Truly admirable. It is based on the works of a galaxy of outstanding masters. No country in the world has given birth to so many outstanding masters of the word as Britain. There are many English classics, the list goes on and on: William Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, Daphne Du Maurier, George Orwell, John Tolkien. Are you familiar with their works?
Already in the 16th century, the Briton William Shakespeare earned the fame of the best playwright in the world. It is curious that until now the plays of the “spear-shaking” Englishman (this is how his surname is literally translated) are staged in theaters more often than the works of other authors. His tragedies "Hamlet", "Othello", "King Lear", "Macbeth" are universal values. Getting acquainted with his creative heritage, we recommend that you MUST read the philosophical tragedy "Hamlet" - about the meaning of life and moral principles. For four hundred years she has led the repertoires of the most famous theaters. There is an opinion that the English classic writers began with Shakespeare.
She became famous thanks to the classic love story Pride and Prejudice, which introduces us to the daughter of an impoverished nobleman, Elizabeth, who has a rich inner world, pride and an ironic look at her surroundings. She finds her happiness in love for the aristocrat Darcy. Paradoxically, this book with a fairly simple plot and a happy ending is one of the most beloved in Britain. It traditionally outstrips the works of many serious novelists in popularity. For that alone, it's worth reading. Like this writer, many English classics came to literature precisely at the beginning of the 18th century.
He glorified himself with his works as a deep and genuine connoisseur of the life of ordinary Britons in the 18th century. His characters are invariably penetrating and convincing. The novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" shows the tragic fate of a simple decent woman. She commits the murder of a scoundrel nobleman who breaks her life in order to free herself from his persecution and find happiness. Using the example of Thomas Hardy, the reader can see that the English classics had a deep mind and a systematic view of the society around them, saw its flaws more clearly than others, and, having ill-wishers, nevertheless courageously presented their creations for the assessment of the whole society.
She showed in her largely autobiographical novel "Jane Eyre" an emerging new morality - the principles of an educated, active, decent person who wants to serve society. The writer creates an amazingly holistic, deep image of the governess Jane Eyre, who goes towards her love for Mr. Rochester even at the cost of sacrificial service. Bronte, inspired by her example, was followed by other English classics, not from the nobility, calling on society for social justice, for an end to all discrimination against a person.
Possessed, according to the Russian classic F.M. Dostoevsky, who considered himself his student, "the instinct of universal humanity." The great talent of the writer created the seemingly impossible: he became famous even in his early youth thanks to his first novel, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, followed by the following - Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and others, who gained unprecedented fame for the writer put him on a par with Shakespeare.
William Thackeray is an innovator in the style of writing the novel. None of the classics before him turned bright, textured depicted negative characters into the central images of his work. Moreover, as in life, often something individually positive was inherent in their characters. His outstanding work - "Vanity Fair" - is written in a unique spirit of intellectual pessimism, mixed with subtle humor.
With her “Rebecca” in 1938, she did the impossible: she wrote the novel at a key moment when it seemed that English literature was running out of steam, that everything that was possible had already been written, that the English classics were “ended”. Having not received worthy works for a long time, the English reading audience was interested, delighted with the unique, unpredictable plot of her novel. The introductory phrase of this book has become winged. Be sure to read this book by one of the world's best masters of creating psychological images!
George Orwell will amaze you with the merciless truth. He wrote his famous novel "1984" as a powerful universal denunciatory tool against all dictatorships: present and future. His creative method is borrowed from another great Englishman - Swift.
The novel "1984" is a parody of a dictatorship society that has finally trampled on universal human values. He denounced and called to account for the inhumanity of the ugly model of socialism, which in fact becomes the dictatorship of the leaders. An extremely sincere and uncompromising person, he endured poverty and deprivation, having passed away early - at 46 years old.
