English literature in the world is represented by writers who created books in different genres and directions. Many of them are considered classics and are included in the canon of world literature.
English writers and their works
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 – 1400)
Geoffrey Chaucer- a writer who is called the father of English literature. He was the first English poet to write civic lyrics and was recognized as a national poet. Chaucer wrote exclusively in English, he introduced new themes, ideas and motifs into English poetry, improved many medieval artistic methods of writing and created new poetry.
Geoffrey was the son of an ordinary London wine merchant. He managed to build a career in the royal court - he began as a page in the retinue of the Duchess of Olser. Later, the future English writer served in the army, took part in the war against France and was captured by enemies. The English king ransomed him from captivity.
Information about creative path Little of Chaucer has survived. It is still difficult for literary scholars to establish the dates of writing of some poems and establish their authorship.
At the time when Chaucer wrote, English literature was in a difficult state: there was no single literary language, system of versification, or unified poetic theory. Chaucer as a writer significantly influenced the development of the English language, its dominance over Latin and French.
Chaucer's main works written in English are the following texts:
- "The Book of the Duchess" Considered the poet's first great poem, it was written in honor of the memory of Duchess Blanche of Lancaster. In this text, the author tries to imitate the French style, but innovative poetic solutions can already be traced in it;
- "House of Glory"- a poem with realistic motives;
- "The Legend of Glorious Women" ;
- "Troilus and Chryseis".
Chaucer modified English poetry, gave it a new direction, which was followed by future poets of England.
Brief biography of Geoffrey Chaucer in English:
The work of the English playwright Shakespeare is called the highest achievement of Renaissance culture. His texts in English had a great influence on subsequent poets, artists and novelists, and the images from his plays became timeless and symbolic.
Little is known about Shakespeare's life. He was born into the family of a craftsman and merchant, studied at a grammar school, when teaching was carried out using a single textbook - the Bible. At the age of 18, the writer married Anne Hathaway, who was 8 years older than William.
It is believed that his first dramatic texts in English were written in 1594. Some biographers believe that at this time the writer was a member of a traveling troupe, and the experiences of these years influenced his passion for the theater. Since 1599, his life became closely connected with the Globe Theater, where he was both a playwright and an actor.
The writer's literary canon in English includes 37 dramas and 154 sonnets.
His most famous texts in English are:
- "Romeo and Juliet";
- "Venus and Adonis";
- "Julius Caesar";
- "Othello";
- "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
In literary circles over the past 2-3 centuries, the theory has been actively promoted that William Shakespeare could not have been the author of these texts due to insufficient education and some discrepancies in biographical data. in 2002, a version was put forward that the educated and intelligent Earl of Rutland, an aristocrat and a talented playwright and writer, was actually hiding behind the name of Shakespeare. The date of his death coincides with the date of death of Shakespeare, who stopped writing at this time.
This theory has not been proven and in the classical understanding of literature, William Shakespeare is still considered the one who created these texts in English, which became the property of English culture.
Robert Stevenson / Robert Stevenson (1850-1894)
He was a versatile person - he was engaged in literary criticism, poetry in English, he is considered the founder of neo-romanticism and the one who theorized information about this artistic method.
The writer was born in the capital of Scotland and belonged to the ancient Belfur family. He was raised by numerous nannies due to his mother's illness. One of the nannies, Cammy, was talented and, thanks to her, Robert became familiar with poetry. Later, the writer admitted that it was thanks to the nanny that he became a writer.
Robert Stevenson traveled a lot and during his trips he wrote notes about his impressions and emotions. In 1866 it was published The first book in English is The Pentland Rebellion. But world fame came to him after the novel “Treasure Island”. Stevenson's work is characterized by descriptions of nature, the use of legends, mythology, and some moralizing.
As a child, he was sick a lot and in his memoirs in English, the writer wrote that the “doors of death” were always open to him. This influenced his consciousness and understanding of the world. This led him to found neo-romanticism, which conveys the sharp contradictions between dreams and reality. In his understanding, travel, danger and emotions are needed so that life is filled with colors, so that people can see the beauty of the world.
The writer's main works in English:
- "Treasure Island";
- "Heather honey";
- "Proprietor of Ballantrae";
- "Children's flower gardener of poems."
Stevenson was called a "legendary man" because of his love of stories and mythology, which he embodied in his works in English.
