Between 1942 and 1946, the U.S. government constructed around 700 POW camps on U.S. soil, housing around 400,000 captured enemy soldiers. But what were the conditions like there?

Home to millions of books and manuscripts, the Library of Congress is a hub of culture and knowledge, pioneering digital accessibility while safeguarding America's rich history.

A master of the macabre, Shirley Jackson explores the creepy underbelly of domestic life, with a sharp focus on the challenges that women face.

A trailblazer in more ways than one, Sandra Cisneros was the first Mexican-American woman to be published by a mainstream publisher. Her work brought Hispanic culture to a wider audience of readers.

Awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, recognizing a lifetime of influential literary works, Ray Bradbury wrote from a desire to “live forever”. Through sci fi, fantasy, horror and mystery to themes of death, loneliness and the dark...

First popularized as a genre of literature in the 1920s, for decades science fiction was dominated by white male authors. That is until Octavia Butler, an African American woman, rewrote the script.

Known as the Father of American Literature, Mark Twain used satire and a sharp wit to explore and reveal the realities of US society in the 19th century. In doing so he developed an all-new “American style” of writing.

Being a teenager isn’t always easy – but sometimes, books can provide the comfort and guidance we need. Few authors capture the adolescent experience better than young adult author Lois Lowry.

The first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Gwendolyn Brooks wrote about the hardship and struggles of ordinary people.

The first author to win the Pulitzer Prize for two consecutive novels, Colson Whitehead is one of the United States’ most versatile writers.

Despite being on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list, Angela Davis went on to become an international symbol of resistance against social injustice.

The youngest inaugural poet in history, Amanda Gorman introduced a new generation to the lyrical power of poetry and became a modern-day icon in the process.

As the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, Alice Walker helped to bring the Black experience to readers across the globe. A true trailblazer, her work continues to entertain and enlighten.

At a time when Jim Crow laws made racial segregation legal across much of the United States, author Richard Wright gave voice to a struggle – as the first African American author to achieve widespread critical and commercial success.

Presidential valets have been a mainstay at the White House since its earliest days. They not only perform vital tasks for the President, but act as confidantes and companions in the most trying of circumstances.

While many of his theories have been debunked and disproven, Freud continues to have a massive influence on literary criticism. How did a man who was never fully focused on literature forever alter the way we discuss it? And what are we...

“Interpreting Literature” looks at the technique of making meaning from what an author writes both literally and figuratively within a literary work. This skill is known as interpretation. Readers can use various techniques to interpret...

Theme, Setting & Plot explains how the structure of the text contributes to its theme, setting, or plot.

Supporting the Main Idea Literature analyzes literature by showing how examples of paraphrasing and quotes support the main idea about the text.

Northern European Culture provides a presentation about the cultures found in northern Europe.

Welcome to what you need before you read, the series where I attempt to inoculate you from boredom by injecting a little context and relevancy into you reading experience. This video will provide background information, context, and...

Sensory Words and Phrases explores sensory words and phrases by identifying examples in literature.

Text Structure and Genre shows how knowledge of the structure of a text can determine the genre of the text.

How do poet's decide to end their lines? How are you supposed to read them? In many ways, poetry is more like sheet music than it is a novel; knowing the difference between enjambment and end-stopped lines will help you better read it....