Is it possible not to love Professor's "Lord of the Rings"? This real miraculous and surprisingly harmonious temple of the epic of England? The work brings its readers deep humanistic and it is no accident that Frodo destroys the ring on March 25 - the day of the Ascension. The creative and competent writer showed insight: all his life he was indifferent to politics and parties, passionately loved "good old England", was a classic British tradesman.
This list goes on and on. I beg your pardon, dear readers who mustered up the courage to read this article, that it did not include, due to limited volume, the worthy Walter Scott, Ethel Lilian Voynich, Daniel Defoe, Lewis Carroll, James Aldridge, Bernard Shaw and, believe me, many, many others. English classical literature is a huge, most interesting layer of achievements of human culture and spirit. Do not deny yourself the pleasure of getting to know her.
Today, many schools no longer study such a subject as foreign literature. The younger generation, as a rule, learns about some famous English writers and their fascinating works from textbooks in English classes and thanks to modern cinema. However, everyone who studies English needs to know which English writers are classics of foreign literature. Thanks to this knowledge, you can expand your general horizons and replenish your vocabulary by reading works in the original.
Even those who are not particularly fond of reading literature have heard the names of English writers who have gained worldwide fame. We are talking about Shakespeare, Kipling, Byron, Conan Doyle and others. Let's talk briefly about the authors whose works deserve the attention of everyone.
Rudyard Kipling (Sir Joseph Rudyard Kipling) was an English poet, writer and short story writer who lived from 1865 to 1936. In the history of world literature, he is known as the creator of stories and fairy tales for children, many of which were filmed. Rudyard Kipling became not only the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, but also the first Englishman to receive this award. The most famous works: "The Jungle Book", "Riki-Tiki-Tavi", "Kim", "Kaa's Hunt", etc. Children's stories: "Elephant", "How the first letter was written", "The cat that walked by itself yourself”, “Why does a rhinoceros have a folded skin”, etc.
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde- an outstanding Irish poet, playwright, writer and essayist. One of the most famous playwrights of the late Victorian period and a key figure in the development of aestheticism and European modernism. The most famous work is the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). The years of the writer's life - 1854−1900.
George ByronGeorge Gordon Byron- English romantic poet, who was in the period from 1788 to 1824 a symbol of romanticism and political liberalism in Europe of the 19th century. During his lifetime, he was commonly referred to as "Lord Byron". Thanks to him, such terms as "Byronic" hero and "Byronism" appeared in literature. The creative heritage left by the poet is represented by the poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" (1812), the novel "Don Juan", the poems "Gyaur" and "Corsair", etc.
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle- English writer (although a doctor by education). He is the author of countless novels and stories that are of an adventure, historical, journalistic, fantastic and humorous nature. The most popular detective stories about Sherlock Holmes, science fiction about Professor Challenger, as well as a number of historical novels. Peru Conan Doyle also owns plays and poems. The creative heritage is represented by such works as The White Squad, The Lost World, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and others.
Daniel Defoe- English writer and publicist who wrote about 500 books, magazines and pamphlets on various topics. He is one of the founders of the European realistic novel. In 1719, Daniel Defoe saw the light of the first and best novel in the entire creative life of the writer under the name "Robinson Crusoe". Famous works also include "Captain Singleton", "The Story of Colonel Jack", "Moth Flanders", "Roxanne" (1724) and others.
William Somerset Maugham British novelist, playwright, screenwriter and literary critic. One of the most successful prose writers of the 20th century. For achievements in art and literature he was awarded the Order of the Knights of Honor. On account of Maugham 78 works, including stories, essays and travel notes. Main works: "The burden of human passions", "Moon and penny", "Pies and wine", "The razor's edge".
Who wrote for children
Not all famous English writers were passionate about exclusively serious life topics. Some great authors devoted part of their work to the younger generation, writing fairy tales and stories for children. Who hasn't heard of Alice in Wonderland or Mowgli the boy who grew up in the jungle?
