This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1938.

Events

*January **The

John Dos Passos John Roderigo Dos Passos (; January 14, 1896 – September 28, 1970) was an American novelist, most notable for his U.S.A. (trilogy), ''U.S.A.'' trilogy. Born in Chicago, Dos Passos graduated from Harvard College in 1916. He traveled widely as a ...

trilogy '' U.S.A.'' is published, containing his novels '' The 42nd Parallel'' (1930), ''

1919 Events January * January 1 ** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (later Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia. ** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off th ...

'' (1932), and '' The Big Money'' (1936). **

Samuel Beckett Samuel Barclay Beckett (; 13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish writer of novels, plays, short stories, and poems. Writing in both English and French, his literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal, and Tragicomedy, tra ...

is stabbed in the chest in Paris and nearly killed. *

February 21 Events Pre-1600 * 452 or 453 – Severianus, Bishop of Scythopolis, is martyred in Palestine. * 1245 – Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland, is granted resignation after confessing to torture and forgery. * 1440 – The ...

– The gay American writer and composer

Paul Bowles Paul Frederic Bowles (; December 30, 1910November 18, 1999) was an American expatriate composer, author, and translator. He became associated with the Moroccan city of Tangier, where he settled in 1947 and lived for 52 years to the end of his ...

marries the lesbian American writer Jane Auer at a

Reformed Church Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyterian, ...

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

. *

March 7 Events Pre-1600 * 161 – Marcus Aurelius and L. Commodus (who changes his name to Lucius Verus) become joint emperors of Rome on the death of Antoninus Pius. * 1138 – Konrad III von Hohenstaufen was elected king of Germany at Cobl ...

– Samuel Beckett's first completed novel '' Murphy'' is published in London. *

July 11 Events Pre-1600 * 813 – Byzantine emperor Michael I, under threat by conspiracies, abdicates in favor of his general Leo the Armenian, and becomes a monk (under the name Athanasius). * 911 – Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair ...

– The first live drama adaptation in

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

' ''

The Mercury Theatre on the Air ''The Mercury Theatre on the Air'' is a radio series of live radio dramas created and hosted by Orson Welles. The weekly hour-long show presented classic literary works performed by Welles's celebrated Mercury Theatre repertory company, with mus ...

'' series on CBS Radio in the United States is broadcast:

Bram Stoker Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912), better known by his pen name Bram Stoker, was an Irish novelist who wrote the 1897 Gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. The book is widely considered a milestone in Vampire fiction, and one of t ...

's ''

Dracula ''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...

''. *August –

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

s protest in London against passages they see as disrespectful to their religion in

H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, hist ...

' '' A Short History of the World'' (1922). * September 13 – The first production in Britain of a play by

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known as Bertolt Brecht and Bert Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a p ...

, '' Mrs Carrar's Rifles'', opens at the Unity Theatre, London. *

October 30 Events Pre-1600 * 637 – Arab–Byzantine wars: Antioch surrenders to the Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of the Iron Bridge. * 758 – Guangzhou is sacked by Arab and Persian pirates. * 1137 – Ranulf of Apulia defeats Ro ...

–

' radio adaptation of ''The War of the Worlds'' (with script by Howard Koch) is broadcast in ''The Mercury Theatre on the Air'' series. *

December 24 Events Pre-1600 * 502 – Chinese emperor Xiao Yan names Xiao Tong his heir designate. * 640 – Pope John IV is elected, several months after his predecessor's death. * 759 – Tang dynasty poet Du Fu departs for Chengd ...

–

Jorge Luis Borges Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo ( ; ; 24 August 1899 – 14 June 1986) was an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator regarded as a key figure in Spanish literature, Spanish-language and international literatur ...

is injured in an accident and develops blood poisoning. While recovering the following year he will write the first short story in his later characteristic style. *''Uncertain dates'' **The first complete performance of both parts of

Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

's ''

Faust Faust ( , ) is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a ...

'' (

1808 Events January–March * January 1 ** The importation of slaves into the United States is formally banned, as the 1807 Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves takes effect. However Americans still continue the slave trade by transpor ...

/ 32) is given at the

Goetheanum The Goetheanum, located in Dornach, in the canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, is the world center for the Anthroposophy, anthroposophical movement. The term refers to two structures, the first was in use 1919 to 1922 and destroyed by fire; the sec ...

in Dornach, Switzerland. **The avant-garde musician and theoretician

Pierre Schaeffer Pierre Henri Marie Schaeffer (English pronunciation: , ; 14 August 1910 – 19 August 1995) was a French composer, writer, broadcaster, engineer, musicologist, acoustician and founder of Groupe de Recherche de Musique Concrète (GRMC). His inno ...

begins his writing career as an essayist for a number of French musical journals.

