-
It is 117 years today since Leslie Charteris was born.
Leslie Charteris was born in colonial Singapore as Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin. His father, Suat Chuan Yin, was a wealthy physician and company manager who claimed he was related to an ancient Chinese imperial family. Charteris' mother, Lydia Florence Bowyer, was English. Young Leslie was educated at home and on the many journeys he made with his parents; he claimed to have toured the world three...
-
It is 60 years today since Ferdinand von Schirach was born.
Ferdinand von Schirach is a German lawyer and author born in Munich to a wealthy Protestant family. He grew up in Munich and Trossingen. When he was ten years old, he was enrolled at the St. Blasien Catholic boarding school where he passed his baccalaureate in 1984. Von Schirach later reported that these formative years had made it hard for him to believe in God.
Von Schirach followed the...
Sample of Authors
Sapper
1888 - 1937
Pseudonym for Englishman (Herman) Cyril McNeile, who – using the alias Sappar – was one of the best-selling Eng...
Further reading
Yourcenar, Marguerite
1903 - 1987
French author of Belgian origin, born in Brussels. Her mother died the same year due to puerperal fever. Marguerite was...
Further reading
Staël, Germaine de
1766 - 1817
Germaine Staël von Holstein, best known as Madame de Staël, was a French author born in Paris as Ann Louise Germaine N...
Further reading
Barnes, Julian
1946 -
The English author Julian Barnes was born in Leicester, but grew up in West London with his brother Jonathan. Their...
Further reading