Biography of the writer Lewis Carroll whose real name is Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, no less interesting than his book Alice in Wonderland. He grew up in a large family with 11 children. The boy was very fond of drawing and always dreamed of becoming an artist. This writer told us the story of the restless heroine Alice and her endless journeys into a wonderful magical world where she meets many interesting characters: the Cheshire cat, and the mad hatter, and the queen of cards.
Roald Dahl originally from Wales. The author spent most of his childhood in boarding houses. One of these boarding houses was located near the famous chocolate factory Cadbury. It is assumed that the idea to write his best children's story called "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" came to him during this period. The hero of the story becomes a boy named Charlie, who receives one of the five tickets that allows him to get into a closed chocolate factory. Charlie, along with 4 other participants, goes through all the tasks in the factory, and remains the winner.
Rudyard Kipling known for his "The Jungle Book", which tells the story of a boy, Mowgli, who grew up among animals in wild forests. Most likely, this story was written under the impression of his own childhood. The fact is, after the birth of the first 5 years of his life, the writer lived in India.
Joanne Rowling- the most famous writer-"storyteller" of our time. It was she who gave us such a character as Harry Potter. The story of the wizard boy Harry, who goes to Hogwarts school, was written by Joan for her children. This allowed them to plunge into the world of magic and magic and forget for a while about the poverty in which the family lived at that time. The book is full of interesting adventures.
Joan Aiken (Joan Delano Aiken) She became a writer because everyone in her family wrote, from her father to her sister. However, Joan was engaged in children's literature. Her most famous work was the short story "A Piece of Heaven in a Pie".
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson invented the pirate Captain Flint in his famous story Treasure Island. Hundreds of boys followed the adventures of this hero. Robert himself comes from cold Scotland, an engineer and a lawyer by training. The first book was published when the author was only 16 years old, he borrowed money for the publication from his father. The story about the treasure island was invented by him much later during the games with his son, during which they drew a treasure map together and came up with plots.
John Tolkien (John Ronald Reuel Tolkien) He is the author of the fantastic and breathtaking stories of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. John is a teacher by training. As a child, the writer learned to read early, and did so often throughout his life. As John himself admits, he fiercely hated the story "Treasure Island", but was crazy about "Alice in Wonderland". The writer himself, after his stories, became the founder of the fantasy genre, it is no coincidence that he was called the "father of fantasy".
English literature is inextricably linked in the minds of many of us with such names as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. However, I would like to introduce the reader to other less famous, but no less talented English writers, as well as to say a few words about the era in which they lived and worked.
This article provides detailed periodization of English literature from the Middle Ages to the present day and shows the most famous works of English writers, as well as lesser known works, but which, however, are worth reading.
To begin with, let's figure out what applies to English literature. English literature is the literature not only of the writers of England, but also of all parts of Great Britain, including: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is known that there are more words in English than in any other language of the world. As a result, there are many words with barely noticeable differences in meaning. This variety of words was skillfully used by English writers, and some of them even took responsibility for creating new words, one of these writers was the brilliant W. Shakespeare.
English literature- this is a centuries-old history, brilliant authors, unforgettable works that reflect the peculiarity of the national character. We grow with the books of these great writers, learn and develop with their help. It is impossible to convey the significance of English writers and their contribution to world literature. It is difficult to imagine a world without the works of Shakespeare, Dickens, Wilde and many others. English literature is divided into periods, in each of which their own writers and poets lived and created, in whose works certain events and facts from the history of the country were reflected.
It is customary to distinguish the following periods in English literature:
1 period: early medieval or Anglo-Saxon period 450-1066
Historical fact: In 1066 England was conquered by the Normans, led by William the Conqueror. This conquest ends this period.
Main genre: poem.
The most famous works: Beowulf
The works of this period are passed from mouth to mouth. They are characterized by the following features: fatality, juxtaposition of church and paganism, praise of heroes and successful battles.
The most important work of this period is the poem Beowulf, which has a national epic status in England. Beowulf is the longest epic poem written in Old English. The poem contains over 3000 lines and is divided into 3 parts. Beowulf is a classic tale of the triumph of good over evil. It describes the exploits of a hero named Beowulf, his fights with a monster, the mother of this monster and a dragon.
