Sylvia Beach was born on this day in 1887.

Of course, I stayed in her namesake bookstore in Paris, Shakespeare & Company, and I’m a huge fan of Ulysses, which she published when no one else would. Also, she appeared prominently in Hemingway’s later career grudgefest, A Moveable Feast.

What I’m saying is that she is a major figure in twentieth century letters, so you should know more about her. In fact, I’m a little disappointed that you don’t and I think it speaks poorly to whatever schools you attended that you don’t already know this.

Unless you do, in which case, in the words of Obi Wan Kenobi, ‘move along.’

Oh, and last Christmas, I bought my father The Letters of Sylvia Beach. Your welcome.