Archives: Authors

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). He was a pioneering Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. He was born on May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic), into a middle-class Jewish family. He attended the University of Vienna to study medicine and became interested in the work of French neurologist, Jean-Martin Charcot, who was investigating the use of hypnosis in the treatment of hysteria. This led Freud to begin exploring the relationship between the mind and the body and he eventually developed his own theories of psychoanalysis. His ideas began to gain popularity in the early 20th century as psychoanalysis became more widely recognized as a legitimate field of study. His theories also had a significant influence on art, literature and culture and he became a prominent figure in intellectual circles in Vienna and beyond.

Homer is a legendary figure in ancient Greek literature and is widely considered one of the greatest poets of all time. However, very little is known about his, it is generally believed that Homer lived in the 8th or 7th century BCE in the city of Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey) on the western coast of Anatolia. He is believed to have been blind and to have composed his epic poems orally, reciting them to his audience of listeners. Homer’s two most famous works are The Iliad and The Odyssey. His poems have been translated into many different languages and have inspired countless works of art, including paintings, sculptures, operas, and films. They have also influenced other writers throughout history, from Virgil to Dante to James Joyce. Homer’s legacy as a poet and storyteller has endured for centuries.

Bran Stroker (1847-1912), was an Irish author who was best known for authoring the classic work, Dracula which became a benchmark for horror literature. He was born on November 8, 1847, in Dublin, Ireland to parents Abraham Stoker and Charlotte Thornley Stoker. Stoker suffered from several illnesses as a child including a mysterious illness that left him bedridden for several years. During this time, he became an avid reader and developed a love of literature which would later influence his writing. In 1897, Stoker published his most famous work, Dracula, and went on to write several other books, including The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903) and The Lair of the White Worm (1911). Today, Stoker is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of horror literature.

VIRGINIA WOOLF (1882-1941). An iconic figure in modernist literature, with her experimental writing style and exploration of complex themes such as gender, identity, and consciousness, Woolf made an indelible mark on the literary landscape of the 20th century. She was born on January 25, 1882, in London, England. She was raised in a highly intellectual and artistic household. In her late teens, Woolf suffered a series of devastating losses, including the deaths of her mother and her half-sister, Stella. These traumatic events had a profound impact on her mental health and shaped the themes of loss, grief, and identity that generally permeate her works. Virginia Woolf’s breakthrough as a writer came with the publication of her novel Mrs. Dalloway in 1925, followed by other influential works such as To the Lighthouse (1927) and Orlando (1928).

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (1859-1930). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a was a man of various skills. He was a writer, a medical officer, a professional cricketer as well as a social reformer who used his investigative skills to prove the innocence of individuals. Born on May 22, 1859, at Picardy Place in Edinburgh, Scotland, he was the third of ten siblings. His father, Charles Altamont Doyle, was an illustrator and his mother, Mary Josephine Foley was Irish. His first published story appeared in Chambers Edinburgh Journal before he was twenty years old. Arthur introduced Sherlock Holmes which captivated readers worldwide. Holmes gave the utmost importance to details, and he had the power of observation instilled in him.

Jules Verne (1824-1905). A legendary French author and known for spearheading the science fiction genre, he is also recognized as the father of modern science fiction. Jules Verne was born on February 8, 1828, in the port city of Nantes, France. As a child, he was known for his boundless imagination and love of adventure. His first book with Hetzel, Five Weeks in a Balloon was an immediate success, and it marked the beginning of his career as a writer. Over the next few years, Verne wrote a series of novels that would establish him as one of the most popular and beloved writers of his time. His works such as Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea were characterized by their vivid descriptions of fascinating destinations, daring adventures and scientific discovery and fiction.

FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY (1821-1881). He was one of the most influential novelists in Russian literature who was born in Moscow, Russia. Fyodor Dostoyevsky grew up in a middle-class family that valued education and culture. After completing his education at the St. Petersburg Military Engineering School, Dostoyevsky embarked on a career in the Russian army. However, his passion for literature led him to resign from the military in 1844 to pursue writing full-time. He published his first novel, Poor Folk, in 1846, which gained him critical acclaim and recognition as a promising young writer. Over the next few decades, he wrote some of his most famous works, including Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880). Dostoyevsky’s novels are known for their psychological depth, philosophical themes, and exploration of the human condition.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870). According to London Times, ‘the greatest instructor of the Nineteenth Century’ and otherwise, an English novelist and social critic, he created some of the best-known fictional characters. His early childhood was marked by frequent moves and disruptions due to his family’s financial struggles. Despite his limited formal education, Dickens was an avid reader and continued to educate himself throughout his life. His writings often dealt with social issues including poverty, class, capitalism, and he was a vocal critic of the Victorian establishment. He was also an accomplished public speaker and gave many public readings of his works which helped to further cement his reputation as a writer. By the time of his death in 1870, he had become one of the most famous and celebrated writers of his time.

ANNE FRANK (1929-1945). Annelies Marie Frank, a Jewish girl born in the German city of Frankfurt am Main on June 12, 1929,
was the child of Otto and Edith Frank. When Nazi Germany they invaded Netherlands and when the situation begun worsening for the Jews, Anne’s family took the decision to go into hiding. Just before they had gone into hiding, Anne was presented with a diary on her thirteenth birthday. This diary helped her immensely during that period as she not only wrote her day-to-day experiences, but she also wrote about her thoughts, emotions, fears, and dreams. Otto Frank survived the holocaust and decided to publish Anne’s work because he had read that Anne had aspired to be a writer. Her diary is probably the only true bitter portrayal of the Holocaust.

Anna Sewell (1820- 1878) is the well-acclaimed author of the children’s novel, Black Beauty which sold over fifty million copies world-wide. Born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England to parents, Mary Wright Sewell and Isaac Phillip Sewell. When Anna was fourteen years old, she suffered a severe ankle injury in a fall which left her unable to walk without crutches for the rest of her life. She directed all her energy and focus towards writing and her love of literature. She began to write poetry and short stories, many of which were published in local newspapers and magazines. The book was finally published in 1877 when Sewell was fifty-seven years old, just a year before her death. While Sewell did not live to see the immense impact and popularity that her book created but she left behind a rich legacy which inspired people to be more compassionate towards animals and advocate for their rights.