This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 2009.

Events

April 21 Events Pre-1600 * 753 BC – Romulus founds Rome ( traditional date). * 43 BC – Battle of Mutina: Mark Antony is again defeated in battle by Aulus Hirtius, who is killed. Antony fails to capture Mutina and Decimus Brutus is murdered ...

–

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...

launches the

World Digital Library The World Digital Library (WDL) is an international digital library operated by UNESCO and the United States Library of Congress. The WDL has stated that its mission is to promote international and intercultural understanding, expand the volume ...

. * May 1 – Carol Ann Duffy is appointed

Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom The British Poet Laureate is an honorary position appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom, currently on the advice of the prime minister. The role does not entail any specific duties, but there is an expectation that the holder will wri ...

, the first woman in the position; she is also the first Scot and the first openly gay occupant of the post. * May 5 – J. R. R. Tolkien's

narrative poem Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often using the voices of both a narrator and characters; the entire story is usually written in metered verse. Narrative poems do not need rhyme. The poems that make up this genre may be ...

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún ''The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún'' is a book containing two narrative poems and related texts composed by English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and HarperCollins on 5 May 2009. The two poems that make ...

'' in alliterative verse, based on the 13th century ''

Poetic Edda The ''Poetic Edda'' is the modern name for an untitled collection of Old Norse anonymous narrative poems, which is distinct from the ''Prose Edda'' written by Snorri Sturluson. Several versions exist, all primarily of text from the Icelandic med ...

'' and probably written in the 1930s, is published posthumously. *

May 16 Events Pre-1600 * 946 – Emperor Suzaku abdicates the throne in favor of his brother Murakami who becomes the 62nd emperor of Japan. * 1204 – Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. * 1 ...

– 25 – Ruth Padel becomes the first woman ever elected

Professor of Poetry The Professor of Poetry is an academic appointment at the University of Oxford. The chair was created in 1708 by an endowment from the estate of Henry Birkhead. The professorship carries an obligation to lecture, but is in effect a part-time p ...

at the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

but resigns nine days later after it is alleged she was involved in what some sources call as a

smear campaign A smear campaign, also referred to as a smear tactic or simply a smear, is an effort to damage or call into question someone's reputation, by propounding negative propaganda. It makes use of discrediting tactics. It can be applied to individual ...

against

Derek Walcott Sir Derek Alton Walcott (23 January 1930 – 17 March 2017) was a Saint Lucian poet and playwright. He received the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature. His works include the Homeric epic poem '' Omeros'' (1990), which many critics view "as Walcot ...

, a rival for the post. * August 10 – Standard

orthography An orthography is a set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, word breaks, emphasis, and punctuation. Most transnational languages in the modern period have a writing system, and ...

for the

Silesian language Silesian * Polish: ''etnolekt śląski'', ''język śląski'', ''gwara śląska'', ''śląszczyzna'' * german: link=no, Schlonsakisch, Wasserpolnisch or Upper Silesian is a West Slavic ethnolect of either the Lechitic group or the Czech ...

is adopted in Cieszyn, at a meeting of the

Standardization Standardization or standardisation is the process of implementing and developing technical standards based on the consensus of different parties that include firms, users, interest groups, standards organizations and governments. Standardizatio ...

Committee of the Silesian Language. * October 8 – Romanian-born German novelist Herta Müller wins the 2009

Nobel Prize in Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...

. * October 12 – Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm-Zentrum Library opens at

Humboldt University of Berlin Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiative ...

. * November 10 – Linden MacIntyre wins the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize for his novel '' The Bishop's Man''. *''unknown date'' – Australian publisher

Allen & Unwin George Allen & Unwin was a British publishing company formed in 1911 when Sir Stanley Unwin purchased a controlling interest in George Allen & Co. It went on to become one of the leading publishers of the twentieth century and to establish an ...

suspends its annual Iremonger Award, stating that no manuscript of sufficient merit has been submitted.

New books

Fiction

Nelson Algren Nelson Algren (born Nelson Ahlgren Abraham; March 28, 1909 – May 9, 1981) was an American writer. His 1949 novel '' The Man with the Golden Arm'' won the National Book Award and was adapted as the 1955 film of the same name. Algren articulat ...

(died 1981) – ''Entrapment and Other Writings'' (collection) *

Margaret Atwood Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, and inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of non-fiction, ...

– ''

The Year of the Flood ''The Year of the Flood'' is a novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, the second book of her dystopian trilogy, released on September 22, 2009, in Canada and the United States, and on September 7, 2009, in the United Kingdom. The novel was ...

'' (September 8) * Nicholson Baker – '' The Anthologist'' (September) * T. C. Boyle – '' The Women'' (February 10) * Dan Brown – ''

The Lost Symbol ''The Lost Symbol'' is a 2009 novel written by American writer Dan Brown. It is a thriller set in Washington, D.C., after the events of ''The Da Vinci Code'', and relies on Freemasonry for both its recurring theme and its major characters. Rel ...

'' (September 15) *

Arno Camenisch Arno Camenisch (born 1 February 1978 in the village of Tavanasa in the Swiss Canton Grisons) is a Swiss writer publishing in German and Romansh. Biography Camenisch grew up in Tavanasa and moved to Chur to study at a teacher training college ...

– ''Sez ner'' * Jan Cempírek – '' Bílej kůň, žlutej drak'' * Chan Koonchung – '' The Fat Years'' * Sam Childers – '' Another Man's War'' *

Kate Christensen Kate Christensen (born August 22, 1962) is an American novelist. She won the 2008 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for her fourth novel, ''The Great Man'', about a painter and the three women in his life. Her previous novels are ''In the Drink'' ( ...

– '' Trouble: A Novel'' * E. L. Doctorow – '' Homer & Langley'' (September 1) *

Dave Eggers Dave Eggers (born March 12, 1970) is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He wrote the 2000 best-selling memoir ''A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius''. Eggers is also the founder of ''Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern'', a lite ...

– '' The Wild Things'' (October 1) *

Adam Foulds Adam Samuel James Foulds FRSL ( ; born 8 October 1974) is a British novelist and poet. Biography Foulds was educated at Bancroft's School, read English at St Catherine's College, Oxford under Craig Raine, and graduated with an MA in creative w ...

– ''

The Quickening Maze ''The Quickening Maze'' is a 2009 historical fiction novel by British poet and author Adam Foulds and published by Jonathan Cape. The book received the Encore Award (2009), European Union Prize for Literature (2011) and was shortlisted for Ma ...

'' * Rodrigo Fresán – ''El fondo del cielo'' * Glen David Gold – '' Sunnyside'' (May 5) *

Philippa Gregory Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is an English historical novelist who has been publishing since 1987. The best known of her works is '' The Other Boleyn Girl'' (2001), which in 2002 won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Rom ...

– '' The White Queen'' (August 18) *

Lauren Groff Lauren Groff (born July 23, 1978) is an American novelist and short story writer. She has written four novels and two short story collections, including '' Fates and Furies'' (2015), ''Florida'' (2018), and ''Matrix'' (2021). Early life and educ ...