2 period: Middle Ages: 1066 - 1500
Main genre: folk tales, chivalric romance, ballad
In the 11th-12th centuries, ecclesiastical didactic works prevailed in literature (“Ormulum”, “Ode to Morals”), starting from the middle of the 13th century, there was a transition to more everyday genres (folk “Cuckoo Song”, “Bev from Amton”, “Horn " and "Havelock").
In the XIII-XIV centuries - the creation of chivalric novels about King Arthur and his knights. In 1469, Thomas Malory collected a whole collection of novels about the exploits of knights and his work "The Death of Arthur" became a monument of English literature of the late Middle Ages.
The beginning of the development of the genre of folk poetry - ballads. Ballads about the brave robber Robin Hood are very popular.
And finally, the second half of this period is considered a new page in the history of English literature and is associated with the name of Geoffrey Chaucer. If earlier it was customary to write works in Latin, then Chaucer was the first to write in English. His most famous work was "".
3 period: Renaissance or Renaissance: 1550 - 1660
Main genre: sonnets, lyric works, plays for the theater
- 1500-1558 — literature under the Tudors
The Renaissance begins with the development of the lyric genre, the leading role was assigned to poetry. Poets Philip Sidney and Edmund Spenser. One of the most notable writers during the reign of Henry VIII was the great writer and humanist Thomas More, famous for his 1516 book Utopia.
- 1558-1603 — literature under Elizabeth
This period is associated with the reign of Elizabeth I, medieval traditions and Renaissance optimism were mixed here. Poetry, prose and drama were the main styles that flourished during this period. However, the drama had a special flourishing. Notable writers of this period were Thomas Kidd, Robert Greene, Christopher Marlowe and a little later the greatest playwright William Shakespeare.
- 1603-1625 — literature under James I
A difficult and gloomy period associated with the reign of James I. During this period, works from prose and also drama were actively published. Also, the period was marked by the translation of the Bible, carried out on behalf of the king. Shakespeare and Johnson, as well as John Donne, Francis Bacon, and Thomas Middleton lived and worked at this time.
- 1625-1649 — literature under Charles I
The works of writers of this period were distinguished by sophistication and elegance. During this period, a circle of so-called "Cavalier poets" arose, among which were Ben Jonson, Robert Herrick, Thomas Carew and others. Their poetry described the life of the upper class, and the main themes were: beauty, love, fidelity. They were witty and straightforward.
- 1649-1660 — protectorate period(or Puritan Interregnum)
The period is associated with the name of Oliver Cromwell. The political writings of Milton, Thomas Hobbs, and the writings of Andrew Marvel dominated this time. In September 1642, the Puritans closed the theaters out of moral and religious convictions. For the next 18 years, the theaters remained closed due to the lack of dramatic works written at that time.
4 period: neoclassicism: 1660 - 1785
Main genre: prose, poetry, novel
John Milton "Paradise Lost", Jonathan Swift "Gulliver's Travels", Daniel Defoe "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe", Henry Fielding "The History of Tom Jones, a foundling" (1749))
The literature of the neoclassical period was greatly influenced by French literature. The literature of this time had a philosophical character, and also possessed the features of skepticism, wit, refinement and criticism. It is divided into several periods:
- 1660-1700 - period of restoration
This was the time of the restoration of the monarchy, the time of the triumph of reason and tolerance over religion and political passions. All this was marked by an abundance of prose and poetry and the emergence of a particular comedy of manners known as the "Restoration Comedies". It was during this period that John Milton wrote Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. Other writers of this time were John Locke, John Dryden and John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester.
- 1700-1745 – august period
The prevailing characteristics of the literature of that time are sophistication, clarity and elegance. Notable Writers: Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and Daniel Defoe. A significant contribution of this period was the publication of Defoe's first English novels, and the "character novel" Pamela, written by Samuel Richardson in 1740.
