The Writer's Almanac

Today is the 97th birthday of President Jimmy Carter who has written more than 2 dozen books and won the Nobel Peace prize in his post-presidential career.

It’s the birthday of W. S. Merwin (1927), whose poetry was called “luminous, often tender poems that focus on the profound power of memory” by the Pulitzer Prize Committee.

The author of “Don Quixote,” Miguel de Cervantes, was born on this day in Alcalá de Henares (1547).

On this day in 1066 CE, William the Conqueror arrived on British soil. His rule brought the use of French at court and words such as mansion, beef, and royal entered the English language.

Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking book “Silent Spring” was published on this date in 1962. It exposed the environmental effects of pesticides to a wide audience.