August

Today we commemorate the French writer Guy de Maupassant 

(5 August 1850 – 1893).
Born in Normandy, Maupassant grew up in a literary environment and was surrounded by books from an early age. His mother, a close friend of Gustave Flaubert, introduced him to the celebrated author, who became one of Maupassant’s most significant mentors and influences.
After separating from his unfaithful husband, Maupassant’s mother moved with her two sons to the coastal town of Étretat. This seaside setting later inspired several of Maupassant’s works, including Une Vie. Today, a street in the picturesque town bears his name in tribute.
Maupassant’s life was tragically short; he died at the age of 42 from complications of syphilis, leaving behind a remarkable body of short stories and novels that continue to shape modern literature.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read This Is for Everyone by Tim Berners-Lee
•	Read Tim Berners-Lee by Damian Harvey
•	Visit CERN in Geneva — the birthplace of the web

6. August

First Website – 6. August 1991

Thirty-five years ago today, physicist Tim Berners-Lee published the world’s very first website while working at CERN. He also created the foundational technologies of the World Wide Web — the system that still underpins virtually everything we do online.
Without his work, I wouldn’t be able to share this calendar with you today. So let’s take a moment to celebrate the inventor who opened the doors to the digital age.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit as many revolving doors as you can today, compare their styles, designs, and mechanics
•	Read a book in which revolving doors play a role (for example, Theo Taane’s I Spend 80% of My Free Time Helplessly Stuck in Revolving Doors)
•	Read a book while walking around in a revolving door...

7. August

Today is Revolving Door Day in the United States

Yes, you read that correctly, this curious holiday exists and is celebrated annually on 7 August. The date is not arbitrary: it marks the anniversary of the U.S. patent granted to Theophilus Van Kannel for the revolving door on 7 August 1888.
The revolving door has even made its way into literature. In Katja Lange-Müller’s novel Drehtür (Revolving Door), for example, the title metaphor is used as a point of reflection as the protagonist pauses before a revolving door and contemplates the people around her.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a nonfiction book about cats
•	Read Why Your Cat Thinks You're an Idiot by Sam Hart
•	Read Paws Off the Table! by Hape Kerkeling

8. August

Today we celebrate World Cat Day

If any creatures have achieved a perfect symbiosis with books, it’s cats. Few things are more delightful than settling into a sofa, a bookstore nook, or a park bench and having a cat curl up beside you. Naturally, they’ve also claimed a prominent place in literature, muses, companions, comic relief, and the occasional source of chaos.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Helen Joseph’s book If This Be Treason
•	Walk in solidarity with 20,000 women and protest peacefully against those who, for any reason, continue to oppress women today (I would argue that the ANC has failed to learn from history and now makes headlines largely for corruption and racially divisive conduct.)

9. August

Today we commemorate Helen Joseph 

(April 8, 1905 – December 25, 1992).
Born in England, she became a leading anti-apartheid activist and was the first person to be placed under house arrest when the South African government introduced this measure in 1962.
She arrived in South Africa in 1931 and worked as a teacher in Durban, where she met her husband, Billie Joseph, a dentist. During World War II, her service in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force exposed her to the injustices faced by many South Africans. These experiences moved her to become a social worker and to support the ANC in its struggle against apartheid.
Seventy years ago today, on 9 August 9, 1956, she joined 20,000 women of all racial backgrounds in a historic march under the slogan: “You strike a woman, you strike a rock.” Since then, South Africa has commemorated this date as Women’s Day.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of her books (no need to start with The Hunger Games!)
•	Visit the small rat sculpture in Central Park, New York

10. August

Happy Birthday, Suzanne Collins

(10 August 1962)
Her name may not be instantly recognizable to everyone, but her work certainly is, The Hunger Games series, especially through its blockbuster film adaptations, has left a lasting mark on contemporary culture.
The idea for the series came to Collins while she was channel-surfing between a reality TV show and news coverage of the Iraq War. The stark contrast between entertainment and real-world conflict, combined with her long-standing love of fantasy, sparked the inspiration for her dystopian world.
Before becoming a bestselling young adult author, Collins began her career writing for children’s television. Her storytelling roots run deep and across very different media.
One of the most charming glimpses into her personality is a photo on her website where she leans forward to press her nose against a rat sculpture in New York's Central Park.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of her books
•	Read a work published under her pen name Mary Pollock
•	Investigate a mysterious or dubious real-life incident in the spirit of her adventure stories and try to solve the case

