Category: Writers

Philip Roth, an influential American writer and novelist, was known for his provocative and award-winning literary works. Despite his acclaimed success and numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, Roth often courted controversy and challenged societal norms. His tumultuous personal life, marked by two marriages and personal tragedies, greatly influenced his writing. In 2018, he passed away at the age of 85, leaving a significant literary legacy and a generous donation to the Newark Public Library.

Ernest Hemingway, an American writer and adventurer, was born in 1899 in Illinois. He developed a love for the wilderness and literature due to his parents’ influence. Hemingway’s experiences in World War I, his marriages, and his literary career are marked by both success and personal struggles. He passed away in 1961 but left behind enduring works.

Cormac McCarthy, born Charles Joseph McCarthy Jr. in 1933, is a renowned author known for works like “The Orchard Keeper,” “No Country for Old Men,” and “The Road.” His tumultuous personal life has informed his writing, which has received both critical acclaim and commercial success, including a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. McCarthy’s career spans several decades, marked by periods of poverty and periods of literary fame.

Edgar Allan Poe, a renowned American poet and writer, was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. After a tumultuous childhood, he pursued writing full-time and became one of the first Americans to support himself through his literary work. Despite his struggles with substance abuse and personal tragedies, his legacy endures through his haunting and influential works, such as “The Raven.” Poe died in 1849 at the age of forty.

Eoin Colfer, born in 1965, is an Irish author known for the Artemis Fowl series, which has been translated into forty languages and has sold over twenty-five million copies. Colfer’s diverse writing career includes children’s books, young adult fantasy, and adult crime novels. His works have achieved critical acclaim and commercial success.

Suzanne Collins, born in 1962, is a best-selling author known for “The Hunger Games” trilogy and “The Underland Chronicles.” She started as a writer for children’s TV programs and later penned her novels. The Hunger Games, based on a dystopian future in Panem, gained global popularity and movie adaptations. Collins’ work is widely celebrated.

Stephenie Meyer, born in 1973, is an author known for the Twilight saga. Her dream inspired the vampire-themed series, which gained immense popularity. The novels collectively sold over 100 million copies and were adapted into successful films. Influenced by Mormonism and music, Meyer’s work resonates with a broad audience.

J.R.R. Tolkien, born in 1892, was a renowned author, poet, and professor at Oxford. He is best known for “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” series. His inspirations included William Morris and S.R. Crockett. These works gained popularity after his retirement, and continue to be celebrated in various adaptations.

C.S. Lewis, born in 1898 in Belfast, was a prolific writer known for “The Chronicles of Narnia”. He befriended J.R.R. Tolkien and both influenced each other. Lewis’s works include the Space Trilogy, The Screwtape Letters, and The Chronicles of Narnia. He taught at Oxford and Cambridge, and his legacy lives on after his death in 1963.

Oscar Wilde, born in Dublin, Ireland in 1854, was known for his diverse literary works, including essays, poems, plays, and a novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” His life was marked by artistic and personal expression, culminating in a tragic downfall and untimely death at age 46.