New books

Fiction

* Margery Allingham – '' The Fashion in Shrouds'' *

Eric Ambler Eric Clifford Ambler OBE (28 June 1909 – 23 October 1998) was an English author of thrillers, in particular spy novels, who introduced a new realism to the genre. Also working as a screenwriter, Ambler used the pseudonym Eliot Reed for books ...

**'' Cause for Alarm'' **'' Epitaph for a Spy'' * Vladimir Bartol – '' Alamut'' * Anthony Berkeley – '' Not to Be Taken'' *

Elizabeth Bowen Elizabeth Dorothea Cole Bowen ( ; 7 June 1899 – 22 February 1973) was an Anglo-Irish people, Anglo-Irish novelist and short story writer notable for her books about "The Big House in Ireland, the Big House" of Irish Landed gentry, landed ...

– '' The Death of the Heart'' * Dorothy Bowers – ''Postscript to Poison'' * Lynn Brock – '' The Silver Sickle Case'' *

Edgar Rice Burroughs Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 – March 19, 1950) was an American writer, best known for his prolific output in the adventure, science fiction, and fantasy genres. Best known for creating the characters Tarzan (who appeared in ...

– '' Tarzan and the Forbidden City'' * Taylor Caldwell – '' Dynasty of Death'' * Victor Canning – '' Mr. Finchley Goes to Paris'' * John Dickson Carr **'' The Four False Weapons, Being the Return of Bencolin'' **'' To Wake the Dead'' **'' The Crooked Hinge'' **'' The Judas Window'' (as Carter Dickson) **'' Death in Five Boxes'' (as Carter Dickson) * Peter Cheyney ** '' Can Ladies Kill?'' ** '' The Urgent Hangman'' *

Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English people, English author known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving ...

**'' Hercule Poirot's Christmas'' **'' Appointment with Death'' * Albert Cohen – '' Nailcruncher'' * Freeman Wills Crofts **'' Antidote to Venom'' **'' The End of Andrew Harrison'' * J.J. Connington ** '' For Murder Will Speak'' ** '' Truth Comes Limping'' * René Daumal – '' A Night of Serious Drinking (La Grande Beuverie)'' *

Cecil Day-Lewis Cecil Day-Lewis (or Day Lewis; 27 April 1904 – 22 May 1972), often written as C. Day-Lewis, was an Anglo-Irish poet and Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1968 until his death in 1972. He also wrote mystery stories under the pseudony ...

– '' The Beast Must Die'' *

– ''The Big Money'' (completing the ''U.S.A.'' trilogy) *

Daphne du Maurier Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning, (; 13 May 1907 – 19 April 1989) was an English novelist, biographer and playwright. Her parents were actor-manager Gerald du Maurier, Sir Gerald du Maurier and his wife, actress Muriel Beaumont. Her gra ...

– ''

Rebecca Rebecca () appears in the Hebrew Bible as the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. According to biblical tradition, Rebecca's father was Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram, also called Aram-Naharaim. Rebecca's brother was Laban (Bi ...

'' *

Lawrence Durrell Lawrence George Durrell (; 27 February 1912 – 7 November 1990) was an expatriate British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer. He was the eldest brother of naturalist and writer Gerald Durrell. Born in India to British colonial pa ...

– '' The Black Book'' *

Mircea Eliade Mircea Eliade (; – April 22, 1986) was a Romanian History of religion, historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago. One of the most influential scholars of religion of the 20th century and in ...

– '' Marriage in Heaven (Nuntă în cer)'' *

William Faulkner William Cuthbert Faulkner (; September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was an American writer. He is best known for William Faulkner bibliography, his novels and short stories set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, a stand-in fo ...

– '' The Unvanquished'' * Rachel Field – '' All This and Heaven Too'' * C. S. Forester **'' A Ship of the Line'' **'' Flying Colours'' * Anthony Gilbert – '' Treason in My Breast'' *

Julien Gracq Julien Gracq (; born Louis Poirier; 27 July 1910 – 22 December 2007) was a French writer. He wrote novels, critiques, a play, and poetry. His literary works were noted for their dreamlike abstraction, elegant style and refined vocabulary. He ...

– '' The Castle of Argol (Au château d'Argol)'' *

Robert Graves Captain Robert von Ranke Graves (24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985) was an English poet, soldier, historical novelist and critic. His father was Alfred Perceval Graves, a celebrated Irish poet and figure in the Gaelic revival; they were b ...