– ''

Delicate Edible Birds ''Delicate Edible Birds'' is a short story collection written by Lauren Groff. Groff was born and raised in Cooperstown, New York, home of American writers James Fenimore Cooper and W.W. Lord. Several of the stories take place in Upstate New York ...

'' (January 27) *

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been bestsellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan. He has received numerous awards for his ...

– ''

1Q84 is a novel written by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, first published in three volumes in Japan in 2009–10. It covers a fictionalized year of 1984 in parallel with a "real" one. The novel is a story of how a woman named Aomame begins to not ...

'' (いちきゅうはちよん, ''Ichi-Kyū-Hachi-Yon'', vol. 1–2 (May 29 – Japan) * Yuri Herrera – ''Señales que precederán al fin del mundo'' (Signs Preceding the End of the World) * Terrence E. Holt – '' In the Valley of the Kings'' (September 14) * John Irving – ''

Last Night in Twisted River ''Last Night in Twisted River'' is a 2009 novel by American writer John Irving, his 12th since 1968. It was first published (in English) in the Netherlands by De Bezige Bij on September 1, 2009, in Canada by Knopf Canada on October 20, 2009, a ...

'' (October 20 – Canada; October 27 – US) *

Rabee Jaber Rabee Jaber ( ar, ربيع جابر; born 1972) is a Lebanese novelist and journalist, born in Beirut, Lebanon. Life Jaber studied Physics at the American University of Beirut (AUB). He is also editor of ''Afaaq'' (in Arabic آفاق meaning ...

– أميركا (''America'') *

Denis Johnson Denis Hale Johnson (July 1, 1949 – May 24, 2017) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and poet. He is perhaps best known for his debut short story collection, '' Jesus' Son'' (1992). His most successful novel, ''Tree of Smoke'' (2007) ...

– ''Nobody Move'' (June 5) *

Daniel Kehlmann Daniel Kehlmann (; born 13 January 1975) is a German-language novelist and playwright of both Austrian and German nationality.Fame'' (January 16) *

Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Kingsolver (born April 8, 1955) is an American novelist, essayist and poet. She was raised in rural Kentucky and lived briefly in the Congo in her early childhood. Kingsolver earned degrees in biology at DePauw University and the Univers ...

– ''The Lacuna: A Novel'' (November 3) *

Karl Ove Knausgård Karl Ove Knausgård (; born 6 December 1968) is a Norwegian author. He became known worldwide for six autobiographical novels, titled '' My Struggle'' (''Min Kamp''). Since the completion of the ''My Struggle'' series in 2011, he has also publi ...

– '' Min Kamp'' (Norway) *

Herman Koch Herman Koch (; born 5 September 1953) is a Dutch writer and actor. He has written short stories, novels, and columns. His best-selling novel '' The Dinner'' (2009) has been translated into 21 languages. He has acted for radio, television, and fi ...

– '' The Dinner'' (''Het diner'' – Netherlands) * Joe R. Lansdale – ''

Vanilla Ride ''Vanilla Ride'' is a crime fiction novel written by American author Joe R. Lansdale. It is the eighth book in the ''Hap and Leonard'' series. Published in 2009, it is the first in the book in the series since '' Captains Outrageous'' in 2001. P ...

'' (September 2009) * Janice Y. K. Lee – '' The Piano Teacher'' *

Jonathan Lethem Jonathan Allen Lethem (; born February 19, 1964) is an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. His first novel, '' Gun, with Occasional Music'', a genre work that mixed elements of science fiction and detective fiction, was publi ...

– ''

Chronic City ''Chronic City'' (2009) is a novel by American author Jonathan Lethem. Summary Lethem began work on ''Chronic City'' in early 2007, and has said that the novel is "set on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, it’s strongly influenced by Saul B ...

'' (October 13) * Yiyun Li (李翊雲) – ''The Vagrants'' *

Nadifa Mohamed Nadifa Mohamed ( so, Nadiifa Maxamed, ar, نظيفة محمد) (born 1981) is a Somali-British novelist. She featured on ''Granta'' magazine's list "Best of Young British Novelists" in 2013, and in 2014 on the Africa39 list of writers aged u ...

– '' Black Mamba Boy'' (c. December) *

Lorrie Moore Lorrie Moore (born Marie Lorena Moore; January 13, 1957) is an American writer. Biography Marie Lorena Moore was born in Glens Falls, New York, and nicknamed "Lorrie" by her parents. She attended St. Lawrence University. At 19, she won '' Seve ...

– ''

A Gate at the Stairs ''A Gate at the Stairs'' is a novel by American fiction writer Lorrie Moore. It was published by Random House in 2009. The novel won Amazon.com's "best of the month" designation and was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize ...

'' (September 15) * Alice Munro – '' Too Much Happiness'' (August 25) * Vladimir Nabokov – ''

The Original of Laura ''The Original of Laura'' is an incomplete novel by Vladimir Nabokov, which he was writing at the time of his death in 1977. It was published by Nabokov's son Dmitri Nabokov in 2009, despite the author's request that the work be destroyed upon h ...

'' (unfinished last novel, November 3) *

Marie NDiaye Marie NDiaye (born 4 June 1967) is a French novelist, playwright and screenwriter. She published her first novel, ''Quant au riche avenir'', when she was 17. She won the Prix Goncourt in 2009. Her play ''Papa doit manger'' is the sole play by a ...

– ''

Three Strong Women ''Three Strong Women'' (french: Trois Femmes puissantes) (2009) is a novel by the French writer Marie NDiaye. It won the 2009 Prix Goncourt, France's most prestigious literary award. The English translation by John Fletcher was published in April ...

'' (''Trois Femmes puissantes'', August 20) *

Joyce Carol Oates Joyce Carol Oates (born June 16, 1938) is an American writer. Oates published her first book in 1963, and has since published 58 novels, a number of plays and novellas, and many volumes of short stories, poetry, and non-fiction. Her novels '' Bla ...

**'' Dear Husband,'' (March 31) **'' Little Bird of Heaven'' (September 15) *

Chuck Palahniuk Charles Michael "Chuck" Palahniuk (; born February 21, 1962) is an American freelance journalist and novelist who describes his work as transgressional fiction. He has published 19 novels, three nonfiction books, two graphic novels, and two adu ...

– '' Pygmy'' (May 5) * Lyudmila Petrushevskaya – ''There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby'' (short stories translated from Russian, September 29) * Thomas Pynchon – '' Inherent Vice'' (August 4) *

Philip Roth Philip Milton Roth (March 19, 1933 – May 22, 2018) was an American novelist and short story writer. Roth's fiction—often set in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey—is known for its intensely autobiographical character, for philosophicall ...

– '' The Humbling'' (November 2) * Richard Russo – '' That Old Cape Magic'' (August 4) * Stig Sæterbakken – '' Don't Leave Me'' * Raphael Selbourne – '' Beauty'' (September) * Steve Sem-Sandberg – ''De fattiga i Łódź'' *

Nicholas Sparks Nicholas Charles Sparks (born December 31, 1965) is an American novelist, screenwriter, and philanthropist. He has published twenty-three novels and two non-fiction books, some of which have been ''New York Times'' bestsellers, with over 115 m ...

