Life and works of Walt Whitman

#2 JANE AUSTEN

Jane Austen (1775 – 1817) was a British novelist. Her romantic fiction works are the most beloved and have earned her a place as one of the most read. She was also a friend of Charlotte Bronte. For Austen’s entire life, she lived as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fringes of the English landed gentry.
She is known around the globe for her literary genius and is considered a landmark in English literature. The stories she wrote are known for their insight and rich character development. It’s been said that Austen was one of the first people to describe romantic life in the middle class, which is a large part of what makes her books so relatable.
Austen wrote during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, where female authors got published under their names. It was not uncommon for women to have careers as writers.
Jane Austen is known for her six major novels: “Sense and Sensibility” (1811), “Pride and Prejudice” (1813), “Mansfield Park” (1814), “Emma” (1816), “Northanger Abbey” (1817), and “Persuasion” (1818). Her novels, like “Pride and Prejudice,” are classics and are still widely read today. She is also known for her two unfinished novels, “Lady Susan” and “The Watsons.”
Her novels are still widely taught in schools. Austen has been popular for over two hundred years, and her novels still sell millions of copies. Her stories have gotten adapted into films, TV shows, and even opera. Her work Emma got turned into a movie in 1996.

#3 CHARLES DICKENS

Charles Dickens, an Englishman born in Portsmouth, England, in 1812, was a writer and social critic. Regarded by many as the Victorian era’s greatest novelist, he created some of the world’s most well-known fictional characters. His works enjoyed unmatched popularity during his lifetime. Critics and scholars alike recognized him as a literary genius.
His writing career began in 1833 when he started contributing stories and essays to various journals. Twain’s literary success happened at just 24 years old with the 1836 serial novel publication of The Pickwick Papers. It was a weekly publication that sold an astounding 20,000 copies a week, which was unheard of at the time. This was possible by him keeping his stories exciting and fresh. Its popularity helped the novelist make a living from his writing alone.
In 1843, Dickens released his novella “A Christmas Carol.” This, along with his other popular novels, “Oliver Twist” and “Great Expectations,” is often adapted in multiple artistic genres. Like many of his stories, the images within portray early Victorian London.
Later in 1859, his novel “A Tale of Two Cities,” set in London and Paris, is known as his best historical fiction work.
Dickens not having a formal education did not hinder his success. In his lifetime, he was an editor for a weekly journal for 20 years. Plus, he wrote 15 novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories and nonfiction articles. Dickens even gave lectures and performed readings frequently. He was also a philanthropist that championed children’s rights, education, and other social reforms.
Edwin Drood was the last of his work that was left unfinished due to his death in 1870.