11. August

In Remembrance: Enid Blyton 

(11 August 1897 – 1968)
For me, she always felt like the British answer to Astrid Lindgren, like the Swedish author, Blyton created children’s books that became true cultural touchstones. Series such as The Famous Five and The Secret Seven remain as thrilling for young readers today as they were decades ago. They’re brilliantly written and wonderfully timeless.
I must confess something, though: as a child I adored Timmy the dog. As an adult… he grates on me just a little. Nostalgia isn’t always immune to changing tastes!
Blyton was remarkably prolific, often writing several thousand words a day, frequently without even outlining beforehand. She shared the classic British fondness for animals, keeping many pets throughout her life, and even wrote a newspaper column from the perspective of her fox terrier, Bob.

 Suggested activities:
•	Create the sentence according to the instructions
•	Read it aloud as if it were the original sentence
•	Repeat the exercise until the sentence sounds natural
•	No cheating

12. August

Today we celebrate the Day of the Backwards Sentence — a holiday of my own invention

Every year on 12 August, you’re invited to perform a simple literary ritual:
1.	Pick up the book you’re currently reading.
2.	Turn to page 128 (a little nod to 12/8).
3.	Find the first complete sentence on the page.
4.	Now read it backwards
And just like that, you’ve discovered your Backwards Sentence of the Year. Enjoy its accidental poetry!
If you absolutely must, analyze the sentence.

From Barney Norris The Vanishing Hours
Or was it that everyone who kills someone kills a bit of themselves that they never reopen, and the numbness in me was really the numbness of the body I was trapped in?

In trapped was I body the of numbness the really was me in numbness the and, reopen never they that themselves of bit a kills someone kills who everyone that it was or?

 Suggested activities:
•	Try writing only with your left hand today
•	Perform daily tasks such as cutting, throwing a ball, opening a door, all with your left hand
You may discover a new appreciation for what left-handers navigate every day

13. August

Today We Celebrate International Left-Handers Day

Established in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, this day shines a light on the experiences and challenges of left-handers living in a predominantly right-handed world.
Throughout history, many remarkable minds have shared this trait, writers like Hans Christian Andersen, Franz Kafka, and Lewis Carroll, as well as leaders such as Napoleon Bonaparte. Their creativity and vision remind us that a different perspective can often change the world.
Thankfully, in Switzerland, children are no longer forced to write with their right hand, a liberation I personally appreciate, as I proudly count myself among the left-handed.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books
•	Visit a memorial dedicated to Goscinny

14. August

Today We Commemorate René Goscinny

(14 August 1926 – 1977)
Born in Paris exactly 100 years ago, Goscinny remains one of the giants of comic literature. Together with Albert Uderzo, he created the legendary Asterix series, and he also wrote the scripts for Lucky Luke, illustrated by the Belgian artist Morris. Goscinny and Morris first met in the United States, where Goscinny was living at the time, and their collaboration lasted more than two decades.
My personal favourites among his works are the Le Petit Nicolas stories, charmingly illustrated by Sempé.
Goscinny died of a heart attack, but his legacy lives on, not just through his books, but also through several memorials dedicated to him.
Among them:
•	In Paris’ 16th arrondissement, at the corner of Boulevard de Boulainvilliers and Rue Singer
•	In Angoulême, where Europe’s largest comic-related monument stands on the station square, engraved with 82 of Goscinny’s quotations

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Visit a memorial dedicated to Sir Walter Scott