– ''The Last Song'' (September 8) * Peter Stamm – ''Seven Years'' * Kathryn Stockett – '' The Help'' (February 10) *

Mari Strachan Mari Strachan (born 1945) is a Welsh novelist and librarian. Her first novel, ''The Earth Hums in B Flat'' (Canongate, 2009), works on one level as a detective story, while on another dealing with the problems of growing up in a small Welsh vill ...

– ''The Earth Hums in B Flat'' * Olga Tokarczuk – '' Prowadź swój pług przez kości umarłych ( Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead)'' *

Wells Tower Wells Tower (born April 14, 1973) is an American writer of short stories, non-fiction, feature films and television. In 2009 he published his first short story collection, ''Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned'' ( Farrar, Straus and Giroux) to ...

– '' Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned'' (March 17) *

Sue Townsend Susan Lillian Townsend, FRSL (née Johnstone, 2 April 194610 April 2014), was an English writer and humorist whose work encompasses novels, plays and works of journalism. She was best known for creating the character Adrian Mole. After writing ...

– '' Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years'' (November 5) * Ferdinand von Schirach – "Verbrechen" (Burglary; short story) * John Wray – ''Lowboy'' (March 3) * Juli Zeh – '' Corpus Delicti'' (February 20)

Genre fiction

Yukito Ayatsuji , who writes under his pen name , is a Japanese writer of mystery and horror. He is one of the founders of Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan and one of the representative writers of the new traditionalist movement in Japanese mystery writi ...

– '' Another'' (October 29) *

David Baldacci David Baldacci (born August 5, 1960) is an American novelist. An attorney by education, Baldacci writes mainly suspense novels and legal thrillers. Biography Early life and education David Baldacci was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. ...

– ''

First Family First Family is an unofficial title for the family of a republic's head of state. A first family usually consists of: the head of state, the first spouse and their children. Related terms The term ''second family'' is often used to refer to ...

'' (April 21) * Jim Butcher – '' Turn Coat'' (April 7) *

Eoin Colfer Eoin Colfer (; born 14 May 1965) is an Irish author of children's books. He worked as a primary school teacher before he became a full-time writer. He is best known for being the author of the ''Artemis Fowl'' series. In September 2008, Colf ...

– '' And Another Thing...'' (October) *

Matthew J. Costello Matthew John Costello (born 1948) is an American writer specializing in the genres of horror, gothic, and science fiction. His articles have appeared in publications including the ''Los Angeles Times'' and ''Sports Illustrated''. He has scripte ...

– '' Doom 3: Maelstrom'' (March 31) **''Dark Calling'' (May 2009) **'' Hell's Heroes (book)'' (October 2009) *

Michael Crichton John Michael Crichton (; October 23, 1942 – November 4, 2008) was an American author and filmmaker. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and over a dozen have been adapted into films. His literary works heavily feature tech ...

– '' Pirate Latitudes'' (November 24) * Andrew Hussie – '' Homestuck'' (April 13) * J.C. Hutchins – ''7th Son, Book One: Descent'' (October 27) * Robert Jordan and

Brandon Sanderson Brandon Winn Sanderson (born December 19, 1975) is an American author of high fantasy and science fiction. He is best known for the Cosmere fictional universe, in which most of his fantasy novels, most notably the ''Mistborn'' series and ''The ...

– '' The Gathering Storm (

The Wheel of Time ''The Wheel of Time'' is a series of high fantasy novels by American author Robert Jordan, with Brandon Sanderson as a co-author for the final three novels. Originally planned as a six-book series, ''The Wheel of Time'' spans 14 volumes, in ad ...

volume 12'', October 27) *

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...

– '' Under the Dome'' (November 10) *

Richard Laymon Richard Carl Laymon (January 14, 1947 – February 14, 2001) was an American author of suspense and horror fiction, particularly within the splatterpunk subgenre. Life and career Laymon was born and raised outside of Chicago, Illinois, then li ...

– ''Dark Mountain'' (March 2009) * Attica Locke – ''Black Water Rising'' * Michael E. Marks – ''Dominant Species (novel)'' (October 1) *

– ''

'' (いちきゅうはちよん, ''Ichi-Kyū-Hachi-Yon'', Books 1–2, May 29) * James Patterson **'' MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel'' (March 16) **'' Daniel X: Watch the Skies'' (July 27) * Lawrence M. Schoen – ''Buffalito Destiny'' (June 1, first in the ''Tales of the Amazing Conroy'' series)

Children and young people

* Sagu Aoyama (蒼山サグ) and

Tinkle ''Tinkle'' is an Indian fortnightly magazine for children in English, published from Mumbai. Originally owned by the India Book House, the Tinkle brand was acquired by ACK (Amar Chitra Katha) Media in 2007. The magazine contains comics, sto ...

– '' Ro-Kyu-Bu!'' (February 10) * Hajime Asano (あさのハジメ) and Seiji Kikuchi (菊池政治) – '' Mayo Chiki!'' (November 21) * Brent Crawford – '' Carter Finally Gets It'' *

James Dashner James Smith Dashner (born November 26, 1972) is an American writer known for speculative fiction. Many of his books are primarily aimed at children or young adults. He is best known for ''The Maze Runner'' series and the young adult fantasy seri ...

– '' The Hunt for Dark Infinity'' (March 1) * Joseph Delaney and Mark Walden – ''The Spook's Tale/Interception Point'' (March 5) * John Fardell – ''The Secret of the Black Moon Moth'' * Brian Floca – '' Moonshot: The Flight Of Apollo 11'' *Betsy Franco – '' A Curious Collection of Cats'' *

Neil Gaiman Neil Richard MacKinnon GaimanBorn as Neil Richard Gaiman, with "MacKinnon" added on the occasion of his marriage to Amanda Palmer. ; ( Neil Richard Gaiman; born 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, gra ...

– '' Blueberry Girl'' (March 10) * Odo Hirsch – '' Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool'' * Nonny Hogrogian – '' Cool Cat'' * Mandy Hubbard – '' Prada and Prejudice'' * John Hulme and Michael Wexler – '' The Lost Train of Thought'' (October) * Erin Hunter **'' Great Bear Lake'' (February 10) **'' Sunrise'' (April 24) **'' Smoke Mountain'' (May 1) **'' Code of the Clans'' (June 9) **'' Bluestar's Prophecy'' (August) **'' The Fourth Apprentice'' (November 24) *

Reif Larsen Reif Larsen (born 1980) is an American author, known for '' The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet'', for which '' Vanity Fair'' claimed Larsen received just under a million dollars as an advance from Penguin Press following a bidding war between ten p ...

– '' The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet'' *

Ursula K. Le Guin Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (; October 21, 1929 – January 22, 2018) was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe, and the '' Earthsea'' fantasy series. She was ...

– '' Cat Dreams'' * Peter Lerangis – '' The Sword Thief'' (April 1) *

D. J. Machale Donald James MacHale (born March 11, 1955) is an American writer, director, and executive producer. He has been affiliated with shows such as ''Are You Afraid of the Dark?'', ''Flight 29 Down'' and ''Seasonal Differences''. MacHale is also the au ...

