The death of actor Robin Williams has inspired a flood of fond memories from his life and work, but Williams’s special connection to the world of letters shouldn’t be overlooked.“Dead Poets Society,” the 1989 movie starring Williams as the fictional John Keating, was a break-out role for the comedian, establishing him as an actor who could also play nuanced dramatic roles. But the film was also a landmark piece of cinema for book lovers, celebrating the power of poetry – and, by extension, the broader universe of the written word – as a crucial form of personal discovery.“Dead Poets Society” came by its literary enthusiasm honestly. Williams’s character, the passionately energetic prep school English teacher John Keating, was based on a real-life teacher and author, Samuel F. Pickering.