15. August

Happy Birthday Sir Walter Scott

He is one of Scotland’s great heroes: Sir Walter Scott.
Today, we pause to commemorate him, the writer who gave history a heartbeat and legends their voices.
Scott penned timeless classics such as Ivanhoe and Waverley, but one of his novels earned a particularly curious distinction: The Heart of Midlothian inspired the name of a football club. Literature, meet sport.
And here’s a lesser-known fact: Scott is the reason we use the word “glamour.” He popularised it in The Lay of the Last Minstrel, though, in his day, it didn’t mean style and sparkle. It meant deception.
So next time something seems glamorous, remember: Sir Walter Scott might have called it a beautiful illusion.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Essential Bukowski: Poetry
•	Watch Barfly, the film inspired by his life

16. August

Today we commemorate Charles Bukowski 

(16 August 1920)
The German-American poet would have turned 106 today. He was born in Andernach, Germany, to a German mother, and a commemorative plaque now marks his birthplace at Aktienstrasse 12.
Bukowski’s childhood was marked by a harsh and abusive father, an experience he later referred to as “good training” for the raw, unfiltered honesty of his writing.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read Der abenteuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch
•	Read a historical account of the Thirty Years’ War

17. August

Today We Commemorate Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen 

(died 17 August 1676)
Three hundred and fifty years ago today, the German author Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen passed away. He is best remembered for his magnum opus Der abenteuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch (The Adventurous Simplicissimus), a landmark of Baroque literature.
Written in the 17th century, the novel offers a vivid and unflinching portrayal of the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648). Grimmelshausen drew directly from experience: he lived through the conflict himself and is believed to have been recruited as a soldier at around age ten, an almost unimaginable reality.
In the history of German literature, Simplicissimus is regarded as the first German picaresque novel and remains an essential work for understanding both the era and the evolution of narrative prose in German.

 Suggested activities:
So grab your pen, lower your standards, and let’s get writing!

18. August

(National) Bad Poetry Day

Feeling poetic — but not particularly good at it? Perfect.
Today is Bad Poetry Day, a celebration of clumsy rhymes, tangled metaphors, and joyful nonsense.
So grab your pen, lower your standards, and let’s get writing!

Swiss-German (original version):
S’Öpfelbütschgi
Und ich sitzä i dä Chuchi 
Uf mim Stuhl us Ra-tta-tan
Vor mir liit es Öpfelbütschgi
Mängi ässeds rübis stübis 
Doch ich fürchtä mich, dass im mim Buuch es Bäumli wachsä chan.

High German:
Der Apfelbutzen
Und ich sitze in der Küche
Auf meinem Stuhl aus Ra-tta-tan
Vor mir liegt ein Apfelbutzen
Manche essen ihn samt Stutzen
Doch ich fürchte mich, dass in meinem Bauch ein Bäumchen wachsen kann

The Apple Core
And I'm sitting in the kitchen
My chair made of ra-tta-tan
An apple core in front of me
Some people eat it all as be
But I'm afraid that a little tree might grow in my stomach
©Sybil

 Suggested activities:
•	Read an epistolary novel (ideally one by Richardson—Clarissa is a great choice)

19. August

Today We Commemorate Samuel Richardson

(19 August 1689 – 1761)
Samuel Richardson began his career not as an author, but as a printer, and only turned to writing at the age of 51. He is credited with pioneering the epistolary novel, a narrative composed entirely of letters.
His first major work in this form was Pamela, or, Virtue Rewarded. Richardson had become familiar with letter-writing long before he ever published fiction: in his youth, he often helped women compose love letters, giving him early insight into personal emotions and intimate perspectives, skills that later shaped his literary voice.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his works
•	Read his autobiography

20. August

Today We Commemorate H. P. Lovecraft 

(20 August 1890 – 1937)
Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born in Providence, Rhode Island and it was there that he also passed away, having suffered from bowel cancer. His gravestone is inscribed with the words “I Am Providence,” and a memorial to him stands in the city as well.
Lovecraft is regarded as one of the most influential writers in horror literature and a central figure in the development of cosmic horror, a genre defined by themes of insignificance, ancient forces, and the unknown.
Money was often scarce throughout his life, and at one point he worked as a ghostwriter for Harry Houdini, so when reading texts attributed to Houdini, remember that Lovecraft may have been behind the words.
His best-known work is The Call of Cthulhu, which gave rise to the expansive Cthulhu Mythos and inspired countless authors, filmmakers, and game designers.
Though he had a deep affection for cats, his own cat bore a name that is, by modern standards, offensive and unacceptable, a reminder of Lovecraft’s well-documented prejudices.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Oliver’s books and you’ll see why I’m so proud of him and why he continues to inspire me