Charles Dickens / Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
- great prose writer of world literature. Born into the family of an official, his father discovered his artistic talent very early - he forced the boy to take part in theatrical productions, read poetry, and improvise. The writer grew up in love, comfort and confidence in the future.
When he was 12 years old, his family went bankrupt, and the boy went to work in a factory, where he first encountered cruelty and injustice. This period influenced the consciousness of the future writer.
Working at this factory haunted Charles all his life - he always considered it the biggest blow in his life. That is why his English texts contain so much sympathy for the poor and downtrodden. He had to work as a paper clerk, a broker and a stenographer in Parliament.
At his last job he had to do several creative tasks. After this, he comes to the understanding that he must work in English literature.
In 1836 they came out first essays "Sketches of Boz" in English, but they were not popular at the time. A few years later he creates the first chapters of the novel “Notes Pickwick Club” and these texts marked the beginning of his career as a writer.
Two years after this novel, a novel is published in English "Adventures Oliver Twist», in which, for the first time in world literature, a child comes to life on the pages of a book. From this time on, fruitful writing work begins.
Dickens's major novels in English:
- "Dombey and Son";
- "Great Expectations";
- "David Copperfield";
- "Little Dorrit"
- "A Tale of Two Cities."
The writer in his novels in English realistically describes the England of his era, describes in detail all the characters and issues. His texts are very deep, realistic and lively, the message of each novel is the search for justice in a cruel world.
Brontë sisters: Charlotte (1816-1855), Emily (1818-1848), Anne (1820-1849)
Bronte sisters- a unique phenomenon in world literature. Three girls, each talented in their own way, were able to take an honorable place in the canon of classical literature not only in England, but also in the world.
The most popular novels are Charlotte Bronte's Jair Eyre and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Anne Brontë wrote the books Agnes Gray and The Stranger of Wylfedale Hall. In these novels, the romantic is masterfully intertwined with the realistic. The writers were able to convey the spirit of their era, creating sensitive and still relevant novels.
The sisters grew up in a priest's family in the quiet town of Thornton. They became interested in writing early childhood, they published their first timid attempts in English in a local magazine at their own expense. They appeared in literature under male pseudonyms.
At that time, male writers had a better chance of recognition. But their first book did not attract attention - it was a collection of poems. After this, the girls turned away from poetry and took up prose. A year later, each of them wrote a novel in English - "Jane Eyre", "Agnes Gray" and "Wuthering Heights". The first book was considered the most successful. After the death of the sisters, recognition came to the novel Wuthering Heights.
The sisters lived short life– died at the age of about 30 years. And the final recognition of their work occurred after their death.
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Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Oscar Wilde- playwright and poet, literary critic and a writer who embodied the principles of English aestheticism in his novels. Oscar was born in Dublin, where the writer received a classical education - he studied at Trinity College and St. Magdalene College (Oxford).
Beautiful things were always appreciated in his house - furniture, books, paintings. This influenced the aesthetic tastes of the future writer. His development as a word artist was greatly influenced by university teachers - the writer John Ruskin and Walter Pater.
After receiving his education, the writer moved to London, where he joined the aesthetic movement.
Aestheticism is a movement that combined the ideas of impressionism and neo-romanticism. The main requirement for creativity within this direction is not to imitate nature, but to recreate it according to the laws of beauty, which is inaccessible to ordinary life.
The writer believed that it is not art that reflects reality, but reality that imitates art. In 1881, the first book of his poems was published in English, and in 1888 his first fairy tales saw the world.
The writer's main works in English:
- "The Picture of Dorian Gray";
- "Pomegranate House";
- "The Happy Prince"
- “The importance of being serious”;
- "The Ideal Man"
In the work of the writer Wilde, reality and fiction are mixed, a mix of the unreal and the real dominates in his fairy tales, he managed to create harmony between aesthetic theory and artistic truth. Most clearly, the principles of his art were embodied in fairy tales through their plot and style.
Jerome K. Jerome / Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927)
English humorist and playwright Jerome Klapka Jerome was the most famous published writer during his lifetime. Distinctive feature his creativity is the ability to see humor in any life situation.
As a child, Jerome dreamed of becoming a writer, writer or politician. But at the age of 12 he had to start working - collecting coal. After some time, the future writer’s sister convinced him to try his hand at theater stage. He joined a group of actors that had a small budget. They even paid for their own props and costumes.