– ''

The Soldiers of Halla ''The Soldiers of Halla'' is the tenth and final book in the '' Pendragon Adventure'' series by D. J. MacHale. It concludes the battle between the Travelers and Saint Dane. The title was revealed by D. J. MacHale on December 9, 2008, and was tak ...

'' (May 12) * Joshua Mowll, et al. – '' Operation Storm City'' (May 12) *

Brandon Mull Brandon Mull is an American author best known for his children's fantasy series, ''Fablehaven'', as well as ''Dragonwatch'', '' The Candy Shop War'', the ''Beyonders'' trilogy, and the ''Five Kingdoms'' series.Howard, Chris (March 7, 2008)Interv ...

– '' Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary'' (March 24) * Robert Muchamore **'' Henderson's Boys: The Escape'' (February 5) **'' Eagle Day'' (June 4) * Marilyn Nelson – '' Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story Of The Greatest All-Girl Swing Band In The World'' * Patrick Ness – '' The Ask and the Answer'' (May 4) * Jenny Nimmo – '' Charlie Bone and the Red King'' * Charles Ogden – ''Split Ends'' (January 27) *

Margie Palatini Margie Palatini is the author of many popular books for young children. She was born in Edison, New Jersey, and today lives in nearby Plainfield, New Jersey. Margie is a graduate of the Moore College of Art and Design. According to her website, ...

– ''Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes'' * Catherine Rayner – '' Sylvia and Bird'' *

Rob Reger Emily the Strange is an illustrated fictional character featured in several comic books, graphic novels and in various merchandise and clothing lines. She was created by Rob Reger for his company Cosmic Debris Etc. Inc. located in San Francisco, ...

– ''Emily the Strange: The Lost Days'' (June 2) * Rick Riordan – '' The Last Olympian'' (May 5) *

Amy Krouse Rosenthal Amy Krouse Rosenthal (April 29, 1965 – March 13, 2017) was an American author of both adult and children's books, a short film maker, and radio show host. She is best known for her memoir ''Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life'', her children's pic ...

– '' Duck! Rabbit!'' * Carina Rozenfeld – ''Les Clefs de Babel'' * Carrie Ryan – ''

The Forest of Hands and Teeth ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (March 9) *

Angie Sage Angie Sage (born 20 June 1952) is an English author of children's literature, including the ''Septimus Heap'' series, the ''TodHunter Moon'' trilogy, and the ''Araminta Spook'' series (''Araminta Spookie'', in the United States). Life According ...

– '' Septimus Heap: The Magykal Papers'' (June 23) * Michael Scott – '' The Sorceress'' (May 26) *

Dugald Steer Dugald A. Steer B.A. (Brist), S.A.S.D. (born 1965) is an English children's writer. Biography Early life and education Dugald Steer was born in 1965 and grew up in Surrey. He completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English literature and ...

etc. –''Drake's Comprehensive Compendium of Dragonology'' * Maggie Stiefvater – ''

Shiver Shivering (also called shuddering) is a bodily function in response to cold and extreme fear in warm-blooded animals. When the core body temperature drops, the shivering reflex is triggered to maintain homeostasis. Skeletal muscles begin to sh ...

'' *

Jude Watson Judy Blundell, pseudonym Jude Watson, is an American author of books for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers. She won the annual National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2008 for the young adult novel '' What I Saw and How I ...

– '' Beyond the Grave'' (June 2) * Victor Watson – ''Paradise Barn'' (first in eponymous series of four books) *

Tad Williams Robert Paul "Tad" Williams (born March 14, 1957) is an American fantasy and science fiction writer. He is the author of the multivolume ''Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn'' series, ''Otherland'' series, and '' Shadowmarch'' series as well as the stan ...

and Deborah Beale – ''The Dragons of Ordinary Farm'' (July 2) * Jacqueline Wilson – '' Hetty Feather'' (first in eponymous series of five books) *

N. D. Wilson Nathan David Wilson (born 1978) is an American author of young adult fiction. Background Wilson is the son of Calvinist minister Douglas Wilson and author Nancy Wilson. He was named after the biblical figures Nathan and David, and was educated ...

– '' Dandelion Fire'' * Izuru Yumizuru and Okiura – ''

Infinite Stratos ''Infinite Stratos'', also written as , is a Japanese light novel series by Izuru Yumizuru with illustrations provided by Okiura (original MF novels) and CHOCO (new Overlap novels). As of October 2013, seven volumes have been published ...

'' (May 31)

Drama

Jacob M. Appel Jacob M. Appel (born February 21, 1973) is an American author, poet, bioethicist, physician, lawyer and social critic.Nagamatsu, Sequoia "A Few Words with the Ubiquitous Jacob M. Appel" ''Prince Mincer'' Journal http://primemincer.com/ confirmed ...

– '' Causa mortis'' * Jez Butterworth – ''

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

'' * Molly Davies – '' A Miracle'' * Ella Hickson – ''

Precious Little Talent ''Precious Little Talent'' is a 2009 play written and directed by Ella Hickson. The characters of Joey, Sam and George were first played by Emma Hiddleston, Simon Ginty and John McColl in the 2009 play and by Olivia Hallinan, Anthony Welsh and Ia ...

'' *

Patrick Marber Patrick Albert Crispin Marber (born 19 September 1964) is an English comedian, playwright, director, actor, and screenwriter. Early life Marber was born and raised in a middle-class Jewish family in Wimbledon, London, the son of Angela (Benj ...

– ''After Miss Julie'' * Lucy Prebble – ''

ENRON Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. It was founded by Kenneth Lay in 1985 as a merger between Lay's Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, both relatively small regional compani ...

'' *

Sarah Ruhl Sarah Ruhl (born January 24, 1974) is an American playwright, professor, and essayist. Among her most popular plays are ''Eurydice'' (2003), ''The Clean House'' (2004), and ''In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)'' (2009). She has been the reci ...

– ''

In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) ''In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)'' is a 2009 play by Sarah Ruhl, published by Samuel French. It concerns the early history of the vibrator, when doctors allegedly used it as a clinical device to bring women to orgasm as treatment for " ...

'' * Anna Deavere Smith – ''Let Me Down Easy'' * Zlatko Topčić – '' I Don't Like Mondays (Ne volim ponedjeljak)''

Poetry

* Christopher Reid – ''A Scattering'' *

Toyo Shibata was a bestselling Japanese poet; her first anthology ''Kujikenaide'' (″Don't lose heart″), published in 2009, sold 1.58 million copies. In comparison, poetry book sales of 10,000 are considered successful in Japan. Her anthology also topped Jap ...

(柴田トヨ) – ''Kujikenaide'' (Don't lose heart)

Non-fiction

* Olivier Ameisen – ''The End of my Addiction'' (March 5) *

Daniel Ammann Daniel Ammann (born 1963) is a Swiss journalist and author. He was educated at University of Zurich, UC Berkeley and Fondation Post Universitaire Internationale in Paris. He holds an MA in Political Science, History and Constitutional Law. Amma ...