- 1745-1785 – sentimentalism
Literature reflected the Enlightenment worldview, writers began to emphasize instinct and feeling rather than reason and restraint. Increasing sympathy at this time aroused interest in the medieval ballad and folklore literature. The dominant authors of this period were Samuel Johnson, Edward Jung, James Thomson, Thomas Grey, in the period of late Sentimentalism, the emergence of the most talented singer of the people, Robert Burns.
5 period: romanticism: 1785 - 1830
Main genre: poetry, secular novel, the birth of the gothic novel
The most famous authors and works: Jane Austen "Pride and Prejudice", "Sense and Sensibility", Lord Byron "The Travels of Charl Harold", Poets of the "Lake School" (, Coleridge), John Keats, Robert Burns, Walter Scott "Ivanhoe" (Ivanhoe), Mary Shelley "Frankenstein" (Frankenstein)
The works are written with feeling, using a large number of characters. Writers believed that literature should be rich in poetic images, it should be easy and accessible. Famous writers of that time were Jane Austen, Lord Byron, Walter Scott, poets William Blake, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Lake School poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth. At this time, the Gothic style was born. Two of the most famous Gothic novelists are Ann Radcliffe and Mary Shelley.
6 period: Victorian era: 1830 - 1901
Dominant w enr: novel
The most famous authors and works:(a lot of works, "David Copperfield" (David Copperfield), "Great expectations", William Thackeray "Vanity Fair" (Vanity Fair), "Treasure Island" (), "The Adventures of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (), Rudyard Kipling fairy tales "Just So Stories", (a lot of works, "Notes on Sherlock Holmes" ) , (Charlotte Bronte "Jane Eyre" (Jane Eyre), Emily Bronte "Wuthering Heights" (Wuthering Heights), Anne Bronte "Agnes Grey" (Agnes Grey), "The Picture of Dorian Grey" Thomas Hardy (stories, )
- 1830-1848 — early period
The works of the early Victorian period are emotionally expressive, mostly describing the life of people from the middle class. Among the literary genres, the novel dominates. Volumetric novels are divided into many episodes, which are then published in newspapers, which made it possible to reduce their cost and thus make them accessible to the lower class. This method of attracting readers was resorted to by Charles Dickens, William Thackeray and Elizabeth Gaskell, also famous writers of this time Robert Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, the Brontë sisters.
- 1848-1870 — interim period
In 1848, a group of English artists, among whom was Dante Gabriel Rossetti, organized the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Their main goal was to restore the truthfulness, simplicity and adherence to religion that existed under Raphael to the paintings. In turn, Rossetti and his literary circle carried these ideals into their works.
- 1870-1901 — late period
For literature, this is a period of aestheticism and decadence. Oscar Wilde and other authors of this style insisted on experimentation and believed that art was categorically opposed to "natural" moral standards.
7 period: modernism: 1901 - 1960
Main genre: novel
- 1901 – 1914 — literature under Edward VII
The period is named after King Edward VII and spans the time from the death of Queen Victoria (1901) to the start of the First World War (1914). At this time, the British Empire was at its height, and the rich were drowning in luxury. However, four-fifths of the English population lived in poverty. And the works of this period reflect these social conditions. Among the writers denouncing class injustice and selfishness of the upper class were such writers as George Bernard Shaw, Herbert Wells. Other writers of the time: Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kipling, Henry James, E. M. Forster.
- 1910 – 1936 — literature under George V
Many writers of the era of King Edward VII continue to write in this period. In addition to them, the so-called Georgians write, including such poets as Rupert Brooke and David Herbert Lawrence. In their poems they describe the beauty of rural landscapes, the tranquility and peace of nature. Writers of this period experiment with themes, forms and styles. Among them: James Joyce, D. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf. Playwrights: Noel Coward and Samuel Beckett.
