Washington Irving, an American original, was a literary celebrity who brought literature to the common man using plain spoken English. He created the modern American Christmas story and inadvertently gave us Halloween through the headless horseman. Irving was a huge fan of Spain and lived there, where he worked as a diplomat and ambassador, and he was known for his hustle and loyalty to his friends. [... more]

Edgar Allan Poe's life was marked by loss and tragedy, but he persevered to become one of America's most influential writers, creating the Detective Story genre and influencing science fiction and literary history. [... more]

Academy Award-winning director Guillermo Del Toro discusses his version of Frankenstein, drawing from Mary Shelley's book and his own life experiences, exploring themes of redemption, forgiveness, and humanity. [... more]