A Community of Classics Lovers
Gabriela Mistral was a Chilean poet, diplomat, and educator who was the first Latin-American author to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. She was also more recently shown through an archive of her letters to be a lesbian, despite her image being appropriated by Pinochet's military dictatorship as an example of a celibate, saint-like figure … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Gabriela Mistral
Thomas Mofolo only wrote three books, but he is renowned for being the first author of Western-style novels in the language of Sotho. He is also world famous for his last book, Chaka, because it depicted European Colonialism as a bad influence on the native populations and celebrated the Zulu king. Mofolo was born in … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Thomas Mofolo
When I thought it was about time I featured a classic Asian writer and looked for a woman writer, my searches did not find the name of anyone except modern writers or classic male writers. Then I remembered The Tale of Genji. No one actually knows who Murasaki Shikibu, the author of the Japanese classic The … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Murasaki Shikibu
The book I read by Teffi for the last Classics Club Spin made me interested in learning more about her. Teffi was the pen name for Nadezhda Alexandrovna Lokhvitskaya, one of the most prominent Russian writers of her time and a favorite of both Tsar Nicholas II and of Lenin. She was a humorist, writing … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Teffi
Perhaps the selection of Halldór Laxness doesn't quite fit in with my idea of writing about lesser-known classic authors. Certainly, Icelanders know who he is, but I'm not sure how well known he is in the rest of the world. He is Iceland's Nobel Prize winner, having received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955. Although … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Halldór Laxness
Aphra Behn may not fit as easily into my idea of writing about lesser-known classic authors, but I haven't featured a Restoration writer yet and she is the first woman in England to be known as a professional writer. She also seems to be a really interesting woman. In fact, I'm surprised that no one … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Aphra Behn
Susanna Moodie was an English-born Canadian writer who wrote novels, children's books, and poetry but was most well known for her writings about being a settler in 19th century Canada. While living in Suffolk, she began publishing books in 1822 as Susanna Strickland and was also a member of the Anti-Slavery Society. Shortly after her … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Susanna Moodie
First, a little side note. My fellow moderators have suggested I do a short piece on the process for posting member reviews because of a few issues I've had. When I first took over this function, I found a huge backlog of reviews, but I was able to catch up on that over time, and … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: James Baldwin
A friend recently blogged about Kristin Lavransdattar, which gave me the idea for my next focus post. Although Sigrid Undset is known mostly for that powerful depiction of of medieval life in Norway, she was also the author of contemporary realistic novels. Her novels written later in life were informed by her conversion to Catholicism. She is … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Sigrid Undset
As a schoolgirl, Dorothy Stirrup published more than forty stories in the "Children's Corner" of the Blackburn Weekly Telegraph. Later, she became a successful and popular novelist, short story and children's book writer, whose work reflected the concerns of her time. Because her novels were almost all set in Nottingham or Blackburn, where she lived all … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Dorothy Whipple
If you believe his own accounts of himself, Emilio Salgari was a great adventurer, who sailed the Seven Seas, traveled all over the North American continent, explored the Sudan, and romanced an Indian princess. In truth, Salgari was a fabulist, who flunked out of a nautical technical institution and never traveled any further from home … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Emilio Salgari
When I asked for suggestions for the classic author to feature next, one of the first responses was from Jillian, who suggested Ann Radcliffe as being appropriate for the season. I thought so, too. Not much is known about her life, however. I found more about her influence on literature. She was notable for combining … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Ann Radcliffe
For the last Classics Club Spin, I read The Heir of Redclyffe by Charlotte M. Yonge. I was surprised to find out that Yonge, whom I had never heard of, was just as popular in her time as Dickens or Thackeray. In fact, The Heir of Redclyffe was her first successful novel, and it was … Continue reading Classic Author Focus: Charlotte M. Yonge
First, before I go into my article, take a look at the new layout of the blog. We were looking for something lighter and more modern. We hope you like it. We plan a few more changes, which will happen over time. * * * A few weeks ago, we posted a survey the results … Continue reading Your Classics Club Survey Results
