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Archives: Book Authors
James Henry
Although born in the United States, Henry James (1843-1916) was educated in Europe, and spend most of his later life in England, eventually becoming a British citizen. His novels often illustrate the clash of cultures between America and Europe, and in truth were not particularly popular during his lifetime, particularly in the country of his birth. In recent years, his novels have been adapted for film and television, and his supernatural stories, particularly ‘The Turn of the Screw’, remain highly regarded.
Hugo Victor
Victor Hugo’s life (1802-1885) spanned most of the nineteenth century, and no other author portrays that turbulent period of French history than Hugo; on his death, he was accorded a state funeral. He achieved excellence throughout his huge body of work, but his two lasting achievements are ‘Les Misérables’ (1862) and ‘Notre Dame de Paris’, now more commonly known as ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’.
Homer
The two earliest surviving poetic works of ancient Greece, the ‘Iliad’ and the ‘Odyssey’ are attributed to ‘Homer’, but it seems likely that no such individual existed, the works being developed over an extended period of time until they achieved their final form in the 6th century BC. Whatever their origins, these epic poems were a major influence in the development of Greek culture.
Henry O.
O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862 – 1910) an America writer who has achieved lasting fame through his short stories. He began writing while in prison after being found guilty of embezzlement, and was a prolific writer until his early death resulting from his heavy drinking. While he has received little praise from the critics, his stories continue to be hugely popular with the readers around the world.
Hawthorne Nathaniel
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was an American novelist and short-story writer, born in Salem, Massachusetts. His works are based largely on historical events in New England, and ‘The Scarlet Letter’ remains his most popular work.
Hardy Thomas
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) had a writing career which spanned more than fifty years, and he is now considered both a major novelist and poet. His tales of Wessex, a fictional amalgamation of various south-west counties, have a lasting appeal, and many, such as ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’ and ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ have become popular television adaptations.
Grossmith George and Weedon
George Grossmith (1847 – 1912) and Weedon Grossmith (1854 – 1919) were brothers, both of whom were known for their careers on the stage. They collaborated in writing a column for ‘Punch’ between 1888-9, which was published as ‘The Diary of a Nobody’ in 1892. Never out of print, it is one of the classic works of English comedy.
Grahame Kenneth
Kenneth Grahame 1859-1932 had an unusual writing career. He became an essayist of some note while working his way up to a senior position at the Bank of England, but ceased writing when he retired, then married in 1899. His classic work, ‘The Wind in the Willows’, came from bedtime stories he wrote for his young son and was published in 1908. Although he lived for over twenty years after, it was his last published work.
Gogol Nikolai
Nikolay Vasilievich Gogol (1809 – 1852) was a Russian dramatist, novelist and short-story writer, whose satirical works on Russian life in general, and political corruption in particular eventually led to his exile. His best works, including ‘Dead Souls’ and ‘The Nose’, make him one of the funniest, yet profound, writers in literature.