Three years later, the future writer realized that this did not suit him and decided to try his hand at journalism. He began to write a lot in English, but most of the texts were never published. The writer also worked as a paralegal, packer and teacher. In 1885, his essay about his work in the theater was published, which made it possible to publish his other works. From then on, writing became his priority.
In 1888, the writer got married and went on a honeymoon. Literary scholars believe that this influenced his style and manner of writing in English. In 1889, a book was published that immediately became very popular - “Three in the boat, not counting the dog.”
Main texts:
- “Three in the boat, not counting the dog”;
- “Why we don’t like strangers”;
- "Civilization and Unemployment";
- "Philosophy and the Demon";
- "The man who wanted to rule."
During his lifetime, Jerome's works in English were translated into many languages of the world and published in many countries. He became an iconic writer in England.
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
- poet and prose writer, writer, the last representative of the era of Queen Victoria. Thomas's childhood was spent in the patriarchal atmosphere of rural England. He witnessed the existence of many traditions - fairs, folk traditions, holidays, songs.
Once in 1856, the future writer became a student of an architect in Dorchester; in subsequent years he was actively engaged in self-education: he read books on literature and history, studied philosophy, German and French.
In 1867 he wrote his first novel in English, The Pauper and the Lady, which was not published. He destroyed the manuscript. The publishers were alarmed by the novel's radical depiction of all populations and religions. He was advised to write something “more artistic.”
In 1871, the writer anonymously published a novel in English. "Desperate Ways", which has already witnessed Hardy's unique style: detective genre, sensational motives.
Throughout his life, Thomas Hardy wrote 14 novels in English, which the author combined into three cycles:
- “Inventive and experimental novels”;
- "Romantic stories and fantasies";
- “Novels of Characters and Environment.”
In his texts, the writer depicts life in the village, social injustice, studies human behavior and the factors that influence it.
The writer's main novels in English:
- "Three Strangers";
- "Barbara of the Greb Family";
- “A woman with a fantasy”;
- Alicia's Diary.
The presence of rural motifs in the writer’s work is explained by his childhood experience: the first years of his life he lived in an atmosphere of folk traditions and could observe life in those conditions. Later, these observations were transformed in his work.
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)
The publicist and writer grew up in the family of an architect and an artist. Arthur's stepmother had a passion for books and passed this passion on to the boy. He later recalled that she greatly influenced Arthur's career.
At the age of ten, the future writer was sent to a boarding school, where children were cruelly treated. During this period, the boy realized that he had a natural gift for inventing stories. He was often surrounded by students who listened to his inventions.
In college, Arthur was actively involved in creativity. In my last year I published a magazine and poetry in English. In 1881, Arthur was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery.
In 1885, he married a girl named Louise Hawkins and became interested in literature. then he had a dream about a career professional writer. The Cornhill magazine published his works from time to time. In 1886 he began work on a worldwide famous novel in English, which will bring him popularity - "Study in Scarlet."
In 1892, Strand magazine made an offer to a young writer write a series of stories about Sherlock Holmes. Later, the author became tired of the hero of the works and the constant inventing of stories about him. But the series was popular and publishers and readers expected new stories.
Conan Doyleь also wrote plays, other novels and essays in English.
The main texts of the writer:
- “Sketch in Scarlet”;
- "The Hound of the Baskervilles";
- "Brigadier Gerard";
- "Letters from Old Monroe";
- "Angel of Darkness"
Arthur Conan Doyle famous primarily as the author and creator of Sherlock Holmes, whose image remains interesting and open to interpretation today.
Agatha Christie / Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
Famous writer, author of popular detective stories in English, was born into a family of immigrants from America. As a child, the girl was educated at home. Agatha's mother raised her children alone and devoted a lot of time to music.
With the outbreak of the First World War, Agatha worked as a nurse in a military hospital. She loved work and considered it the most noble. While working as a nurse, she wrote her first stories in English. Agata's older sister at that time already had several published texts, and she also wanted to achieve success in this field.
In 1920, the society was presented first novel in English " Mysterious Incident at Stiles". Agatha spent a long time looking for a publisher and worked hard on the text. Only the seventh publishing house that the girl approached agreed to publish the book.