22. August

Today We Celebrate My Brother Oliver’s Birthday

(22 August)
I celebrate him not only for his wonderful personality, but also for his contributions to literature. Even as a child, he was a natural storyteller. His vivid imagination, paired with intelligence and curiosity, shaped the tales he created long before he ever put them on paper.
He later published Follow the Wind in English, a witty and highly entertaining novel. He is currently working on a series of Schlehmil booklets, each one delightfully funny, creative, and full of charm.

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 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the Nijntje museum
•	Read one of the books

23. August

Birthday of the Dutch author Dick Bruna

Today we celebrate Hendrik Magdalenus Bruna, born in Utrecht in 1927.
The world knows him simply as Dick Bruna, the creator of the beloved little rabbit Miffy (Nijntje in the original Dutch). Her first story hopped into the world in 1955, and she’s been winning hearts ever since.
Bruna wasn’t just a children’s author, he was also a prolific designer of posters and book covers. His clean lines and bold colours reveal the influence of Henri Matisse, whose spirit seems to linger in Miffy’s simple, expressive form.
In Utrecht, a museum now bears his name, a fitting tribute to the quiet genius who turned simplicity into art.
Beyond the museum, you’ll find Nijntje everywhere in the city, appearing in shop windows as bath towels or soft toys, and even as a figure on a traffic light along Lange Viestraat. It’s absolutely delightful!

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of Theodore Edward Hook’s works (e.g., The Life and Remains of Theodore Edward Hook)
•	Send yourself a postcard

24. August

Today we commemorate the British playwright and writer Theodore Edward Hook, who died 185 years ago, on 24 August 1841

Hook was one of the key figures behind the “Silver Fork” novel, a genre that flourished in Britain between 1821 and 1845. These novels focused on the lives of the English upper class, offering an insider’s glimpse into aristocratic society. Many characters were thinly veiled portrayals of real people.
A lesser-known curiosity: Hook is believed to have received the first postcard ever sent and he may well have written it himself. The postmark dates it to 14 July 1840, just a year before his death.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the beautiful Faroe Islands
•	Read one of his books

25. August

Happy Birthday to Jógvan Isaksen

(25 August 1950)
Born in Tórshavn, Jógvan Isaksen is a Faroese author best known for his crime novels set against the dramatic landscapes of the Faroe Islands. In addition to his work as a writer, he runs Mentunargrunnur Studentafelagsins, the oldest publishing house in the Faroe Islands. Several of his novels have been translated, bringing Faroese crime literature to a wider international audience.

 Suggested activities:
•	Take care of a dog
•	Read a book about a dog
•	Read Peter Wicks' For the Love of Frenchies

26. August

Celebrating International Dog Day: A Tribute to Man’s Best Friend

Who hasn’t heard the saying “Adopt, don’t shop”?
Sadly, more and more dogs are finding themselves without homes, living on the streets or waiting in shelters for someone to give them the love and care they deserve.
One could also say ‘love don't leave’.
Today, as we celebrate International Dog Day, it’s the perfect time to appreciate our loyal four-legged friends and the people who dedicate their lives to them. One of those people is Pete Wicks, a well-known British television personality and proud dog lover. You might recognize him from various reality TV shows, but beyond the spotlight, his biggest passion is his dogs.
Pete is the author of “For the Love of Frenchies”, a heartfelt tribute to his beloved French bulldog, Eric. In this book, he shares not only the joy his dogs have brought him but also the pain of losing his other dog, Ernest. Wicks also uses his platform to raise awareness about illegal dog breeding, an issue that deserves far more attention.
While he’s faced some criticism online for admitting that he prefers dogs to people, many (myself included!) completely understand where he’s coming from. After all, who can resist the unconditional love of a dog?
Pete Wicks, a man with a heart — quite literally — shaped like a bone

 Suggested activities:
•	Read one of his books
•	Read Franz et Clara on the shores of Lake Lucerne
•	Watch one of his films

27. August

Today we remember Philippe Labro, who would have celebrated his 90th birthday.

