Birth of James Thurber
Cartoonist, author, and humorist James Grover Thurber was born on December 8, 1894, in Columbus, Ohio. He was one of the most popular humorists of his day and several of his works were turned into films.
Literature
Birth of Thomas Wolfe
Novelist Thomas Clayton Wolfe was born on October 3, 1900, in Asheville, North Carolina. He’s considered North Carolina’s most famous writer and was a major influence on several writers of the next generation.
Death of Herman Melville
On September 28, 1891, author Herman Melville died in his New York City home. While it was a moderate success during his lifetime, Melvile’s novel Moby-Dick is now considered a masterpiece of American literature.
Birth of Francis Parkman
American historian Francis Parkman was born on September 16, 1823, in Boston, Massachusetts. His books have often been praised as both useful historical texts and enjoyable literature.
Death of Dante Alighieri
The “Supreme Poet” Dante Alighieri is believed to have died on September 14, 1321. His Divine Comedy is considered one of the most important poems of the Middle Ages and the Italian language.
Happy Birthday, William Saroyan
Author William Saroyan was born on August 31, 1908, in Fresno, California. He’s been called “one of the most prominent literary figures of the mid-20th century.”
Death of Edith Wharton
Noted author Edith Wharton died on August 11, 1937. Best known for her novel The Age of Innocence, she was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Birth of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was born on August 8, 1896, in Washington, DC. She’s best-known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling, which was later made into a movie.
America the Beautiful
On July 22, 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote America the Beautiful. It has since become one of America’s most beloved patriotic songs, and has often been proposed to become our national anthem.