Agatha wanted to write under a male pseudonym, but the publisher told her that her name was bright, readers would be able to immediately remember her. Since then, novels have been published under his real name.
She began to write a lot in English. I invented stories while working around the house, knitting, and communicating with my family.
Famous novels:
- "Three Stories";
- "Five Little Pigs";
- "Inspector Poirot and others";
- "4.50 train from Paddington";
- "Thirteen Mysterious Cases."
Agatha Christie considered her best text to be her book in English, “Ten Little Indians.” A special feature of her detective stories is the complete absence of violence - she did not describe violent scenes, blood or murder, and there are no sexual crimes in her novels. The writer tried to weave morality into each of her texts.
The best English writers and their works for children
There are many writers in English literature who have created works for children. They remain relevant and interesting even for modern children.
Lewis Carroll
English writer (real name: Charles Lutwidge), who became famous thanks to his works for children. He grew up in a priest's family with seven children. Everyone received home education - the father gave the children knowledge of theology, different languages and natural sciences. Children have always been encouraged to enjoy games and inventions.
As a child, the future writer came up with different stories in English and read them to his family. His humor, ability to parody and burlesque motifs are felt in his early texts. He copied poems by Shakespeare, Milton, and Gray. Already in these parodies he showed his sharp mind and erudition.
As Charles grew up, he discovered his love for children. With adults he felt lonely, always embarrassed and silent. But with children he was open and cheerful. He walked with them, took them to the theater, told them stories, invited them to visit.
His best texts were originally created as improvisation. In his work, he turned to theatricality and fabulousness; in his texts, ancient images that are embodied in folk tales come to life.
List of major works in English:
- "Alice in Wonderland";
- “Useful and edifying poetry”;
- "Bruno's Revenge"
- "Alice for children."
Lewis's works have been filmed many times and have been translated into other languages in many countries around the world. The work “Alice in Wonderland” is an inexhaustible source of quotes for many people.
Roald Dahl is known to the world for his book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". The writer grew up in an English-speaking environment, raised by his father. He graduated from a boarding school for boys and at the age of 12 went to Tanzania. When World War II began, he enlisted and took up aviation - serving as a pilot in Kenya.
It was published during the war years the first story in English "Gremlins", and after the war he realized that literary creativity- this is what he wants to do. The writer became famous as the creator of paradoxical stories.
His main works:
- "James and the Giant Peach"
- "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory";
- "Matilda";
- "Gremlins"
His texts in English are characterized by exaggeration of reality, characters, sometimes to the point of absurdity, humor and fabulousness. Children love his stories for their humor, instructiveness and closeness to life. Dahl could create worlds in which children recognize themselves.
The Nobel Prize winner was born in India into the family of a teacher. When Kipling was 6, he was sent to study in England. The living conditions of the relative who was involved in his education were terrible: the child did not receive love and affection, he was beaten and frightened. The boy was almost blind from the resulting stress. When the mother came to visit her son, she saw his condition and took him home.
But over time, the writer returned to England and began studying at college. There he began to write poetry and his first essays in English. Some texts were published in local publishing houses.
Kipling wrote in English about ordinary people, interpreted ordinary stories. He placed a person in circumstances in which his character was best revealed. In the 90s, the writer worked very fruitfully, at which time a large number of his novels were published in English.
The main works of the writer:
- "The Jungle Book";
- "Three Soldiers";
- "Kim";
- "The Second Jungle Book."
Kipling became famous for his texts for children, but he also wrote ballads and poems in English that touched on social problems of his era.
The writer who created legendary world Harry Potter, went through many rejections before her book was finally published.
She was born in England. She began writing her first texts in English as a child. At age 9, she wrote Jessica Mitford's autobiography. At school, Joanna read a lot and studied well. She tried to enter Oxford, but failed her exams and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Exeter.
She began working on the first Harry Potter book in 1995. She submitted the manuscript to 12 publishing houses and all of them rejected her. Bloomsbury publishing house agreed. The first book had a circulation of 1000, after 5 months it received its first prize.
Success came to the writer, and publishing houses began to compete for the right to publish her next books. “Harry Potter” became a brand, it was filmed, and after watching the film, millions of children around the world began to dream of being at Hogwarts.
