Virginia Stephen, the future Virginia Woolf, writes her first work of fiction, a short story which becomes known as "Phyllis and Rosamond" when first published, posthumously.
"Phyllis and Rosamond" is a short story included in "The complete shorter fiction of Virginia Woolf" (1985). It is a lesser-known work that reflects her early experimentation with narrative form and character development.
"His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."
In June 1914.
James Joyce's Dubliners, a collection of fifteen short stories depicting the Irish middle classes in and around Dublin during the early 20th century, is published in London.
The first Pulitzer Prizes are awarded: Laura E. Richards, Maude H. Elliott, and Florence Hall receive the first for biography (for Julia Ward Howe), Jean Jules Jusserand the first for history with With Americans of Past and Present Days, and Herbert B. Swope the first for journalism for his work for the New York World.
Kafka's works were not widely known during his lifetime, and he published only a few of his stories. Most of his major works were published posthumously by his friend and literary executor, Max Brod, despite Kafka's instructions to destroy his manuscripts.
“Of aal the fish there iss in the sea,” said Para Handy, “nothing bates the herrin’; it’s a providence they’re plentiful and them so cheap!”
Neil Munro (1863–1930) – journalist, novelist, short-story writer, & poet – was born #OTD, 3 June. Rigby’s Encyclopaedia of Herring discusses Munro’s PARA HANDY stories, as well as giving the full text of the tale “The Herring – A Gossip”
American writer, historian and poet Elizabeth Fries Ellet died #OTD in 1877.
She is best known for her works on women’s contributions to American history, particularly during the American Revolutionary War. Her extensive research and writings helped to highlight the often overlooked roles that women played in significant historical events.
Danish poet and novelist Karl Adolph Gjellerup was born #OTD in 1857.
His first novel, "En Idealist Shwa," was published in 1878, marking his transition from theology to literature. His novel "Germanernes Lærling" (1882) is an example of his work from the Modern Breakthrough movement, where he focused on psychological realism and social issues.
Herwegh's poetry is characterized by its passionate advocacy for freedom and democracy. He became famous with his collection "Gedichte eines Lebendigen", published in 1841. This work was widely acclaimed for its revolutionary zeal and critique of the existing social and political order.
Austin served as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1896 until his death in 1913. Despite holding this prestigious position, his poetry received mixed reviews, and he is often remembered more for the controversies surrounding his appointment than for his literary accomplishments.
American writer Randolph Silliman Bourne was born #OTD in 1886.
Bourne's career was marked by his prolific writing and his engagement with contemporary social and political issues. His essays and articles were published in influential magazines like The Atlantic Monthly, The New Republic, and The Dial. His incisive critique of World War I and his vision of a pluralistic America have left a lasting impact on American thought and cultural studies.
English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator W. S. Gilbert died #OTD in 1911.
He is best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan in creating the famous series of comic operas known as the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The most famous of these include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and one of the most frequently performed works in the history of musical theatre, The Mikado.
English author, philosopher, literary and art critic G. K. Chesterton was born #OTD in 1874.
Chesterton created the character Father Brown, a Catholic priest and amateur detective. The first collection, "The Innocence of Father Brown," was published in 1911. His most famous novel is "The Man Who Was Thursday" (1908), a metaphysical thriller that explores themes of anarchy and order.
Currently on the BBC iPlayer: Ian Rankin investigates Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde”. Rankin traces the roots of this story, which stretch back to Stevenson's childhood. Grave-robbers, drugs & prostitution all play their part, as Rankin's journey takes him into the dark streets of the city that inspired the tale: Edinburgh.
French writer, literary critic, art critic, book publisher Edmond de Goncourt was born #OTD in 1822.
He was the founder of the Académie Goncourt. Some of his work was written in collaboration with his brother, Jules. Until his death in 1870, Jules was the main author of the Journal, which was then continued by Edmond, who remained alone. It consists of a collection of notes, generally brief, taken from day to day.
American artist and fiction writer Robert W. Chambers was born #OTD in 1865.
Chambers is best known for his weird fiction and horror stories, particularly "The King in Yellow," a collection of short stories published in 1895. He wrote numerous other novels and short stories across various genres including "The Maker of Moons" (1896), "The Mystery of Choice" (1897), and "The Tracer of Lost Persons" (1906).
“Widely respected – & regularly attacked (once physically) – in her lifetime, she is now largely neglected; an intriguing aside to feminism or to agnosticism. Dixie deserves better.”
Florence Dixie – novelist, poet, dramatist, war correspondent, campaigning journalist, suffragist, & more – was born #OTD, 25 May. Valentina Bold explores Dixie’s roving life
#TIL that in 1929, JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, gifted his work's copyright to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
"Through this gift, Peter Pan’s magic made an unprecedented leap from the realm of fiction into reality and the hospital began to receive royalties every time a production of the play was on, as well as from the sale of Peter Pan books and other products."
English writer and politician Edward George Earle Bulwer-Lytton was born #OTD in 1803.
He published Falkland in 1827: its intimate portrayal of pre-Victorian dandyism kept gossips busy trying to associate public figures with characters in the book. The character of Richard Crawford in The Disowned, also published in 1828, borrowed much from that of banker and forger Henry Fauntleroy, who was hanged in London in 1824.
Many years ago i found a ‘list of items for a grand house in mourning’, on it were things like black velvet drapes etc and also a butter dish in the shape of a skull that moulds the butter inside in to a brain.
I feel like this was maybe a Perec thing, or something published by Atlas Press or someone like that.
Anyone know who wrote it or where it’s from? #goth#avantgarde#literature
What Scotsman was caught up in a civil war before the age of twenty? Wrote a book that became the inspiration for an Oscar-winning film? Met a runaway teenager in Paris and married her against the wishes of his family? Lost his ranch to raiding Apaches?