The French writer from Montauban was the author of one of my all-time favourite books, Des Cornichons au chocolat. Published in 1983 under the pseudonym Stéphanie, the novel is narrated from the perspective of a 13-year-old girl—and every single word rings true. Labro captures the voice, emotions, and inner life of this teenager with astonishing authenticity. The book moved me deeply. For me, he remains the greatest French writer.
Labro also wrote Franz et Clara, a quiet, lyrical story set in Lucerne (Switzerland). It follows the encounters of two protagonists who meet on a bench by Lake Lucerne, and it is filled with atmosphere, tenderness, and restraint.
Beyond his literary achievements, Labro was also a journalist and filmmaker. He passed away on 4. June 2025.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read A History of Mary Prince.
•	Read The Underground Railroad by Barry Jenkins
•	Visit her commemorative plaque at Senate House on Malet Street in London a building that George Orwell later used as the model for the Ministry of Truth in 1984

28. August

28. August 1833 – Slavery Abolition Act

Today we mark both a significant milestone and a somber chapter in British colonial history: the abolition of slavery.
On 28 August 1833, the Slavery Abolition Act was passed, bringing slavery to an end in most British colonies. It came into effect the following year, on 1 August. Mary Prince (1788–1833), born in Bermuda, was the first Black woman to publish an autobiography of her life in 1831. Separated from her mother as a child and later sold into slavery in London, she courageously recounted the brutal and unjust realities she endured. Her testimony had a profound impact on public opinion and played an important role in shaping the legislation that followed.

 Suggested activities:
• Read a work by Maurice Maeterlinck
• Visit his monument in Ghent, Belgium
• Watch Debussy’s opera Pelléas et Mélisande

29. August

Today we commemorate the Belgian writer Maurice Maeterlinck

(29 August 1862 – 1949)
Born in Ghent, Maeterlinck was both a poet and playwright, and one of the leading figures of Symbolism.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. Among his most celebrated works are La Vie des Abeilles (The Life of the Bee) and the play Pelléas et Mélisande, which later inspired Claude Debussy’s acclaimed operatic adaptation.

 Suggested activities:
•	Visit the village of Frankenstein in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
•	Visit the Frankenstein’s Edinburgh
•	Explore Frankenstein Castle, a hilltop fortress in the Odenwald near Darmstadt
•	Read Frankenstein
•	Create art inspired by Mary Shelley or her iconic creature

30. August

Frankenstein Day

Today we celebrate the birthday of Mary Shelley (1797–1851), the author of Frankenstein.

Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein

 Suggested activities:
• Read one of Faldbakken’s works

31. August

Happy Birthday to Knut Faldbakken

(born 31 August 1941)
The Norwegian author celebrates his 85th birthday today.
Faldbakken’s body of work is remarkably diverse, spanning crime fiction, literary novels, children’s books, and plays. His writing often explores psychological themes and complex, troubled relationships, insights undoubtedly shaped by his psychology studies at the University of Oslo from 1960 to 1962.
He achieved his literary breakthrough in 1969 with Sin mors hus (His Mother's House), a novel that addressed topics considered taboo at the time. He later examined the idea of a prosperous, future-oriented society in his two-part dystopian work Uår. Aftenlandet (1974) and Uår. Sweetwater (1976).

 Suggested activities:
• Read W. H. Auden’s poem “September 1, 1939”
• Read Sansom’s analysis

1. September

Today we commemorate W. H. Auden’s poem “September 1, 1939.”

