H.L. Mencken, here pictured in 1932, is in the news because Johns Hopkins University has acquired thousands of his books and letters. But, with so many political books, his sayings seem especially apt. One politician's prose reminded him "of a string of wet sponges...It is rumble and bumble. It is flap and doodle. It is balder and dash." Most people, he wrote, "are unable to write because they are unable to think."
Former President Bill Clinton shakes hands and signs copies of his new book, which is entitled "Giving," during his visit to Books & Books Sept. 6, 2007, in Miami, Fla. Clinton is on a national book tour for his latest book.
Meanwhile, Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton converses with an even more successful author, John Grisham, during a fundraiser in Charlottesville, Va., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007.
On the other side of the aisle (and the generational divide), Jenna Bush attends a party to celebrate her new book, "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, in New York. The book by President George W. Bush's daughter is based on the life of a single mother living with HIV/AIDS and proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit UNICEF.
Here is Jenna with her mother, first lady Laura Bush. The pair are reportedly collaborating on a children's picture story to be published by HarperCollins in spring 2008.
A Blair And A Nixon
At right, former British Labor Party media director Alastair Campbell (who worked alongside Prime Minister Tony Blair) signs a copy of his book "The Blair Years" at a book shop in London, Wednesday, July 18, 2007. In a completely unrelated photograph, actress Cynthia Nixon reads from Dr. Seuss at a Theatreworks USA event.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, accompanied by his wife Aline, leaves a meeting with the publishers of his new book: "My Years as Prime Minister" that will ne launched this fall, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007, in Montreal.
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev holds aloft a collection of the writings of martyred journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya. She was shot dead a year ago in the elevator of her apartment building in Moscow, on the birthday of Russian leader Vladimir Putin; Politkovskaya was a critic of Putin's presidency. The murder remains unsolved.
Mark Weber sits among books July 24, 2007, in his Tucson, Ariz., home. He operates a business called The Churchill Book Specialist, described as "the largest selection of Churchill books and other collectibles anywhere," from his home from his home. Churchill, most people agree, was one politician who wrote well.
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman discusses his book "The World is Flat" and the issue of globalization at Auburn University Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, in Auburn, Ala.
TV Literati?
From world affairs to...something else: Actor David Hasselhoff poses for a photograph before signing copies of his new book "Don't Hassle the Hoff" at Book Soup in West Hollywood, Calif.
Two more television stars with a connection to literature. Blair Underwood, left, co-wrote, "Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Mystery." Bob Newhart, right, is one of three finalists for the Thurber Prize for American Humor, a $5,000 literary honor named for the famed author and humorist James Thurber. The winner will be announced this fall.
Head Full Of....Words?
"American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks makes an appearance at Barnes and Noble in New York City to meet fans and sign copies of his new book "Heart Full of Soul."
David Letterman's longtime sidekick Paul Shaffer annnounced in a statement Wednesday, July 11, 2007, that he will be writing a memoir about his show business career. The book from Flying Dolphin Press, currently untitled, is scheduled to come out in 2009.
Jeff Lindsay poses next to a poster from the Showtime TV series "Dexter," adapted from his novels about a benevolent serial killer.
Author Richard Rosen discusses his book "A Buffalo in the House" at Book Soup in West Hollywood, Calif., a true story of a couple who adopt a buffalo as a pet.
Eric Carle, an author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" visited Morgan Stanley's Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, and read from "Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?" to schoolchildren from P.S. 4, including a voguing Valerie Reyes.
Dave Eggers, author and founder of both a writing laboratory for children and a publishing house for emerging writers, has been named one of the six Heinz Award winners this year, receiving $250,000 for his "inspiring commitment to nurturing young literary voices."
Larry Doyle, 48, former writer for "The Simpsons" on TV and frequent contributor to The New Yorker Magazine, has authored a novel entitled "I Love You, Beth Cooper" -- the title being what the protagonist says to the head cheerleader during his high school graduation speech, even though she doesn't know who he is.
Grace
Grace Paley, a short-story writer whose collections were given memorable titles -- "The Little Disturbances of Man," "Enormous Changes At The Last Minute" -- died over the summer at her home in Thetford Hill, Vt. (pictured here four years earlier). She was 84. A political activist, she kept her writing separate.