A Christmas Carol,Poor Richard's Almanack

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Today's Highlights

Spotlight:

Who was Poor Richard of the Almanack's fame? Benjamin Franklin took the pseudonym Richard Saunders as author of his Poor Richard's Almanack. Richard Saunders was the name of the author of a 17th-century London almanac, Apollo Anglicanus. Franklin chose "Poor Richard," in imitation of Poor Robin, another British almanac. First published on this date in 1732 (some say the first issue was released on December 28), the almanac quickly became one of the most popular journals in the American colonies, outsold only by the bible. Today is a red-letter day for publishing. Two other famous publications that were released on this date were Thomas Paine's first ''American Crisis'' essay, in which he wrote "These are the times that try men's souls" (1776); and Charles Dickens' classic Yuletide tale, A Christmas Carol, first published in England in 1843.

Quote:

"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man." — Benjamin Franklin