"I'm an appreciator. I love all kinds of books, and I want others to love them, too." — Michael Dirda

I didn't work for any newspapers in college, never worked for any newspaper before 'The Washington Post'.

My own particular feline companion answers, or rather doesn't answer, to Cinnamon. One of my kids must have given her the name, even though she's mostly gray and white.

Adventurous reading allows one to escape a little from the provincialities of one's home culture and the blinders of one's narrow self.

I once read that there are more biographical works about Napoleon Bonaparte than any other man in history.