The Harry Potter series of books includes the following:
- "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone";
- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets";
- "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire";
- "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
- "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix";
- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince";
- "Harry Potter and the Deadly Relics"
Rowling also wrote other books in English that are popular among children and related to the saga:
- "The Tales of Beedle the Bard";
- "Fantastic creatures and where to find them."
English classics - popular books
Some works are considered canonical in English literature. Summary and the key ideas of some of them are presented below.
Hound of the Baskervilles
"The Hound of the Baskervilles" is a work by Arthur Conan Doyle in English, which has become one of the most famous in the Sherlock Holmes series. The main characters of the novel are detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant and friend Dr. Watson.
During one of his travels, the writer heard from a fellow traveler mysterious story about a dog that was called the “black devil.” This inspired Arthur to create a story that would center on a sinister dog. At the beginning of the novel, the name of Robinson Fletcher is remembered, who gave him the idea for creating this story.
The plot is typical for stories about a detective: Doctor Mortimer turns to him for help, whose friend dies under mysterious conditions. Everyone was frightened by the expression on the dead man's face, which expressed fear. There is a legend in his friend’s family that is passed down from generation to generation. It's about a dog that chases all members of its family at night. Sherlock Holmes begins an investigation into this case.
The trowel's book holds the suspense and only reveals the mystery at the end of the story. This novel has been filmed many times and is considered the best in the writer’s creative biography.
The Invisible Man
"The Invisible Man" is a novel by English science fiction writer H.G. Wells, written in 1897. He describes the life of an English scientist who invented a device that makes a person invisible. The scientist worked on his creation for a long time and postponed its presentation, but at some point he began to experience financial difficulties and decided to become invisible forever in order to start a new life.
The book describes the difficulties this scientist faces: how the initial euphoria of his condition gives way to complete disappointment. Main image books - Griffin - became one of the first “villains” in literature.
Study in crimson tones
"Study in Scarlet" is a work by Arthur Conan Doyle, which was published in 1887. This book allows the reader to plunge into the world of a detective, think with him and try to understand the logic of his thoughts. In this work, Sherlock Holmes appears for the first time, and readers are introduced to his manner of doing business.
This story was written in just three weeks, but it brought success to the author, and readers became acquainted with the witty detective and began to wait for the next stories.
Citadel
"Citadel"- one of the best and most profound works of the English writer Archibald Cronin. This is a parable novel that reveals the history of human development in the reality of that time.
The novel tells the story of a doctor who dreams of becoming the best in his field, but he faces various difficulties that await the young doctor in the hospital. Through building a career, he reveals himself as a person and a professional.
This novel is well deserved considered Cronin's strongest: it clearly depicts the psychological formation of personality and its decomposition, its formation under the influence various factors reality.
The Lost World
« The Lost World» - a novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, which is written in an adventure style. It has not become as popular as the stories about Sherlock Holmes, but its style, plot and ideas deserve the attention of readers.
The book tells about an exciting adventure, a journey to an unknown land where different animals live. In this novel, the writer tries to show his familiarity with the latest ideas of science. This novel not only has an exciting fantasy element, it is full of sketches of animals, humor that is difficult to convey in Russian, and scenes from real life.
This part of Arthur Conan Doyle's work is often left aside, but The Lost World is an example of how several original styles can be combined in one writer.
Othello
"Othello" is a play by William Shakespeare, the plot of which is based on the text “The Moor of Venice” by Giraldi Cinta. The plot of the play revolves around the depiction of the conflict between the individual and society. She talks about love, hatred, jealousy, and reveals important problems of humanity.
The images of tragedy are lively, bright, they have both positive and negative features, each of them is a mix of reason and emotions. “Othello” has become the most popular tragedy due to the fact that it depicts acute conflicts between eternal human feelings - love, jealousy, trust.
Describes greed and the desire to get rich at any cost - problems that societies face during any era.