The poem responds to the German invasion of Poland and the outbreak of the Second World War. Its most famous line, “We must love one another or die,” became iconic and later inspired Ian Sansom’s book September 1, 1939: A Biography of a Poem, which examines the work in depth.
Auden, an English writer born in York, is also known for Funeral Blues, which gained renewed prominence through its memorable appearance in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral starring Hugh Grant.
In 1935, Auden entered into a marriage of convenience with fellow writer Erika Mann, enabling her escape from Nazi Germany.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Hallmarked Man, or choose another title from the Cormoran Strike series

2. September

A year ago, on 2 September 2025, Robert Galbraith’s novel The Hallmarked Man was published

As many readers know, “Robert Galbraith” is a pseudonym, behind it stands J. K. Rowling, the most commercially successful author of our time.
(And in case you ever wondered: the initials J.K. stand for Joanne Kathleen.)The Hallmarked Man is a crime novel and the eighth installment in the Cormoran Strike series. The story opens with a gruesome discovery: a mutilated body is found in the vault of a London silver shop. While the police believe they have identified the victim, one woman is convinced they are wrong. She believes the dead man is the long-missing father of her newborn child.

 Suggested activities:
• Attend the festival on one of the event days
• Read a work featured in this year’s programme
• Read a work by Jeet Thayil

3. September

The International Literature Festival Berlin will take place this year from 3 to 16 September

As one of the world’s most significant literary festivals, it brings both national and international authors to Germany’s capital. The programme features panel discussions, readings, and book launches.
Since 2024, the festival has introduced a new role: the Curator in Residence. Each year, an international selection committee appoints a literary figure who collaborates closely with the festival team, curates part of the programme, and defines the theme for that year’s edition.
For this year’s festival, Indian poet, novelist, and musician Jeet Thayil has been named Curator in Residence.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read the National Geographic Guide to Wildlife
•	Create your own wildlife artwork perhaps with the help of Oana Befort’s Zeichenschule Wildtiere (Wildlife Drawing School)
•	Pick up litter such as plastic that could harm animals and their environment

4. September

National Wildlife Day

Today we celebrate the extraordinary world of wildlife. Few things on our planet are more deserving of protection than the animals we share it with and the natural habitats they depend on. Countless books explore the richness and diversity of wildlife, inviting us to learn, admire, and care.

 Suggested activities:
•	Treat yourself to one of his books or a piece of his artwork, available for purchase through his website
•	Take inspiration from his work and try recreating a scene of your own using miniature figures

5. September

Release date: 5. September 2008

Little People in the City is one of my favorite books and holds a very special place on my bookshelf. Created by the Devon-based street artist Stuart Pantoll, better known as Slinkachu, it is a beautifully crafted and endlessly rewarding work.
As the title suggests, the book focuses on little people, very little people, in fact: miniature figurines like those used in model railways. These tiny characters are meticulously staged and photographed in real urban environments. At times, they are presented directly within their surroundings; at others, entire scenes are recreated in miniature. The result is a series of images that are imaginative, expressive, and often quietly humorous or melancholic.
This is a book I return to again and again, and each time it captivates me in exactly the same way. It was a gift from my brother Oliver, which makes it even more special.

My favorite images:

• Dreams of Packing It All In
• Gum
• Drain Guy

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book today

6. September

Read a Book Day

Today is Read a Book Day.
There’s really not much more to say — just pick up a book and read.

I’m currently reading The Muffin Man by André Rostant. So, if you’re not in the mood to pick up a whole book, make sure to grab a copy of The Big Issue and give this a read.

 Suggested activities:
•	Buy a book today

7. September

National Buy a Book Day

Which book did you buy today?
Today is National Buy a Book Day, first launched on 7 September 2010 by American author Philip Athans.

Interestingly, in the United States, Read a Book Day falls on 6 September, just one day earlier.
Wouldn’t it make more sense the other way around?

 Suggested activities:
•	Read y Perry Rhodan booklet

8. September

Perry Rhodan and His Sci-Fi Booklets

Since 8 September 1961, a new Perry Rhodan booklet has been published every Friday, each one written by a different author.
Once a year, PERRY RHODAN begins a new story cycle, making it the perfect entry point for new readers.
If you haven’t joined the adventure yet: the latest cycle began on 31 October 2025.

 Suggested activities:
•	Today, you can revisit the magic of Maya the Bee in book or film form, rewatch My Girl, or, better yet, do something kind for our real-life wild bees.

