The road paved by our civilization’s best books is a long and noble one, but it is also lined with unexpected potholes and sharp turns into what-the-hell-is-going-on-here territory. Illustrators talking to ghosts, maps bringing countries to their knees, Shakespeare writing awful plays, and Charles Dickens branding America a nation of filthy literary thieves all serve as the back alleys into which the authors could descend. Correction: into which the authors did descend.(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.).