Essay in English “Favorite writer”
| My favorite English writer is Joanne Rowling. I love her books about Harry Potter. When I was 7 I read the first book and I fell in love with this book! It is very good, interesting, greeping and exciting! When you read this book you imagine that entire magic world. When I was I child I used to dream about magic letter from Hogwarts. This writer is very talented because she managed to create interesting characters and an unusual plot. She describes the magic school and you start to believe in all these things. And you can see many problems in those books. For instance, a lot of problems are connected with friendship, royalty, love and relationship between children and parents. I read all her books. And each book is unique. I think I love her books because they are very magic and we don’t have magic in our life. So if you want to travel to that incredible world you just buy this book and start reading. Joanna Rowling is a very talented writer! | My favorite English writer is JK Rowling. I love her Harry Potter books. I read the first book when I was 7 and I fell in love with this book. This is very good interesting book and she doesn't let go. When you read this book, you imagine this whole magical world. When I was a child, I dreamed of receiving a letter from Hogwarts. This writer is very talented because she managed to create interesting characters and an original story. She describes a magical school, and you start to believe in all this. And you can see a lot of problems in these books. For example, many problems are associated with friendship, fidelity, love and relationships between children and parents. I've read all of her books. Each book is unique. I think I love them because they have a lot of magic, and in real life there is no magic at all. And if you want to go to that wonderful world, you just buy a book and start reading. JK Rowling is a very talented writer! |
Conclusion
English writers are a popular topic for writing and conversation. Knowledge of the great classics of English literature always speaks of a person’s good taste and education. Most works have film adaptations and can be watched online.
We can talk a lot about the role of personality in history, but where should we more interesting topic about the role of personality in the development of the English language. After all, there is no doubt that a number of people whose names we know for sure have made an invaluable contribution to English with their literary works. Of course, we're talking about famous writers UK.
William Shakespeare often called the greatest British writer and one of the world's brightest playwrights. The writer was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. During his career, Shakespeare created about two hundred works, which were translated into many languages and constantly staged. In addition, Shakespeare himself performed in theaters for a long time. Among the author’s most famous works are the famous tragedies “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet”, “Othello”, “Macbeth”, “King Lear”.
Oscar Wilde- another famous and interesting representative of British literature. He was born in 1856 into an Irish family. Oscar Wilde's talent and sense of humor are recognized throughout the world, as is his famous novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray". The writer always said that aesthetic feelings is the driving force of human development, and he repeatedly touched on this topic in his works. Oscar Wilde left a large number of magnificent fairy tales, plays and novels, which are often staged in our time.
Charles Dickens- a British writer who gained popularity during his lifetime and is a recognized classic of world literature. Dickens was born in 1812 in Porsmouth, England, and grew up in a large family. From childhood, the writer was forced to earn a living, and his hardships were later reflected in such famous works as “Oliver Twist”, “Great Expectations”, the heroes of which were poor orphan boys. No less famous works are Dombey and Son, A Tale of Two Cities and The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, which brought him great fame.
Agatha Christie often called the queen of detective stories. The writer, who was born in 1890, is one of the most frequently published writers. Agatha Christie gave the world about a hundred works, including detective and psychological novels, stories and plays. Christie's most famous creations are the play "The Mousetrap", the detective novel "Ten Little Indians", "Murder on the Orient Express" and many others.
Another great detective master is considered Arthur Conan Doyle, which gave the world the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and many other colorful characters.
Among contemporary authors, the British writer stands out especially JK Rowling, famous for the series of books about the wizard Harry Potter and the magical world. These books not only brought her worldwide fame, but also turned her from a single mother living on welfare into a multimillionaire. After the release of all the Harry Potter books, Rowling published several books for adult readers, including under the pseudonym "Robert Gilbraith."
This list can be continued for a long time, but we have listed the real “giants”. Without them, the English language, which you can study in courses at, would be completely different. That's why it's so important to remember them and know their names.
If you ask any average person to name any English writers, he will probably be confused and will be able to remember in best case scenario one or two names. Although in fact he knows at least ten, he simply does not realize that the birthplace of many popular authors is Famous English writers- this is Daniel Defoe, Herbert Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson and many others. Familiar names? We know and remember the books of these authors from childhood.
Modern English writers are also represented by a whole galaxy famous names: JK Rowling, Joe Acrombury, Stephen Fry, Jasper FForde - it is simply impossible to list all the authors. And if you also remember the classics, such as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, etc., then you begin to understand that the inhabitants of our country read mainly the works of Russian and English wordsmiths.
1. John R. R. Tolkien is a famous English writer whose books are recommended for all categories of readers. Moreover, you should not limit yourself exclusively to “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”. You may prefer the short fairy tale “Farmer Giles of Ham” - in addition to dragons and heroes, it contains a fair amount of humor.
