Look at this remarkable bookcase/staircase combo from a London flat.

All we like sheep in Te Kuiti, New Zealand.

Someone once said, “In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility.” So I will lay off the quiz for today. But publishers Bantam Dell has a Shakespearean playhouse on their website with games: an Elizabethan English test, Hamlet’s Duel, Name That Play, and a dating game with Juliet. I did pretty well on the English test, but Hamlet’s Duel took some practice. You have to answer quickly on that one. (via Petrona and Books, Inq.)

Thanks to everyone who came by.

Tags: Shakespeare, quiz, English, literary

Congratulations to Judy! She won the paperback edition of The Chronicles of Narnia, which is a cool book. You may want to look at it in the store sometime or give it as a gift this year. See all of the current editions of The Chronicles of Narnia and related books at HarperCollins website or at the Disney site, Narnia.com

Conservative Intelligencer. Who was that masked man?

He’s a patriot, son; that’s all we need to know. (cue hero theme. cut to rising sun.)

A Series of Unfortunate Metaphors: Campaigns Engaged in Bizarre War of Words

“James Carville suggests Bill Richardson is a modern-day Judas. Bill Clinton calls Barack Obama’s campaign a fairy tale. Hillary Clinton says she’s a lot like ‘Rocky,’ except Rocky lost to Apollo Creed in a split decision.”

Conservative commentator Michael Steele says, “I think some of the language has gotten a little bit to the point of being silly.”

Congratulations to Cindi for winning the Prince Caspian paperback in our Narnia Book Contest. Tomorrow we will pick a winner for the Chronicles of Narnia paperback. Thanks for participating.

Here’s the fourth round of our quiz. How have you been doing? Everyone enjoying himself? Which of the following statements or quotations are from the Bible (King James Version) and which are from Shakespeare’s plays?

1. “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”

2. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

3. “Too little payment for so great a debt.”

4. Poor and content is rich enough.

5. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.”

6. “Good name in man and woman is the immediate jewel of their souls.”

7. “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?”

8. Mercy “droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.”

9. “A time to be born, and a time to die “

10. “Earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice.”

Bonus: Does the saying, “Cast thy bread upon the waters,” originate in the Bible, Shakespeare, or elsewhere? And what does it mean? Continue reading Is it from the Bible or Shakespeare (4)? →

There’s a bit of noise going up about the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards in Australia because the guidelines say, “The Prime Minister will make the final decision on the awarding of the Awards, taking into account the recommendations of the judges.”

What? The PM isn’t just a figurehead in these awards?

Tags: book awards, literary

Get your comment in for the Narnia book contest today. I’ll announce the winner of a Prince Caspian paperback tomorrow, and on Friday, I’ll tell you who wins the full Narnia series in one paperback with a unique timeline fold-out. If you don’t know anything about the books and can’t give a favorite line, talk about what you know from the movie or news.