– ''

The King of Oil ''The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich'' is a non-fiction book by Swiss investigative journalist Daniel Ammann. The book was initially released on October 13, 2009 by St. Martin's Press. It became an international bestseller and was publ ...

'' (October 13) *Joshua Blu Buhs – '' Bigfoot: The Life and Times of a Legend'' * Michael Chabon – '' Manhood for Amateurs'' (October 6) * Wendy Doniger – '' The Hindus: An Alternative History'' *

– '' Zeitoun'' (July 15) * Christopher M. Fairman – '' Fuck: Word Taboo and Protecting Our First Amendment Liberties'' *

Craig Ferguson Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish-born American comedian, actor, writer, and television host. He is best known for hosting the CBS late-night talk show '' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'' (2005–2014), for which he won ...

– ''

American on Purpose ''American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot'' is a memoir written by entertainer Craig Ferguson. The book details various experiences over several decades in Ferguson's life from his days in Scotland through his migra ...

'' (September 22) * Brian Floca – ''Moonshot: The Flight Of Apollo 11'' *

Jonathan Safran Foer Jonathan Safran Foer (; born February 21, 1977) is an American novelist. He is known for his novels '' Everything Is Illuminated'' (2002), '' Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close'' (2005), '' Here I Am'' (2016), and for his non-fiction works ''Eati ...

– ''

Eating Animals ''Eating Animals'' is the third book by the American novelist Jonathan Safran Foer, published in 2009. A ''New York Times'' best-seller, ''Eating Animals'' provides a dense discussion of what it means to eat animals in an industrialized world. I ...

'' (November 2) *

Jade Goody Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody (5 June 1981 – 22 March 2009) was an English television personality. She came to public prominence in 2002 when she appeared on the third series of the Channel 4 reality show '' Big Brother''. She went on to s ...

– ''Forever in My Heart: the Story of My Battle against Cancer'' * David Grann – '' The Lost City of Z'' (February 24) *Michael Jones – '' The Retreat: Hitler's First Defeat'' * Thomas Levenson – ''Newton and the Counterfeiter'' (June 3) * Mark Levin – '' Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto'' (March 24) *

Norman Mailer Nachem Malech Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007), known by his pen name Norman Kingsley Mailer, was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, activist, filmmaker and actor. In a career spanning over six decades, Maile ...

(died 2007) – ''MoonFire'' ($112,500 coffee table edition) * Patricia A. McAnany and Norman Yoffee - '' Questioning Collapse: Human Resilience, Ecological Vulnerability, and the Aftermath of Empire'' (November) * Joel Mokyr – ''The Enlightened Economy'' *

Ram Oren Ram Oren (born March 8, 1936) is a popular Israeli author who has sold an unprecedented 1 million books in Hebrew. Oren was born in Tel Aviv during the Mandate era. At age 15, he began his journalistic career as a messenger boy for ''Yediot Ah ...

– ''

Gertruda's Oath ''Gertruda's Oath: A Child, a Promise, and a Heroic Escape During World War II'' is a 2009 book (originally published in Israel as ''ha-Shevu'ah'' in 2007) by Ram Oren and translated by Barbara Harshav. It follows the story of a Jewish boy, Micha ...

'' * Eric W. Sanderson – ''Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City'' (May 1) *

Bill Simmons William John Simmons III (born September 25, 1969) is an American sports analyst, author, podcaster, and former Sports journalism, sports writer who is the founder and CEO of the sports and pop culture website ''The Ringer (website), The Ringer ...

– '' The Book of Basketball'' (October 26) * Peter Sloterdijk – '' You Must Change Your Life (Du mußt dein Leben ändern)'' * Guy Sorman – '' Economics Does Not Lie'' (July 20) * Joel D. Vaughan - '' The Rise and Fall of the Christian Coalition'' (2009) *

William T. Vollmann William Tanner Vollmann (born July 28, 1959) is an American novelist, journalist, war correspondent, short story writer, and essayist. He won the 2005 National Book Award for Fiction with the novel ''Europe Central''.

– ''Imperial'' (July 29) * Helen Waldstein Wilkes – '' Letters from the Lost''

Deaths

January 1 January 1 or 1 January is the first day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 364 days remaining until the end of the year (365 in leap years). This day is also known as New Year's Day since the day marks the beginning of the ye ...

– Johannes Mario Simmel, Austrian novelist and screenwriter (born

1924 Events January * January 12 – Gopinath Saha shoots Ernest Day, whom he has mistaken for Sir Charles Tegart, the police commissioner of Calcutta, and is arrested soon after. * January 20– 30 – Kuomintang in China hold ...

) *

January 7 Events Pre-1600 * 49 BC – The Senate of Rome says that Caesar will be declared a public enemy unless he disbands his army. This prompts the tribunes who support him to flee to Ravenna, where Caesar is waiting. * 1325 – Alfonso I ...

– Valerie Flint, English medieval historian (born 1936) *

January 20 Events Pre-1600 * 250 – Pope Fabian is martyred during the Decian persecution. * 649 – King Chindasuinth, at the urging of bishop Braulio of Zaragoza, crowns his son Recceswinth as co-ruler of the Visigothic Kingdom. * 1156 & ...

– Sheila Walsh, English novelist (born

1928 Events January * January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly proving the existence of DNA. * January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris Bazhano ...

) *

January 27 Events Pre-1600 * 98 – Trajan succeeds his adoptive father Nerva as Roman emperor; under his rule the Roman Empire will reach its maximum extent. * 945 – The co-emperors Stephen and Constantine are overthrown and forced to bec ...

–

John Updike John Hoyer Updike (March 18, 1932 – January 27, 2009) was an American novelist, poet, short-story writer, art critic, and literary critic. One of only four writers to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction more than once (the others being Booth Tar ...

, American novelist (born

1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort to assassinate Emperor Hir ...

) *

February 18 Events Pre-1600 *1229 – The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, signs a ten-year truce with al-Kamil, regaining Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem with neither military engagements nor support from the papacy. * 1268 &n ...

–

Tayeb Salih Tayeb Salih ( ar, الطيب صالح, aṭ-Ṭayyib Ṣāliḥ; 12 July 1929 – 18 February 2009) was a Sudanese writer, cultural journalist for the BBC Arabic programme as well as for Arabic journals, and a staff member of UNESCO. He is best k ...

, Sudanese fiction writer and cultural commentator (born 1929) *

February 20 Events Pre-1600 *1339 – The Milanese army and the St. George's (San Giorgio) Mercenaries of Lodrisio Visconti clash in the Battle of Parabiago; Visconti is defeated. * 1472 – Orkney and Shetland are pawned by Norway to Scotlan ...

– Christopher Nolan, Irish poet and author (choking; born

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in for a full term ...

) *

February 25 Events Pre-1600 *138 – Roman emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius as his son, effectively making him his successor. * 628 – Khosrow II, the last great Shah of the Sasanian Empire (Iran), is overthrown by his son Kavadh II. * ...