2. Arthur Conan Doyle is an English writer who created the most popular detective of all time. It is interesting that the author himself did not like his main character, but readers fully appreciated the talent and intelligence of Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street and his permanent partner, Dr. Watson. Conan Doyle wrote a lot of books about Sherlock, there were even more different imitators and all kinds of sequels, but it’s still better to read the original source.
3. Lewis Carroll - English writer who created the most an unusual fairy tale. Many people believe that Alice in Wonderland is a book exclusively for children. In fact, both a child and an adult will be able to appreciate and love this very original work in their own way, which found its calling a decade after its publication.
4. Agatha Christie is the queen of the detective novel, and is also the most popular and best-selling writer in all the years of the existence of the printed word. The works of Agatha Christie are considered classics, and they are certainly worth reading for all lovers of detective stories, as well as simply connoisseurs of good books.
5. George Orwell is an English writer who gave the world the best dystopia. “Animal Farm” and the novel “1984” are books that can make a person rethink the entire world around him. One quote is “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others,” and the reader already looks at the people around him differently.
6. Jane Austen, who gave the world the most wonderful “women's” novel. Despite criticism immediately after the book's release, where the work was called boring and mediocre, Pride and Prejudice is considered best book millions of readers.
These six writers were chosen randomly, and the numbers do not reflect any ranking or top - the proposed authors are very different and cannot be compared with each other.
If you are interested in the classics of world literature, famous English writers and their works, then after reading this article you will definitely find a new and interesting information for yourself.
Famous English writers and their works
(1564-1616) - English playwright, poet and actor. Considered the most famous playwright in the world, he is the author of about 17 comedies, 10 chronicles, 11 tragedies, 5 poems and a cycle of 154 sonnets.
The most famous works: “Romeo and Juliet” (1594-1595), “Hamlet” (1603), “Othello” (1604), etc.
(1865-1936) - English prose writer and poet. Known as the creator of children's fairy tales about Mowgli, the inquisitive baby elephant, the cat who loves to walk by itself, the mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, etc. The youngest winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The most famous works:“The Jungle Book” (1893-1894), “Riki-Tiki-Tavi”, “Kaa’s Hunt” (1894), etc.
(1854-1900) - an outstanding English-language poet, playwright, writer, and essayist. One of the most famous playwrights of the late Victorian period. The most famous work is considered to be “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1890).
(1788-1824) - English poet, was a symbol of romanticism and political liberalism in 19th century Europe. He introduced the “Byronic” hero and the term “Byronicism” into literature.
Creative heritage:“Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” (1812), “Don Juan” (1819-1824), etc.
Arthur Conan Doyle(1859-1930) - English writer, known for his works about Sherlock Holmes. The most famous are his detective works about Sherlock Holmes, science fiction about Professor Challenger, as well as historical novels. In addition, he wrote plays and poetry.
Creative heritage“The White Squad” (1891), “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (1900), etc.
Today, many schools no longer study such a subject as foreign literature. The younger generation, as a rule, learns about some famous English writers and their fascinating works from textbooks in English classes and thanks to modern cinema. However, everyone who studies English needs to know which English writers are classics foreign literature. Thanks to this knowledge, you can expand your general horizons and expand your vocabulary by reading works in the original.
About the most famous
Even those who are not particularly keen on reading literature have heard the names of English writers who have gained worldwide fame. We are talking about Shakespeare, Kipling, Byron, Conan Doyle and others. Let's talk briefly about the authors whose works are worthy of everyone's attention.
Rudyard Kipling (Sir Joseph Rudyard Kipling)- English poet, writer and short story writer who lived from 1865 to 1936. In the history of world literature he is known as the creator of stories and fairy tales for children, many of which were filmed. Rudyard Kipling became not only the youngest winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, but also the first Englishman to receive this award. The most famous works: “The Jungle Book”, “Riki-Tiki-Tavi”, “Kim”, “Kaa’s Hunt”, etc. Children's stories: “Baby Elephant”, “How the First Letter Was Written”, “The Cat Who Walked Around by itself” yourself”, “Why does a rhinoceros’s skin have folds”, etc.