9. September

Maya the Bee Takes Flight on German Television

The beloved Maya the Bee stories by German author Waldemar Bonsels (1880–1952) have been translated into more than 40 languages. His charming characters, especially Maya and her loyal friend Willi, have become timeless icons of children’s literature.
At just 24, Bonsels founded his own publishing house with two colleagues, Verlag E.W. Bonsels & Co., a bold step that paved the way for his enduring literary success.
While his books remain classics, it’s the animated Maya the Bee television series that captured the hearts of new generations. The world’s most famous bee made her television debut on 9 September 1976, and her adventures have buzzed across screens ever since.
Ever since I first saw the film My Girl, I’ve had the feeling that Thomas J. (played by Macaulay Culkin) might have been inspired, at least in appearance, by Maya’s friend Willi.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read The Poetical Works of Wilfrid Scawen Blunt
•	Read My Diaries by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt

10. September

Today we commemorate the English poet Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, who died on 10 September 1922

Blunt led a life as turbulent as his verse. Married to a granddaughter of Lord Byron, he also attracted scandal through an alleged homosexual affair, an episode that, combined with his outspoken politics, kept him in the public eye. His imprisonment was a harsh experience, vividly recounted in My Diaries.
A fierce opponent of imperialism, Blunt proved a persistent thorn in the side of the British authorities. He travelled widely, writing not only poetry but also works on Bedouin culture and his own pilgrimages.

 Suggested activities:
• Read a book or personal account related to 9/11
• Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero
• Stay vigilant and attentive to safety concerns in your community

11. September

Today we commemorate the tragic events of 11 September 2001

It is not a day of celebration, but a moment of reflection on what happened, whom we lost, and how the world has changed since.
On that morning, Islamist terrorists hijacked four passenger aircraft. Two were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, and one struck the Pentagon. The fourth plane never reached its intended target thanks to the intervention and courage of passengers on board, a story recounted in Lisa Beamer’s book Let’s Roll!: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage.
This attack has been the subject of numerous books, including Joseph Pfeifer’s memoir Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11, written from the perspective of a first responder at the scene.

 Suggested activities:
•	By a book in a book town
•	Visit RIchard Booth's bookshop in Hay-on-Wye

12. September

Happy Birthday Richard Booth

When you hear the term “book town,” one name inevitably comes to mind: Richard Booth (12 September 1938 – 20 August 2019). Known as the King of Hay, Booth transformed Hay-on-Wye, a picturesque village on the Welsh–English border, into a world-famous literary haven. His vision was to create a centre devoted to books and reading, a dream he more than fulfilled.
Hay-on-Wye is a true paradise for bibliophiles, its charm enhanced by the historic castle at its heart and Booth’s own legendary bookshop, a destination in itself.
In honour of his legacy, the Richard Booth Prize for Non-Fiction is awarded annually by the Hay Writers’ Circle. This independent prize celebrates excellence in factual writing and continues Booth’s enduring influence on the world of literature.

 Suggested activities:
•	So today, why not visit a chocolate factory or take a ride in a glass elevator (if you can find one)?

13. September

13 September 1916 – The Birth of Roald Dahl

On this day, Roald Dahl was born in South Wales.
He went on to write legendary stories that have delighted readers of all ages, many of which were later adapted into beloved films.
His most famous work is probably Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Do you know its sequel?
It’s Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

 Suggested activities:
• Read one of his works
• Visit Husum

14. September

Today we commemorate the German writer Theodor Storm

(born 14 September 1817)
A native of Husum, Storm is honoured in his hometown with a monument in the castle park, and his former residence now houses the Storm Museum. Both a poet and a lawyer, he is considered a leading figure of Poetic Realism, and his name rightfully appears in every history of German literature.
Storm is best known for his novellas, earning lasting acclaim for works such as Der Schimmelreiter (The Rider on the White Horse). He also maintained close ties with the Mommsen brothers, Theodor Mommsen, later awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, among them.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
•	Watch one of the many film adaptations of his works
•	Visit his statue in his birthplace, Debanandapur

15. September

Today we commemorate the great Bengali writer Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (1876–1938), who would have celebrated his 150th birthday today