– Philip José Farmer, American science fiction writer (born

1918 This year is noted for the end of the First World War, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, as well as for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed 50–100 million people worldwide. Events Below, the events ...

) *

March 13 Events Pre-1600 * 624 – The Battle of Badr, the first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh. *1567 – The Battle of Oosterweel, traditionally regarded as the start of the Eighty Years' War. *1591 – At the Battle of Ton ...

– James Purdy, American novelist, poet and playwright (born 1914) * March 21 –

Winifred Foley Winifred Mary Foley (born Winifred Mason; 25 July 1914 – 21 March 2009) was an English writer. She is known best for an autobiographical account of her childhood in the Forest of Dean: ''A Child in the Forest''. Forest life Winifred Fole ...

, English memoirist (born 1914) *

March 31 Events Pre-1600 * 307 – After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine the Great, Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of the retired Roman emperor Maximian. *1146 – Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at V� ...

– Michael Cox, English novelist and biographer (

hemangiopericytoma A hemangiopericytoma is a type of soft-tissue sarcoma that originates in the pericytes in the walls of capillaries. When inside the nervous system, although not strictly a meningioma tumor, it is a meningeal tumor with a special aggressive behavio ...

, born

1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The Constitution of New Jersey (later subject to amendment) goes into effect. ** The railways of Britain are nationalized, to form British ...

)

April 14 Events Pre-1600 * 43 BC – Legions loyal to the Roman Senate, commanded by Gaius Pansa, defeat the forces of Mark Antony in the Battle of Forum Gallorum. * 69 – Vitellius, commanding Rhine-based armies, defeats Roman emperor O ...

– Maurice Druon, French historical novelist (born

) *

April 15 Events Pre-1600 * 769 – The Lateran Council ends by condemning the Council of Hieria and anathematizing its iconoclastic rulings. * 1071 – Bari, the last Byzantine possession in southern Italy, is surrendered to Robert Guiscar ...

– Clement Freud, German-born English writer and broadcaster (born

) *

April 19 Events Pre-1600 * AD 65 – The freedman Milichus betrays Piso's plot to kill the Emperor Nero and all the conspirators are arrested. * 531 – Battle of Callinicum: A Byzantine army under Belisarius is defeated by the Persi ...

– J. G. Ballard, English novelist (born 1930) * May 6 – Lev Losev, Russian American poet (born

1937 Events January * January 1 – Anastasio Somoza García becomes President of Nicaragua. * January 5 – Water levels begin to rise in the Ohio River in the United States, leading to the Ohio River flood of 1937, which continues into ...

) * May 17 –

Mario Benedetti Mario Orlando Hardy Hamlet Brenno Benedetti Farrugia (; 14 September 1920 – 17 May 2009), was an Uruguayan journalist, novelist, and poet and an integral member of the Generación del 45. Despite publishing more than 80 books and being publi ...

, Uruguayan writer (born

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War in 1920: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its own ma ...

) * June 2 – David Eddings, American novelist (born 1931) * June 27 – Frank Barlow, English historian (born

1911 A notable ongoing event was the race for the South Pole. Events January * January 1 – A decade after federation, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are added to the Commonwealth of Australia. * ...

) * July 6 –

Vasily Aksyonov Vasily Pavlovich Aksyonov ( rus, Васи́лий Па́влович Аксёнов, p=vɐˈsʲilʲɪj ˈpavləvʲɪtɕ ɐˈksʲɵnəf; August 20, 1932 – July 6, 2009) was a Soviet and Russian novelist. He became known in the West as the aut ...

, Russian novelist (born

) *

July 14 Events Pre-1600 * 982 – King Otto II and his Frankish army are defeated by the Muslim army of al-Qasim at Cape Colonna, Southern Italy. *1223 – Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father, Philip II. *1420 ...

– Phyllis Gotlieb, Canadian novelist (born 1926) *

July 19 Events Pre-1600 * AD 64 – The Great Fire of Rome causes widespread devastation and rages on for six days, destroying half of the city. * 484 – Leontius, Roman usurper, is crowned Eastern emperor at Tarsus (modern Turkey). He is ...

–

Frank McCourt Francis McCourt (August 19, 1930July 19, 2009) was an Irish-American teacher and writer. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his book ''Angela's Ashes'', a tragicomic memoir of the misery and squalor of his childhood. Early life and education Frank ...

, American memoirist and Pulitzer Prize winner (born 1930) Frank McCourt by David Shankbone

* July 23 – E. Lynn Harris, African American novelist (heart disease; born

1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijiangs ...

) *

July 25 Events Pre-1600 * 306 – Constantine I is proclaimed Roman emperor by his troops. * 315 – The Arch of Constantine is completed near the Colosseum in Rome to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge ...

–

Stanley Middleton Stanley Middleton FRSL (1 August 1919 – 25 July 2009) was a British novelist. Life He was born in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, in 1919 and educated at High Pavement School, Stanley Road, Nottingham, and later at University College Nottin ...

, English novelist (cancer; born 1919) * July 27 **

Aeronwy Thomas Aeronwy Bryn Thomas-Ellis (3 March 1943 – 27 July 2009) was a poet, writer and translator of Italian poetry. She was the second child and only daughter of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and his wife, Caitlin Macnamara. She had two brothers, Ll ...

, English-born Welsh translator and writer (born 1943) AeronwyTorino (cropped)

** Michaël Zeeman, Dutch critic, poet and writer (born

1958 Events January * January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being. * January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed. * January 4 ** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the third ...

) *

July 31 Events Pre-1600 *30 BC – Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian's forces, but most of his army subsequently deserts, leading to his suicide. * 781 – The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (T ...

– Tim Guest, English writer (drug overdose; born

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

) *

August 2 Events Pre-1600 * 338 BC – A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Battle of Chaeronea, securing Macedonian hegemony in Greece and the Aegean. * 216 BC – The Carthaginian ...

–

Adolf Endler Adolf Endler (20 September 1930 – 2 August 2009) was a lyric poet, essayist and prose author who played a central role in subcultural activities that attacked and challenged an outdated model of socialist realism in the German Democratic R ...

, German writer (born 1930) * August 4 – Blake Snyder, American screenwriter and author (born 1957) *

August 5 Events Pre-1600 *AD 25 – Guangwu claims the throne as Emperor of China, restoring the Han dynasty after the collapse of the short-lived Xin dynasty. * 70 – Fires resulting from the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem are ...

– Budd Schulberg, American screenwriter and novelist (born 1914) *

August 6 Events Pre-1600 *1284 – The Republic of Pisa is defeated in the Battle of Meloria by the Republic of Genoa, thus losing its naval dominance in the Mediterranean. *1538 – Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesad ...

** Jack T. Kirby, American historian (born

1938 Events January * January 1 ** The new constitution of Estonia enters into force, which many consider to be the ending of the Era of Silence and the authoritarian regime. ** State-owned railway networks are created by merger, in France ...

) **

Willibrordus S. Rendra Willibrordus Surendra Broto Rendra (7 November 1935 – 6 August 2009), widely known as Rendra or W. S. Rendra, was an Indonesian dramatist, poet, activist, performer, actor and director. Biography Early life Born in Surakarta to a Roman Ca ...

