Born in the summer of 1965, English author J. K. Rowling (born Joanne Rowling) is one of the most successful and well-known authors in modern history. She was born into a middle-class family in Yate, Gloucestershire. When she was four years old, her family moved to Winterbourne, Gloucestershire, where she attended St. Michael’s Church ofContinue reading “J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter: the Best-Selling Book Series of All Time.”
Author Archives: admin
We’re Hiring – Rare Book Store Gallery Assistant
Job description Position Overview Raptis Rare Books is currently seeking a full-time Gallery Assistant to join our team and assist with daily business operations. The ideal candidate will possess formal coursework, training, or professional experience in rare book and/or special collections librarianship. Primary Responsibilities: Report directly to the Gallery Manager to: Assist with greeting andContinue reading “We’re Hiring – Rare Book Store Gallery Assistant”
Anthony Bourdain: Eccentric Rockstar Chef.
Born in the summer of 1956, American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain was a truly one-of-a-kind figure in the world of culinary art. Known equally for his talent and for his unique perspective and humor, his books and television programs were adored by many and secured him as a household name all over the world. BornContinue reading “Anthony Bourdain: Eccentric Rockstar Chef.”
Sylvia Plath: America’s Modern Tragic Poetess.
Sylvia Plath was born in the fall of 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts to parents of Austrian and German descent. Destined to become one of the foremost writers of her time and genre, she was born into an intellectual household. Her father was an entomologist, professor of biology, and scientific author. Plath herself began showing herContinue reading “Sylvia Plath: America’s Modern Tragic Poetess.”
Shel Silverstein: Man of Many Talents
Born in Chicago, Illinois in the fall of 1930, Shel Silverstein is remembered as one of the most prominent voices in children’s literature and poetry in the 20th century. His career, however, spanned multiple genres, including cartoons, plays, and music. He was the recipient of two Grammy awards and was among the nominees for theContinue reading “Shel Silverstein: Man of Many Talents”
Gabriel García Márquez: Master of Magical Realism
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez, born on March 6th, 1927, was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, journalist, and screenwriter who cemented himself in history as one of the most significant and influential authors of the 20th century, particularly in the Spanish language. In 1972, he was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for literatureContinue reading “Gabriel García Márquez: Master of Magical Realism”
In the News: A Blueprint for Early America: Owen Biddle’s 1806 Book, The Young Carpenter’s Assistant.
Raptis Rare Books was recently featured in the July/August 2023 issue of The Magazine Antiques in the article: A Blueprint for Early America: Owen Biddle’s 1806 Book, The Young Carpenter’s Assistant by Benjamin Davidson and Pippa Biddle. Read the full article here.
Milton Friedman: Nobel Prize-Winning Economist and Scholar.
One of the most influential economists of the twentieth century, American economist Milton Friedman received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and the complexity of stabilization policy. His work is so significant that it is now required reading for any student of economicContinue reading “Milton Friedman: Nobel Prize-Winning Economist and Scholar.”
The Great American Novels of Cormac McCarthy.
Named by Harold Bloom as one of the four great American novelists of his time (alongside Thomas Pynchon, Philip Roth, and Don DeLillo), Cormac McCarthy published twelve novels over the course of his lifetime, spanning the Southern Gothic, Western and post-apocalyptic genres. Economic in style, his fiction was dark and often violent, featuring characters who,Continue reading “The Great American Novels of Cormac McCarthy.”
Aristotle: Master of Philosophy.
One of the most influential thinkers throughout history, Aristotle was born in 384 B.C. in Stagira, an ancient Greek city located in the northeastern region of modern-day Greece. When he was seventeen, Aristotle traveled to Athens in order to study at Plato’s Academy. He remained at the Academy until Plato’s death in 348 B.C. InContinue reading “Aristotle: Master of Philosophy.”