– '' Count Belisarius'' *

Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a re ...

– '' Brighton Rock'' *

Walter Greenwood Walter Greenwood (17 December 1903 – 13 September 1974) was an English novelist, best known for the socially influential novel '' Love on the Dole'' (1933). Early life Greenwood was born at 56 Ellor Street, his father's house and hairdr ...

** '' Only Mugs Work'' ** '' The Secret Kingdom'' * Cyril Hare – '' Death Is No Sportsman'' * Xavier Herbert – '' Capricornia'' * Robin Hyde – ''The Godwits Fly'' (semi-autobiographical) * Michael Innes – '' Lament for a Maker'' * Margaret Kennedy – '' The Midas Touch'' * Alan Kennington – '' She Died Young'' *

Emilio Lussu Emilio Lussu (4 December 1890 – 5 March 1975) was a Sardinian people, Sardinian and Italian writer, anti-fascist intellectual, military officer, Italian resistance movement, partisan, and politician. He is also the author of the novel ''One Yea ...

– ''Un anno sull'altopiano'' *

C. S. Lewis Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer, literary scholar and Anglican lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Magdalen College, Oxford (1925–1954), and Magdalen ...

– '' Out of the Silent Planet'' *

Norman Lindsay Norman Alfred William Lindsay (22 February 1879 – 21 November 1969) was an Australian artist, etcher, sculptor, writer, art critic, novelist, cartoonist and amateur boxing, boxer. One of the most prolific and popular Australian artists of hi ...

– ''Age of Consent'' *

Ngaio Marsh Dame Edith Ngaio Marsh ( ; 23 April 1895 – 18 February 1982) was a New Zealand mystery writer, writer. As a crime writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Marsh is known as one of the Detective fiction#Golden Age detective novel ...

** '' Artists in Crime'' ** '' Death in a White Tie'' * Gladys Mitchell – '' St Peter's Finger'' *

Vladimir Nabokov Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov ( ; 2 July 1977), also known by the pen name Vladimir Sirin (), was a Russian and American novelist, poet, translator, and entomologist. Born in Imperial Russia in 1899, Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Rus ...

**'' The Gift'' (Дар) **'' Invitation to a Beheading'' (Приглашение на казнь; serialization concludes) * E. Phillips Oppenheim – '' The Colossus of Arcadia'' * Kate O'Brien – ''Pray for the Wanderer'' *

John O'Hara John Henry O'Hara (January 31, 1905 – April 11, 1970) was an American writer. He was one of America's most prolific writers of Short story, short stories, credited with helping to invent ''The New Yorker'' magazine short story style.John O'H ...

– ''Hope of Heaven'' *

Ellery Queen Ellery Queen is a pseudonym created in 1928 by the American detective fiction writers Frederic Dannay (1905–1982) and Manfred Bennington Lee (1905–1971). It is also the name of their main fictional detective, a mystery writer in New York City ...

**'' The Devil to Pay'' **'' The Four of Hearts'' * Graciliano Ramos – '' Vidas Secas (Barren Lives)'' *

Ayn Rand Alice O'Connor (born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum; , 1905March 6, 1982), better known by her pen name Ayn Rand (), was a Russian-born American writer and philosopher. She is known for her fiction and for developing a philosophical system which s ...

– ''

Anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...

'' * Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings – ''

The Yearling ''The Yearling'' is a novel by American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, published in March 1938. It was the main selection of the Book of the Month Club in April 1938. It won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for the Novel. It was the best-selling ...

'' * Clayton Rawson – '' Death from a Top Hat'' * Joseph Roth – '' The Emperor's Tomb'' *

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary criticism, literary critic, considered a leading figure in 20th ...

– ''

Nausea Nausea is a diffuse sensation of unease and discomfort, sometimes perceived as an urge to vomit. It can be a debilitating symptom if prolonged and has been described as placing discomfort on the chest, abdomen, or back of the throat. Over 30 d ...

(La Nausée)'' *

Georges Simenon Georges Joseph Christian Simenon (; 12/13 February 1903 – 4 September 1989) was a Belgian writer who created the fictional detective Jules Maigret. One of the most prolific and successful authors of the 20th century, he published around 400 ...

** '' The Man Who Watched the Trains Go By'' ** '' Marie of the Port'' * Esphyr Slobodkina – '' Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business'' * Eleanor Smith – '' The Spanish House'' * Howard Spring – '' My Son, My Son'' *

John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck ( ; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social percep ...