, Indonesian poet (born

1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * January 12 – Amelia Earhart ...

) * August 7 – Danko Popović, Serbian writer (born

) * August 8 – Alfonso Calderón, Chilean writer and poet (born 1930) * August 9 –

Thierry Jonquet Thierry Jonquet (; January 19, 1954 – August 9, 2009) was a French writer who specialised in crime novels with political themes. He was born in Paris; his most recent and best known novel outside France was '' Mygale'' (1984), then published in t ...

, French writer (born

1954 Events January * January 1 – The Soviet Union ceases to demand war reparations from West Germany. * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The fir ...

) * August 10 ** Josef Burg, Ukrainian writing in Yiddish (born

1912 Events January * January 1 – The Republic of China is established. * January 5 – The Prague Conference (6th All-Russian Conference of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party) opens. * January 6 ** German geophysicist Alfred ...

) **

Merlyn Mantle Merlyn Mantle (née Johnson; January 28, 1932 – August 10, 2009) was an American author and widow of New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle. Early life Mantle was born in Cardin in Ottawa County in far northeastern Oklahoma. She was the fir ...

, American author (born

) *

August 16 Events Pre-1600 * 1 BC – Wang Mang consolidates his power in China and is declared marshal of state. Emperor Ai of Han, who died the previous day, had no heirs. * 942 – Start of the four-day Battle of al-Mada'in, between the Hamda ...

– Alistair Campbell, New Zealand poet (born 1925) * August 18 ** Dic Jones, Welsh poet writing in Welsh (born 1934) **

Hugo Loetscher Hugo Loetscher (22 December 1929 – 18 August 2009) was a Swiss writer and essayist. Life Loetscher was born and raised in Zürich. He studied philosophy, sociology, and literature at the University of Zürich and the Sorbonne. At Zür ...

, Swiss author writing in German (born 1929) ** Fernanda Pivano, Italian writer (born 1917) * August 20 – Karla Kuskin, American children's author (born

) * August 22 – Elmer Kelton, American Western novelist (born 1926) Elmer kelton 2007

* August 25 ** Bob Carroll, American historian and author (born 1936) ** Sergey Mikhalkov, Russian writer and poet (born 1913) *

September 3 Events Pre-1600 *36 BC – In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompey, son of Pompey, thus ending Pompeian resistance to the Second Triumvirate. * 301 – San Marino, one of t ...

– Christine D'Haen, Belgian poet writing in Flemish (born 1923) Christine D' haen 1990

* September 4 – Keith Waterhouse, English author and playwright (born 1929) * September 6 **

Catherine Gaskin Catherine Gaskin (2 April 19296 September 2009) was an Irish–Australian romance novelist. Biography Gaskin was born in Dundalk Bay, County Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling ...

, Irish-born Australian romantic novelist (born 1929) ** Nada Iveljić, Croatian children's writer (born 1931) * September 10 – Lyn Hamilton, Canadian author (born

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in ...

) * September 11 – Jim Carroll, American writer and poet (born

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

) * September 12 ** William Hoffman, American novelist (born 1925) ** Antônio Olinto, Brazilian writer (born 1919) * September 13 – Sarah E. Wright, American novelist (born

) * September 15 –

Trevor Rhone Trevor Dave Rhone (24 March 1940 – 15 September 2009) was a Jamaican writer, playwright and film maker. He co-wrote, with director Perry Henzell, the internationally successful film ''The Harder They Come'' (1972). Life Trevor Rhone, wa ...

, Jamaican playwright (born 1940) * September 19 –

Milton Meltzer Milton Meltzer (May 8, 1915 – September 19, 2009) was an American historian and author best known for his nonfiction books on Jewish, African-American, and American history. Since the 1950s, he was a prolific author of history books in the child ...

, American historian and author (born 1915) *

September 21 Events Pre-1600 * 455 – Emperor Avitus enters Rome with a Gallic army and consolidates his power. *1170 – The Kingdom of Dublin falls to Norman invaders. *1217 – Livonian Crusade: The Estonian leader Lembitu and Livonian lead ...

–

Junzo Shono was a Japanese novelist. A native of Osaka, he began writing novels after World War II. He won the 1954 Akutagawa Prize for his book ''Purusaido Shokei'' (''Poolside Scene''). Shōno's other award-winning books include ''Seibutsu'' (''Still Li ...

(庄野潤三), Japanese author (born

1921 Events January * January 2 ** The Association football club Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, from Belo Horizonte, is founded as the multi-sports club Palestra Italia by Italian expatriates in Brazil. ** The Spanish liner ''Santa Isabel'' bre ...

) * September 22 – Kole Čašule, Macedonian essayist, dramatist and short story writer (born

) * September 24 – Nelly Arcan, Canadian novelist writing in French (suicide; born 1973) *

September 25 Events Pre-1600 * 275 – For the last time, the Roman Senate chooses an emperor; they elect 75-year-old Marcus Claudius Tacitus. * 762 – Led by Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya, the Hasanid branch of the Alids begins the Alid Revolt ...

– Willy Breinholst, Danish author (born

) * September 27 –

William Safire William Lewis Safire (; Safir; December 17, 1929 – September 27, 2009Safire, William (1986). ''Take My Word for It: More on Language.'' Times Books. . p. 185.) was an American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He ...

, American columnist (born 1929) * October 1 **

Otar Chiladze Otar Chiladze ( ka, ოთარ ჭილაძე; March 20, 1933 — October 1, 2009) was a Georgian writer who played a prominent role in the resurrection of Georgian prose in the post-Joseph Stalin era. His novels characteristically fuse Sum ...

, Georgian writer (born

1933 Events January * January 11 – Sir Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand. * January 17 – The United States Congress votes in favour of Philippines independence, against the wis ...

) ** Cintio Vitier, Cuban poet (born

) * October 4 –

Veikko Huovinen Veikko Huovinen (7 May 1927 – 4 October 2009) was a Finnish novelist and forester. As a novelist, his writing was known for its realism, pacifism, sharp intellect, and peculiar humor. He wrote 37 books, and one of his best-known humorous novel ...

, Finnish writer (born

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith becomes the first Director-General. * January 7 ...

) *

November 1 Events Pre-1600 *365 – The Alemanni cross the Rhine and invade Gaul. Emperor Valentinian I moves to Paris to command the army and defend the Gallic cities. * 996 – Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk, Bishop of Freising, ...

–

Esther Hautzig Esther R. Hautzig ( he, אסתר האוציג, born October 18, 1930 – died November 1, 2009 in America) was a Polish-born American writer, best known for her award-winning book ''The Endless Steppe'' (1968). Esther Hautzig (previously known a ...

, Polish-born American autobiographer (born 1930) *

November 20 Events Pre-1600 * 284 – Diocletian is chosen as Roman emperor. * 762 – During the An Shi Rebellion, the Tang dynasty, with the help of Huihe tribe, recaptures Luoyang from the rebels. *1194 – Palermo is conquered by Henr ...