Born near Kolkata in what was then British India, he rose from a life of poverty to become the most translated Indian author of all time.
Chattopadhyay is best known for his evocative short stories, many of which have been adapted into celebrated films. A sharp observer of human psychology, he explored themes of morality, social ethics, and the complexities of everyday life, leaving a lasting impact on generations of young readers.
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 Suggested activities:
•	Transform a stone into a weather stone — the only stone that earns the right to stay
•	Return all other stones to their original homes (e.g. beaches, trails, rivers, mountains)
•	Read a book about geology and discover why stones deserve landscapes, not living rooms

16. September

Today we celebrate National Collect Rocks Day

A little story: I, too, once filled pockets, boxes, and wooden crates with stones gathered from my favourite beaches. But twenty years later, I carried them all back, one by one, to the places they came from. It felt like setting something right.
So this year, I propose a twist:
Let’s turn National Collect Rocks Day into National Return Rocks Day.
(Exception: certified weather stones.)
Bring your stones back! They long to be free.

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 Suggested activities:
•	Read Kyösti Wilkuna’s Aamun Miehiä
•	Read Kaisa Häkkinen’s Spreading the Written Word: Mikael Agricola and the Birth of Literary Finnish

17. September

Today we celebrate Mikael Agricola’s Abckiria—the book that officially gave Finnish its first printed “ABC”

Published on 17. September 1543, it was the very first Finnish-language book, proving once and for all that Finns don’t just communicate through silence.
Mikael Agricola (1510–1557), theologian, bishop of Turku, and linguistic multitasker, is now known as the father of literary Finnish. At the time, Finland was still part of Sweden.
Turku, where he served as bishop, remains mostly Swedish-speaking today. 


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 Suggested activities:
•	Read an e-book
•	Read a book that starts with the letter e (a so-called e-book) 

18. September

International Read an E-Book Day

Today is International Read an E-Book Day.
After all, it’s better to read an e-book than not to read at all



.

 Suggested activities:
• Read one of his works
• Visit the memorial plaque in Marlborough
• Visit Salisbury Cathedral, which inspired his novel The Spire 

19. September

Sir William Golding (born 19 September 1911) would have celebrated his 115th birthday today

The Cornish-born writer is regarded as one of the major figures of modern British literature. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983, and five years later was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
Golding left an indelible mark on literary history with his 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, a work that continues to shape discussions of human nature, morality, and society. I first encountered the story as a child through the black-and-white film adaptation, and its unsettling power has stayed with me ever since. The novel is a masterpiece, not only in structure and concept, but also in its psychological depth, informed in part by Golding’s experience as a schoolteacher observing children firsthand.
The title Lord of the Flies is a translation of Beelzebub, another name for the devil, fitting for a work that probes the darker side of human nature.
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 Suggested activities:
•	Eat an apple — congratulations, you’ve already completed today’s mission.
•	Read (preferably before you take a bite):
o	Teresa Präauer: How to Eat an Apple
•	Explore more apple-themed books:
o	Sherrie L. Leslie: An Apple a Day
o	Joseph Schwarcz: An Apple a Day

20. September

Today we celebrate Eat an Apple Day

The apple entered the world of literature early, most famously in the Old Testament, where it played a starring role in the story of the Fall of Man.
But today, there’s no need to hesitate. No symbolism, no temptation, no moral dilemmas.
Just take a bite. That’s the whole point of the day.
If you’d like to pair your apple with a good book, there’s plenty of reading material that celebrates this surprisingly literary fruit.

 Suggested activities:
•	Read a book by Frédéric Beigbeder
•	Visit the Café de Flore in Paris.
•	Reflect on what you would have to write to get fired from your current job (and please, do not follow through)

21. September

Happy Birthday to Frédéric Beigbeder 

(born 21 September 1965)
The French writer, actor, and screenwriter was immersed in literature from an early age. His mother worked as a literary translator. In 1994, he founded the Prix de Flore, named after the iconic Parisian literary café that became a gathering place for young, avant-garde writers.
A former advertising copywriter, Beigbeder wrote his novel 99 Francs with the explicit goal of getting himself fired. The book delivers a sharp critique of the advertising industry, and the provocatively subversive tone is said to have been inspired, at least in part, by fellow French author Michel Houellebecq.