literature

What Does ‘Shiver Me Timbers’ Mean — And Did Pirates Really Say It?

The expression "shiver me timbers" was first recorded in print in 1795, and since then, it's appeared everywhere from Treasure Island to SpongeBob SquarePants. But it's unclear whether this phrase was ever truly part of the pirate vernacular.

By Erin Kelly • Oct 8, 2023

What Does ‘Shiver Me Timbers’ Mean — And Did Pirates Really Say It?

The expression "shiver me timbers" was first recorded in print in 1795, and since then, it's appeared everywhere from Treasure Island to SpongeBob SquarePants. But it's unclear whether this phrase was ever truly part of the pirate vernacular.

By Erin Kelly • October 8, 2023

What Is The Meaning Of Humpty Dumpty? Inside The Origins Of The Popular Nursery Rhyme, From Rude Slang Words To King Richard III

The meaning of Humpty Dumpty has remained mysterious for centuries, but there are some possible historical explanations for the nursery rhyme.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 15, 2023

What Is The Meaning Of Humpty Dumpty? Inside The Origins Of The Popular Nursery Rhyme, From Rude Slang Words To King Richard III

The meaning of Humpty Dumpty has remained mysterious for centuries, but there are some possible historical explanations for the nursery rhyme.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 15, 2023

The Short, Sad Life Of Dina Sanichar, The Feral Boy Who May Have Inspired ‘The Jungle Book’

After being raised by wolves in the Indian jungle, Dina Sanichar was never able to speak or fully rejoin human society before dying at about 35 in 1895.

By Tim Brinkhof • May 17, 2023

The Short, Sad Life Of Dina Sanichar, The Feral Boy Who May Have Inspired ‘The Jungle Book’

After being raised by wolves in the Indian jungle, Dina Sanichar was never able to speak or fully rejoin human society before dying at about 35 in 1895.

By Tim Brinkhof • May 17, 2023

Inside The Brutal Legacy Of Vlad The Impaler, The Real-Life Inspiration For Dracula

Vlad III, also called Vlad the Impaler, was a prince of Wallachia infamous for his brutality in battle and the gruesome punishments he inflicted on his enemies.

By Natasha Ishak • Apr 9, 2023

Inside The Brutal Legacy Of Vlad The Impaler, The Real-Life Inspiration For Dracula

Vlad III, also called Vlad the Impaler, was a prince of Wallachia infamous for his brutality in battle and the gruesome punishments he inflicted on his enemies.

By Natasha Ishak • April 9, 2023

Perry Smith, The Man Who Inspired History’s Most Famous True Crime Book After Murdering An Entire Family

In the chilling story that inspired Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, Perry Smith and his accomplice Richard Hickock murdered the Clutter family inside their home in Holcomb, Kansas in November 1959.

By Neil Patmore • Apr 5, 2023

Perry Smith, The Man Who Inspired History’s Most Famous True Crime Book After Murdering An Entire Family

In the chilling story that inspired Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, Perry Smith and his accomplice Richard Hickock murdered the Clutter family inside their home in Holcomb, Kansas in November 1959.

By Neil Patmore • April 5, 2023

Inside The Eerie True Stories That Inspired ‘The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow’

Washington Irving's famous tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and its iconic headless horseman were inspired by a mix of real history and spooky folklore.

By Natasha Ishak • Sep 20, 2022

Inside The Eerie True Stories That Inspired ‘The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow’

Washington Irving's famous tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and its iconic headless horseman were inspired by a mix of real history and spooky folklore.

By Natasha Ishak • September 20, 2022

Inside The Devastating Death Of Ernest Hemingway, The Author Whose Work Defined America’s ‘Lost Generation’

Ernest Hemingway famously struggled with alcoholism and mental illness for decades before taking his own life in 1961.

By Kristen Winiarski • Aug 2, 2022

Inside The Devastating Death Of Ernest Hemingway, The Author Whose Work Defined America’s ‘Lost Generation’

Ernest Hemingway famously struggled with alcoholism and mental illness for decades before taking his own life in 1961.

By Kristen Winiarski • August 2, 2022

Inside Teratophilia, The Bizarre ‘Monster’ Fetish That’s Become Increasingly Popular

Taken from the ancient Greek words for “love” and “monster,” teratophilia involves the sexual attraction to fantasy creatures like Bigfoot — and sometimes real-life people with deformities.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 26, 2022

Inside Teratophilia, The Bizarre ‘Monster’ Fetish That’s Become Increasingly Popular

Taken from the ancient Greek words for “love” and “monster,” teratophilia involves the sexual attraction to fantasy creatures like Bigfoot — and sometimes real-life people with deformities.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 26, 2022

The True Story Of Karl May, The Adventure Writer Who Became Hitler’s Favorite Author

In the 19th century, a German author named Karl May wrote a series of novels set in the American West — which later influenced the worldview of Adolf Hitler.

By Jessica O'Connor • Mar 23, 2022

The True Story Of Karl May, The Adventure Writer Who Became Hitler’s Favorite Author

In the 19th century, a German author named Karl May wrote a series of novels set in the American West — which later influenced the worldview of Adolf Hitler.

By Jessica O'Connor • March 23, 2022

How Did Edgar Allan Poe Die? Inside The Mysterious Demise Of The Famed Gothic Writer

After suffering from mysterious hallucinations for four days straight, Edgar Allan Poe died of unknown causes in Baltimore at age 40 on October 7, 1849.

By Katie Serena • Feb 17, 2022

How Did Edgar Allan Poe Die? Inside The Mysterious Demise Of The Famed Gothic Writer

After suffering from mysterious hallucinations for four days straight, Edgar Allan Poe died of unknown causes in Baltimore at age 40 on October 7, 1849.

By Katie Serena • February 17, 2022