Oscar Wilde (Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde)- an outstanding Irish poet, playwright, novelist and essayist. One of the most famous playwrights of the late Victorian period and a key figure in the development of Aestheticism and European modernism. The most famous work is considered to be the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1890). Years of the writer’s life: 1854−1900.
George Gordon Byron- English romantic poet, who from 1788 to 1824 was a symbol of romanticism and political liberalism in Europe of the 19th century. During his lifetime he was usually called "Lord Byron". Thanks to him, such terms as “Byronic” hero and “Byronicism” appeared in literature. The creative legacy left by the poet is represented by the poem “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” (1812), the novel “Don Juan”, the poems “The Giaour” and “The Corsair”, etc.
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle- English writer (although a doctor by training). He is the author of countless novels and short stories that are of an adventure, historical, journalistic, fantastic and humorous nature. The most popular are detective stories about Sherlock Holmes, science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, as well as a number of historical novels. Conan Doyle also wrote plays and poems. The creative heritage is represented by such works as “The White Squad”, “The Lost World”, “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, etc. The years of the writer’s life are 1859−1930.
Daniel Defoe- English writer and publicist who has written about 500 books, magazines and pamphlets on various topics. He is one of the founders of the European realistic novel. In 1719, Daniel Defoe published the first and best novel of all time. creative life writer called "Robinson Crusoe". TO famous works also include “Captain Singleton”, “The History of Colonel Jack”, “Mole Flanders”, “Roxana” (1724), etc.
William Somerset Maugham- British novelist, playwright, screenwriter and literary critic. One of the most successful prose writers of the twentieth century. For achievements in art and literature he was awarded the Order of the Knights of Honor. Maugham has 78 works to his credit, including short stories, essays and travel notes. Main works: “The Burden of Human Passions”, “The Moon and a Penny”, “Pies and Wine”, “The Razor’s Edge”.
Who wrote for children
Not all famous English writers were passionate about exclusively serious life topics. Some great authors dedicated part of their work to the younger generation, writing fairy tales and stories for children. Who hasn't heard about Alice, who visited Wonderland, or Mowgli, the boy who grew up in the jungle?
Biography of the writer Lewis Carroll whose real name is Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is no less interesting than his book “Alice in Wonderland”. He grew up in a large family with 11 children. The boy loved to draw and always dreamed of becoming an artist. This writer told us a story about the restless heroine Alice and her endless travels to a wonderful magical world, where she meets many interesting characters: Cheshire cat, and the mad hatter, and the queen of cards.
Roald Dahl originally from Wales. The author spent most of his childhood in boarding houses. One of these boarding houses was located near the famous Cadbury chocolate factory. It is assumed that the idea of writing your best children's story entitled “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” came to him during this period. The hero of the story is a boy named Charlie, who receives one of five tickets that allows him to enter a closed chocolate factory. Charlie, along with 4 other participants, completes all the tasks in the factory, and remains the winner.
Rudyard Kipling famous for his "The Jungle Book", which tells the story of the boy Mowgli, who grows up among animals in the wild forests. Most likely this story was written under the impression of my own childhood. The fact is, after birth, the writer lived in India for the first 5 years of his life.
Joanne Rowling- the most famous writer and “storyteller” of our time. It was she who gave us such a character as Harry Potter. Joan composed the story about the wizard boy Harry, who goes to Hogwarts school, for her children. This allowed them to plunge into the world of magic and magic and forget for a while about the poverty in which the family lived at that time. The book is full of interesting adventures.
Joan Delano Aiken became a writer because everyone in her family wrote: from her father to her sister. However, Joan was involved in children's literature. Her most famous work was the story “A Piece of Heaven in a Pie.”
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson invented the pirate Captain Flint in his famous story "Treasure Island". Hundreds of boys followed the adventures of this hero. Robert himself comes from cold Scotland, an engineer and lawyer by training. The first book was published when the author was only 16 years old; he borrowed money for publication from his father. The story about treasure island was invented by him much later during games with his son, during which they together drew a treasure map and came up with stories.
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien- author of fantastic and breathtaking stories "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings". John is a teacher by training. As a child, the writer learned to read early, and did this often throughout his life. As John himself admits, he fiercely hated the story “Treasure Island,” but was crazy about “Alice in Wonderland.” The writer himself, after his stories, became the founder of the fantasy genre; it is no coincidence that he was nicknamed the “father of fantasy.”