– '' The Long Valley'' * Rex Stout – '' Too Many Cooks'' * Cecil Street ** '' The Bloody Tower'' ** '' Death at Low Tide'' ** '' Invisible Weapons'' * Kressmann Taylor – ''Address Unknown'' (short story) * Phoebe Atwood Taylor **''The Annulet of Gilt'' **''Banbury Bog'' **'' The Cut Direct'' (as by Alice Tilton) **'' Murder at the New York World's Fair'' (as by Freeman Dana) * B. Traven – ''The Bridge in the Jungle'' * S. S. Van Dine – '' The Gracie Allen Murder Case'' * – '' Na krásné samotě'' * Henry Wade – '' Released for Death'' * Winifred Watson – '' Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day'' *

Evelyn Waugh Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (; 28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires ''Decli ...

– ''

Scoop Scoop, Scoops or The Scoop may refer to: Artefacts * Scoop (machine part), a component of machinery to carry things * Scoop (tool), a shovel-like tool, particularly one deep and curved, used in digging * Scoop (theater), a type of wide area l ...

'' * Ethel Lina White – '' Step in the Dark'' * T. H. White – '' The Sword in the Stone'' * Gale Wilhelm – '' Torchlight to Valhalla'' * Francis Brett Young – '' Dr. Bradley Remembers''

Children and young people

*BB (

Denys Watkins-Pitchford Denys James Watkins-Pitchford Order of the British Empire, MBE (25 July 1905 – 8 September 1990) was an English naturalist, artist and author under the pen name 'BB'. He won the 1942 Carnegie Medal for Writing, Carnegie Medal for ''The Little G ...

) – ''Wild Lone: The Story of a Pytchley Fox'' * Claire Huchet Bishop – '' The Five Chinese Brothers'' *

Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Her books are still enormously popular and have been tra ...

– '' The Secret Island'' * Eleanor Graham – ''The Children Who Lived in a Barn'' * Joan Kahn – ''"Ladies and Gentlemen," said the Ringmaster'' * Eric Knight – '' Lassie Come-Home'' * Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings – ''

'' *

Kate Seredy Kate Seredy (November 10, 1899 – March 7, 1975) was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She won the Newbery Medal once, the Newbery Honor twice, the Caldecott Honor once, and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Most of her bo ...

– '' The White Stag'' * Noel Streatfeild – '' The Circus Is Coming'' * T. H. White – ''The Sword in the Stone'' * John F. C. Westerman – ''John Wentley Takes Charge'' (first in the John Wentley trilogy) * Ursula Moray Williams – ''Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse''

Drama

Jean Anouilh Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh (; ; 23 June 1910 – 3 October 1987) was a French dramatist and screenwriter whose career spanned five decades. Though his work ranged from high drama to absurdist farce, Anouilh is best known for his 1944 play ...

– '' Thieves' Carnival'' (''Le Bal des Voleurs'') *

Robert Ardrey Robert Ardrey (October 16, 1908 – January 14, 1980) was an American playwright, screenwriter and science writing, science writer perhaps best known for ''The Territorial Imperative'' (1966). After a Broadway (theatre), Broadway and Cinema of th ...

– '' Casey Jones'' * Max Catto – '' They Walk Alone'' *

Paul Claudel Paul Claudel (; 6 August 1868 – 23 February 1955) was a French poet, dramatist and diplomat, and the younger brother of the sculptor Camille Claudel. He was most famous for his verse dramas, which often convey his devout Catholicism. Early lif ...

– '' L'Histoire de Tobie et de Sara'' (''The History of Tobit and Sara'', first version) * M. J. Farrell – '' Spring Meeting'' * Patrick Hamilton – '' Gaslight'' * H.M. Harwood – '' The Innocent Party'' * Esther McCracken – '' Quiet Wedding'' * Kaj Munk – ''Han sidder ved Smeltediglen'' (He sits by the melting pot) * Michael Pertwee – '' Death on the Table'' * J. B. Priestley – '' When We Are Married'' * Gordon Sherry – '' The Bare Idea'' * Robert E. Sherwood – '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' *

Dodie Smith Dorothy Gladys "Dodie" Smith (3 May 1896 – 24 November 1990) was an English novelist and playwright. She is best known for writing '' I Capture the Castle'' (1948) and the children's novel '' The Hundred and One Dalmatians'' (1956). Other work ...

