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Apr 26, 1564
William Shakespeare
An English poet, playwright, and actor. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He wrote about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, of which the authorship of some is uncertain. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. -
Jonathan Swift
Irish author, clergyman and satirist Jonathan Swift grew up fatherless. Under the care of his uncle, he received a bachelor's degree from Trinity College and then worked as a statesman's assistant. Eventually, he became dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. Most of his writings were published under pseudonyms. He best remembered for his 1726 book Gulliver's Travels. -
Mary B. Shelley
Mary Shelley was born on August 30, 1797, in London, England. She married poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816. Two years later, she published her most famous novel, Frankenstein. She wrote several other books, including Valperga (1823), The Last Man (1826), the autobiographical Lodore (1835) and the posthumously published Mathilde. Shelley died of brain cancer on February 1, 1851, in London, England. -
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was a British novelist, journalist, editor, illustrator and social commentator who wrote such beloved classic novels as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations.
Dickens is remembered as one of the most important and influential writers of the 19th century. Among his accomplishments, he has been lauded for providing a stark portrait of the Victorian-era underclass, helping to bring about social change. -
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was born in New York City in 1819. He worked as a crew member on several vessels beginning in 1839, his experiences spawning his successful early novels Typee (1846) and Omoo (1847). Subsequent books, including his masterpiece Moby-Dick (1851), sold poorly, and by the 1860s Melville had turned to poetry. Following his death in New York City in 1891, he posthumously came to be regarded as one of the great American writers. -
Bram Stoker
He was born in Ireland in 1847, Bram Stoker studied mathematics at Dublin's Trinity College and embarked on his longtime role as an assistant to actor Sir Henry Irving in the 1870s. He also began carving out a second career as a writer, publishing his first novel, The Primrose Path, in 1875. Stoker published his most famous work, Dracula, in 1897, though he died before the fictional vampire would achieve widespread popularity though numerous film and literary adaptations in the 20th century. -
Robert Louis Stevenson
R.L. Stevenson travelled often, and his global wanderings lent themselves well to his brand of fiction. He developed a desire to write early in life, having no interest in the family business of lighthouse engineering. He was often abroad for health reasons and his journeys led to some of his early literary works. Publishing his first volume at the age of 28. He became a literary celebrity during his life with works such as Treasure Island, Kidnapped and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde -
Oscar Wilde
He was born October 16, 1854, Dublin, Ireland—died November 30, 1900, Paris, France. Oscar Wilde was known for his acclaimed works including 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' as well as his brilliant wit, flamboyant style and infamous imprisonment for homosexuality. -
Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1890 his novel, A Study in Scarlet, introduced the character of Detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal assistant Watson. Doyle would go on to write 60 stories about Sherlock Holmes. He also strove to spread his Spiritualism faith through a series of books that were written from 1918 to 1926. Doyle died of a heart attack in Crowborough, England on July 7, 1930. -
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865 and educated in England but returned to India in 1882. A decade later, Kipling married Caroline Balestier and settled in Brattleboro, Vermont, where he wrote The Jungle Book (1894), among a host of other works that made him hugely successful. Kipling was the recipient of the 1907 Nobel Prize in Literature. He died in 1936. -
H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells was a writer of science-fiction works—including The Time Machine and War of the Worlds. He was born in Bromley, England. Wells came from a working class background. Wells's parents were often worried about his poor health. They were afraid that he might die young. At the age of 7, Wells had an accident that left him bedridden for several months. During this time, the avid young reader went through many books, including some by Washington Irving and Charles Dickens. -
J.K. Rowling
She is a British author and screenwriter best known for her seven-book Harry Potter children's book series. Rowling was born Joanne Rowling in Yate, England. She adopted her pen name, J.K., incorporating her grandmother's name, Kathleen, for the latter initial
