Special Collections has several early editions of works by both Boswell and Johnson, including a 2^nd edition of The Life of Samuel Johnson and a first edition of Johnson’s dictionary!

British author Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins (pseud. Anthony Hope) was born 150 years ago on February 9, 1863. A lawyer by trade, Hawkins began publishing short stories and novels in his late twenties. He is best known for the runaway bestseller The Prisoner of Zenda, published in April 1894. The novel, set in a fictional kingdom called Ruritania, is a tale of romance and political intrigue. When the heir to the Ruritanian throne is kidnapped, his identical cousin, a young Englishman, must impersonate the king until he can be rescued. The Prisoner of Zenda has been adapted for stage and screen numerous times, most famously by David O. Selznick in 1937.

Hawkins continued writing well into the 20^th century. Though his popularity as a novelist declined, he was knighted in 1918 for his services to British propaganda efforts during the First World War. Another interesting fact about Hawkins: he was the cousin of Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows.

Special Collections has numerous items related to Hawkins and The Prisoner of Zenda, including a collection of Hawkins’ correspondence (call number: Vault MSS 226) and first editions of Hawkins’ novels (several signed or inscribed by the author).

One of Special Collections’ newest acquisitions for the literary collections is Peter Brears’ Cooking and Dining with the Wordsworths (Rowe Collection TX 717 .B7289 2011), which shares recipes and menus used in William Wordsworth’s household. If English poets aren’t your style, you could also peruse the Louisa May Alcott Cookbook (Alcott Collection TX 715.A5663 1985). Alcott and her novels have inspired a number of cookery books, including ones inspired by Little Women and a collection of recipes and home remedies compiled by Louisa’s mother, Abba.

Just search the library catalog for the subjects “cooking” or “cookbooks.” Special Collections owns a wealth of themed cookbooks, all relating to different collecting areas: Utah and Mormonism, the Victorian era, and even Yellowstone Park!

Sunday, Nov. 4 marked the 150^th anniversary of the birth of prolific English writer Eden Phillpotts. He wrote novels, plays, essays, short stories, children’s literature, and stage and radio plays. Phillpotts’ most famous books chronicle the county of Devon in England, particularly the Dartmoor region.

Special Collections owns a very interesting collection of Phillpotts’ manuscripts and published works that were collected by Maurice Buxton Forman. Forman was a devoted fan of Phillpotts’ work, and, through a long correspondence, became Phillpotts’ friend as well. Forman collected Phillpotts’ books and the author presented him some of his books and original manuscripts. The manuscripts, along with ephemera that Forman collected, make up the Eden Phillpotts Papers (MSS 1458). Phillpotts’ printed works in Special Collections can of course be found by searching the library catalog.

For more about Phillpotts, check out the archive of the Literary Worlds exhibit.

Porter was a prolific author. He began his writing career in the mid-1890s, contributing stories to weekly newspapers and magazines. His first book-length collection, Cabbages and Kings, was written in Honduras while he was on the run from charges of embezzling money from a former employer, a Texas bank. He continued to write and publish stories while in prison. After his release, Porter moved to New York, where he continued to contribute stories to popular magazines and published collections of his stories, including Cabbages and Kings (1904) and The Four Million (1906). First editions of these and other O. Henry story collections are held in the Rare Book Collections and can be found by searching the library catalog for author “Henry, O.”