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It is 184 years today since Thomas Hardy was born.
The English author Thomas Hardy was born in Stinsford near Dorchester in Dorset, the son of a stonemason and local builder. Hardy trained as an architect before moving to London when he was twenty-two years old. He returned to Dorset where he began to write his first novel. Hardy was interested in the writings of Charles Darwin and in naturalism. During his long life he became famous for his...
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It is 111 years today since Barbara Pym was born.
Barbara Mary Crampton Pym was born in Oswestry, Shropshire, near the Welsh border where she grew up with her younger sister Hilary. Her father was a lawyer and her mother the organist in the local church. Many of the vicars and lay clergy that visited their home later turned up in Pym's books. She was privately educated, first at a girl's school and later at boarding school. After reading...
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It is 75 years today since Ingrid Hedström was born.
TThe Swedish journalist and author Ingrid Hedström were born in Söderhamn in the central Swedish province of Hälsingland, and then moved to Avesta in nearby Dalarna when she was five years old. She is said to be one of the 1960’s so-called "welfare-state princesses", meaning that she was the first in her family to graduate from high school. She completed her final exam at Avesta Grammar School in...
Sample of Authors
Mayakovsky, Vladimir
1893 - 1930
Vladimir Mayakovsky's name is closely interwoven with the Russian Revolution. This fact makes him as controversial as the...
Further reading
Vieira, José Luandino
1935 -
José Luandino Vieira Mateus de Graça, which is his complete name, was born in Lagoa do Furadouro in Portugal. As a small b...
Further reading
Wolkers, Jan
1925 - 2007
The Dutch author and artist Jan Wolkers was born in Oegstgeest near Leiden as the third of eleven children. His father...
Further reading
Aymé, Marcel
1902 - 1967
French author born in the town of Joigny, Burgundy, as the youngest of six children. His father was a cavalry farrier. His...
Further reading