- 1939 – 1960 - literature during the Second World War and the post-war period
The Second World War had a huge impact on the work of writers of that time. And subsequent generations grew up on stories about this terrible war. Wartime poets Sidney Keyes, David Gascoyne, Philip Larkin, Pat Barker also wrote about the war.
8 period: postmodernism 1960 - today
Main genre: novel
The most famous authors and works: 20th century became very fruitful in the field of popular literature, the following names are probably well known to you:
- (1890-1976): "" and other detectives
— Ian Fleming (1908-1964): James Bond novels
- J. Tolkien (1892-1973): The Lord of the Rings
- S. Lewis (1898-1963): Chronicles of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia)
- J.K. Rowling "Harry Potter" (Harry Potter)
Postmodernism mixes literary genres and styles in an attempt to free itself from modernist forms. Unlike modernists, who took themselves and their work very seriously, postmodernists took everything with irony. The concept of "black humor" appears in the literature. Nevertheless, postmodernism borrows some features from its predecessor and even enhances them, this concerns pessimism and the desire for the avant-garde. The features of postmodernism are especially clearly reflected in the drama. So Samuel Beckett's play "Waiting for Godot" is a vivid example of the theater of the absurd and combines pessimistic philosophy and comedy.
Studying English Literature should be inextricably linked with the study of the era, historical events and culture of its time. When starting to read a book, do not be lazy and read the biography of the writer, get acquainted with the time when the work was created. Reading literature is not just an exciting activity, but also a great responsibility, because after reading something, we share our opinion with friends and relatives. Classical literature, which came out from the pen of the great creators of the word and plot, cannot be bad. Sometimes we just don't get it...
Warm greetings to my readers!
Both small and big. Although today's lesson will be more about the first. We are waiting for English writers for children and their works. We will also touch on the "old men" from the 19th century. And consider the "youth" of the 20th century. And I will also give you a list where their famous books and famous ones are arranged in the order of my sincere love :).
Let `s start?
- Lewis Carroll
Many people know this writer for his restless heroine Alice and her endless travels either to Wonderland or through the Looking Glass. The writer's biography itself is no less interesting than his books. He grew up in a large family - with 3 brothers and 7 sisters. He loved to draw and dreamed of becoming an artist.
The story itself tells us about a girl who finds herself in a wonderful magical world. Where he meets many interesting characters: the Cheshire cat, the mad hatter, and the queen of cards.
- Roald Dahl
Roald was born in Wales to a Norwegian family. He spent most of his childhood in boarding houses. One of the latter was located next to the famous chocolate factory Cadbury. It is believed that it was then that the idea came to him to write his best children's story - "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".
This story is about a boy, Charlie, who gets one of the five tickets. This ticket will let him into the closed chocolate factory. Together with 4 other participants, he completes all tasks in the factory and remains the winner.
- Rudyard Kipling
This author is known to us for his story "The Jungle Book", which tells about a boy named Mowgli, who grew up among wild forests along with a variety of animals. Most likely, this story was inspired by his own childhood. The fact is that Rudyard was born and spent the first 5 years of his life in India.
- Joanne Rowling
The most famous "storyteller" of our time gave us that very one. Joan wrote this story for her children. And at that time their family lived very poorly.
And the books themselves give us the opportunity to plunge into the world of magic and magic. The boy Harry finds out that he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts school. Amusing adventures await him there.
This is where you can buy books!
- Joan Aiken
This woman simply had to become a writer, because everyone in her family wrote: from father to sister. But Joan was engaged in children's literature. So her most famous work was the story "A piece of heaven in a pie." And it was her filmed by our domestic TV channels. True to the Russian people, this story is known under the name "Apple Pie".
- Robert Louis Stevenson
Not a man - a pirate! It makes you want to scream “Hey-gay!”, because this man invented the pirate Captain Flint in his story “Treasure Island”. Hundreds of boys did not sleep at night to follow the adventures of this hero.
The author himself was born in cold Scotland. Trained as an engineer and lawyer. At the same time, his first book came out when Robert was only 16 years old on the money borrowed from his father. But he came up with the story about the treasure island much later. And what is interesting - while playing with my son. Together they drew a treasure map and came up with stories.
