For some, Valentine's Day is a celebration of love, while others see it as an annoyingly commercialized holiday, blown out of proportion by retailers trying to make a buck during the after Christmas lull. No matter how you view it, cynically or affectionately, it is a day accompanied by a fascinating history. Here is a selection of books that might just help Cupid's harshest critics to get into the spirit.
"Let Me Call You Sweetheart: Trivia, Legends and Lore (Outhouse Books Trivia Series)" by Christopher Forest, has a little something for everyone. From the all too frequently forgotten Saint Valentine, to the Roman festival that helped inspire the holiday, to the companies that have made Valentine's candy so popular, this book entertains and educates at the same time. The facts may not show up on an exam, but they're still fun to know.
Those wondering about the origins of Cupid, may want to check out Marie Craft's retelling of the the classic Greek myth in her book "Cupid & Psyche". In this dramatic and suspenseful tale of love, Psyche, the world's most beautiful woman, finds herself in a glorious castle with a charming but invisible host. Though she comes to love him, a moment of doubt leads her to betray his trust. In order to win him back she must perform three impossible acts. The book is also richly illustrated by the award-winning Kinuko Y. Craft.
"Tokens of Love" by Roberta Bromley Etter, pays tribute to the varied trinkets exchanged in the name of love, throughout the ages. Spanning not just time but a range of different cultures as well, the book offers photographs of beautiful and amazingly extravagant keepsakes.
Some information provided by Amazon.
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