India, July 8 -- In a city best known for birthing American independence, it's easy to overlook the quieter revolution of the pen. But Philadelphia is not only the birthplace of a nation - it's also one of America's great literary cities. From Benjamin Franklin's printing presses to contemporary indie bookstores thriving in repurposed rowhouses, the City of Brotherly Love has long been a haven for writers, readers, and radical thinkers.

Founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker and advocate of religious freedom, Philadelphia was the capital of the colonial era province of Pennsylvania. It went on to play a crucial role in the American Revolutionary War, serving as the first capital of the United States from May 10, 1775, to Dece...