- John Tolkien
The creator of modern from another world - "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" - stories so fantastic and exciting that it takes your breath away.
The author of the books, John, worked as a teacher. As a child, he learned to read early, so he did it often. He admitted that he hated the story "Treasure Island" with a fierce hatred, but madly loved "Alice in Wonderland". The author himself wrote stories for which he was called the "father of fantasy".
- Pamela Travers
This woman's real name is Helen. She was born in far, far away Australia. But at the age of 8 she moved with her mother to Wales. As a child, Pamela was very fond of animals. She fiddled in the yard, and she represented herself as a bird. When she grew up, she traveled a lot, but still then returned to England.
Once she was asked to sit with two small and restless children. So, during the game, she began to invent a story about a nanny who carried things with her in a suitcase, and who had an umbrella with a handle in the shape of a parrot. Then the plot develops on paper and so the world got the famous nanny Mary Poppins. The first book was followed by others - continuations of the story about the nanny.
On this, I think, we will end. Read interesting books, learn the language and develop yourself. And do not miss the opportunity to receive new blog articles instantly in your mail - subscribe to the newsletter.
See you soon!
In the video below, there are some more great writers and their works that are worth reading!
The selection of the most famous works of English writers. These are British novels, detective stories and short stories popular with readers around the world. We did not stop at one genre or time. There are science fiction, fantasy, humorous stories, dystopias, children's adventures and other masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the present. The books are different, but they have something in common. All of them made a significant contribution to the development of world literature and art, reflected the national characteristics of the people of Great Britain.
famous english writers
The phrase "English literature" brings to mind a number of names. William Shakespeare, Somerset Maugham, John Galsworthy, Daniel Defoe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens - the list is long. These writers are the luminaries of the English classics. They have gone down in history forever and more than one generation of book lovers will admire the subtlety and relevance of their work.Let's not forget about Iris Murdoch, John Le Carr, JK Rowling, Ian McEwan, Joanne Harris, Julian Barnes and other talented contemporary English writers. Another striking example of a gifted author is Kazuo Ishiguro. In 2017, this famous Japanese-born British writer received the Nobel Prize in Literature. In the selection is his novel about touching love and a sense of duty, The Rest of the Day. Add and read. And then be sure to watch the wonderful film adaptation - with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson in the lead roles - "At the end of the day" (dir. James Ivory, 1993).
Literary awards and film adaptations
Almost all books from this selection were awarded world literary prizes: Pulitzer, Booker, Nobel and others. Without the novels "1984" by George Orwell, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, the comedies and tragedies of Shakespeare, no book list from the "Books Everyone Should Read" or "The Best Books of All Time" series is complete.These works are a storehouse of inspiration for directors, stage directors, screenwriters. It is hard to imagine that if Bernard Shaw had not written the play "Pygmalion", we would not have seen the stunning transformation of Audrey Hepburn from an illiterate flower girl into a sophisticated aristocrat. We are talking about the film "My Fair Lady" (dir. George Cukor, 1964).
From modern books and their successful film adaptations, pay attention to The Long Fall. Nick Hornby wrote an ironic novel about the relationship between good human interaction and the desire to live. The film of the same name with Pierce Brosnan and Toni Collette (dir. Pascal Chaumel, 2013) turned out to be sincere and life-affirming.
Geographic reference
Often there is geographic confusion in compiling such lists. Let's figure it out. England is an independent country that is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland along with three other countries: Scotland, Ireland and Wales. However, the term "English Literature" includes the masterpieces of native writers throughout the United Kingdom. Therefore, you will find here the works of the Irishman Oscar Wilde, the Welshman Ian Banks, the Scotsman Ken Follett.The selection of English writers and their works turned out to be impressive - more than 70 books. This is a real book challenge! Add your favorite books and immerse yourself in a slightly prim, but such an elegant world!