–

Naomi Frankel Naomi Frankel (20 November 1918 – 20 November 2009), also spelled Fraenkel and Frenkel, was a German-Israeli novelist. Born in Berlin, she was evacuated to Mandatory Palestine with other German-Jewish children in 1933. She became a member of Ki ...

, German-born Israeli novelist (born

) * November 29 – Robert Holdstock, English fantasy novelist (born

)

* November 30 –

Milorad Pavić Milorad Pavić ( sr-Cyrl, Милорад Павић, ; 15 October 1929 – 30 November 2009) was a Serbian novelist, poet, short story writer, and literary historian. Born in Belgrade in 1929, he published a number of poems, short stories ...

, Serbian writer (born 1929) * December 2 – Elizabeth Berridge, British novelist (born 1919) * December 5 –

William Lederer William Julius Lederer, Jr. (March 31, 1912 – December 5, 2009) was an American author and naval officer. Biography U.S. Navy service After dropping out of high school, Lederer enlisted in the United States Navy in 1930. He graduated from ...

, American author (born

) * December 7 ** Carlene Hatcher Polite, American novelist (born

) ** Pyotr Vail, Latvian-born Russian essayist and journalist (born

) * December 13 – Julian Fane, British author (born

) *

December 15 Events Pre-1600 * 533 – Vandalic War: Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Tricamarum. * 687 – Pope Sergius I is elected as a compromise between antipopes Paschal and Theodo ...

– C. D. B. Bryan, American author (born 1936) * December 19 – Loren Singer, American novelist (born 1923) * December 20 – Vera Rich, English poet and journalist (born 1936) Vera_Rich

* December 23 – Grigory Baklanov, Russian novelist (born 1923) * December 25 **

Vrindavanam Venugopalan Vrindavanam Venugopalan (24 October 1935 – 25 December 2009) was an Indian journalist, educationist and writer who wrote in both Malayalam and English. Venugopalan was the editor of ''Viswakeralam Daily'', and an acclaimed biographer. He ...

, Indian journalist (born

) **(or 24th)

Rachel Wetzsteon Rachel Todd Wetzsteon (; November 25, 1967 – December 24/25?, 2009) was an American poet. Life Born in New York City, New York, the daughter of editor and critic Ross Wetzsteon, she graduated from Yale University in 1989 where she studied with ...

, American poet (suicide; born 1967) * December 26 **

Dennis Brutus Dennis Vincent Brutus (28 November 1924 – 26 December 2009) was a South African activist, educator, journalist and poet best known for his campaign to have South Africa banned from the Olympic Games due to its racial policy of apartheid. ...

, South African poet (born

) **

Norval White Norval Crawford White (June 12, 1926 – December 26, 2009) was an American architect, architectural historian and professor. He designed buildings throughout the U.S., but he is best known for his writing, particularly the ''AIA Guide to New Yor ...

, American author (born 1926) *

December 30 Events Pre-1600 *534 – The second and final edition of the Code of Justinian comes into effect in the Byzantine Empire. *999 – Battle of Glenmama: The combined forces of Munster and Meath under king Brian Boru inflict a crushi ...

– Jacqueline Sturm, New Zealand poet and writer (born

)

Awards

: Herta Müller

Australia

Miles Franklin Award The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin (1879–1 ...

: Tim Winton, ''

Breath Breathing (or ventilation) is the process of moving air into and from the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen. All aerobic creatures need oxygen for cellu ...

Canada

* Canada Reads: Lawrence Hill, '' The Book of Negroes'' *

Dayne Ogilvie Prize The Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by the Writers' Trust of Canada to an emerging Canadian writer who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer community. Origina ...

: Main award,

Debra Anderson Debra Anderson is a Canadian writer, who won the 2009 Dayne Ogilvie Prize from the Writers' Trust of Canada for an emerging lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender writer.Greg Kearney Greg Kearney is a Canadian writer. He was a humour columnist for ''Xtra!'' from 1999 to 2005, and published his debut short story collection ''Mommy Daddy Baby'' in 2004. Born in Kenora, Ontario,Edna Staebler Award for

Creative Non-Fiction Creative nonfiction (also known as literary nonfiction or narrative nonfiction or literary journalism or verfabula) is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contra ...

: Russell Wangersky, ''Burning Down the House: Fighting Fires and Losing Myself, Burning Down the House'' *Governor General's Awards: Multiple categories; see 2009 Governor General's Awards. *Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction: Brian Brett, ''Trauma Farm: A Rebel History of Rural Life'' *Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize: Annabel Lyon, ''The Golden Mean'' * Scotiabank Giller Prize: Linden MacIntyre, '' The Bishop's Man'' *Writers' Trust Engel/Findley Award: David Bergen

France

*Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française: Pierre Michon, ''Les Onze''

Sweden

*Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award: Tamer Institute for Community Education

United Kingdom

*Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year: ''Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes'', Daina Taimina *Caine Prize for African Writing: E. C. Osondu, "Waiting" *Carnegie Medal (literary award), Carnegie Medal for children's literature: Siobhan Dowd, ''Bog Child'' *Man Booker Prize: Hilary Mantel, ''Wolf Hall'' *Orange Prize for Fiction: to ''Home (Robinson novel), Home'' by Marilynne Robinson

United States

*Lambda Literary Awards: Multiple categories; see 2009 Lambda Literary Awards. *National Book Award for Fiction: Colum McCann, ''Let the Great World Spin'' *National Book Critics Circle Award: Hilary Mantel, ''Wolf Hall'' *National Book Critics Circle Award for General Nonfiction: Richard Holmes (biographer), Richard Holmes, ''The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science'' *Newbery Medal for children's literature:

, ''The Graveyard Book'' *PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction: Joseph O'Neill (born 1964), Joseph O'Neill, ''Netherland (novel), Netherland'' *Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: Elizabeth Strout, ''Olive Kitteridge'' *Whiting Awards: Fiction: Adam Johnson (writer), Adam Johnson, Nami Mun, Salvatore Scibona, Vu Tran; Nonfiction: Michael Meyer (travel writer), Michael Meyer, Hugh Raffles; Plays: Rajiv Joseph; Poetry: Jericho Brown, Jay Hopler, Joan Kane

Elsewhere

*Camões Prize: Arménio Vieira *European Book Prize: Mariusz Szczygieł, ''Gottland'' and Sylvie Goulard, ''L'Europe pour les Nuls'' *David Cohen Prize: Seamus Heaney *International Dublin Literary Award: Michael Thomas (Man Gone Down author), Michael Thomas, ''Man Gone Down'' *International Prize for Arabic Fiction: Youssef Ziedan, ''Azazel'' *SAARC Literary Award: Jayanta Mahapatra, Uday Prakash, Kamaal Khan

Notes

References

2009, Literature {{Year in literature article categories 2009 books, Years of the 21st century in literature

Events

New books

Fiction

Genre fiction

Children and young people

Drama

Poetry

Non-fiction

Deaths

Awards

Australia

Canada

France

Sweden

United Kingdom

United States

Elsewhere

See also

Notes

References