– '' Dear Octopus'' *

Stephen Spender Sir Stephen Harold Spender (28 February 1909 – 16 July 1995) was an English poet, novelist and essayist whose work concentrated on themes of social injustice and the class struggle. He was appointed U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry ...

– ''Trial of a Judge'' * Lesley Storm – '' Tony Draws a Horse'' * Arnold Sundgaard **''Spirochete: A History'' ** with

Marc Connelly Marcus Cook Connelly (December 13, 1890 – December 21, 1980) was an American playwright, director, producer, performer, and lyricist. He was a key member of the Algonquin Round Table, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1930. Biogra ...

– ''Everywhere I Roam'' * Rodolfo Usigli – '' El gesticulador'' * Theodore Ward – '' Big White Fog'' *

Thornton Wilder Thornton Niven Wilder (April 17, 1897 – December 7, 1975) was an American playwright and novelist. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, for the novel ''The Bridge of San Luis Rey'' and for the plays ''Our Town'' and ''The Skin of Our Teeth'', and a U. ...

– '' Our Town'' *

Emlyn Williams George Emlyn Williams, CBE (26 November 1905 – 25 September 1987) was a Welsh writer, dramatist and actor. Early life Williams was born into a Welsh-speaking, working class family at 1 Jones Terrace, Pen-y-ffordd, Ffynnongroyw, Flintshi ...

– ''

The Corn is Green ''The Corn Is Green'' is a 1938 semi-autobiographical play by Welsh dramatist and actor Emlyn Williams. The play premiered in London at the Duchess Theatre in September 1938; with Sybil Thorndike as Miss Moffat and Williams himself portraying Mo ...

'' *

Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the three ...

– '' Not About Nightingales'' (written; first performed 1998) *

W. B. Yeats William Butler Yeats (, 13 June 186528 January 1939), popularly known as W. B. Yeats, was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer, and literary critic who was one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the ...

– ''

Purgatory In Christianity, Purgatory (, borrowed into English language, English via Anglo-Norman language, Anglo-Norman and Old French) is a passing Intermediate state (Christianity), intermediate state after physical death for purifying or purging a soul ...

Poetry

* Alfred Kreymborg – '' The Planets: A Modern Allegory'' (radio play in verse) *Mary Pettibone Poole – '' A Glass Eye at a Keyhole''

Non-fiction

* Crane Brinton – '' The Anatomy of Revolution'' *

Hall Caine Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine (14 May 1853 – 31 August 1931), usually known as Hall Caine, was a British novelist, dramatist, short story writer, poet and critic of the late 19th and early 20th century. Caine's popularity during his lifetim ...

(died 1931) – ''Life of Christ'' *

Cyril Connolly Cyril Vernon Connolly CBE (10 September 1903 – 26 November 1974) was an English literary critic and writer. He was the editor of the influential literary magazine ''Horizon (British magazine), Horizon'' (1940–49) and wrote ''Enemies of Pro ...

– '' Enemies of Promise'' * Geoffrey Faber – ''The Romance of a Bookshop 1904–1938'' * Robert Newton Flew – ''Jesus and His Church. A study of the idea of the Ecclesia in the New Testament'' * Edgar Innes Fripp (died 1931) – ''Shakespeare, Man and Artist'' * Elie Halévy – ''The Era of Tyrannies'' *

Johan Huizinga Johan Huizinga (; 7 December 1872 – 1 February 1945) was a Dutch historian and one of the founders of modern cultural history. Life Born in Groningen as the son of Dirk Huizinga, a professor of physiology, and Jacoba Tonkens, who died two ...

– '' Homo Ludens'' * Agnes Hunt – ''This Is My Life'' (autobiography of pioneer orthopedic nurse) * C. L. R. James – '' The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution'' * Claude Scudamore Jarvis – ''Desert and Delta. An account of modern Egypt'' * Jomo Kenyatta – '' Facing Mount Kenya'' *

Anne Morrow Lindbergh Anne Spencer Morrow Lindbergh (June 22, 1906 – February 7, 2001) was an American writer and aviator. She was the wife of decorated pioneer aviator Charles Lindbergh, with whom she made many exploratory flights. Raised in Englewood, New Jerse ...

– '' Listen! The Wind'' * Robert McAlmon – ''Being Geniuses Together, 1920–1930'' *

Thomas Mann Paul Thomas Mann ( , ; ; 6 June 1875 – 12 August 1955) was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. His highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novell ...

– '' The Coming Victory of Democracy'' *

George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950) was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to a ...

– ''

Homage to Catalonia ''Homage to Catalonia'' is a 1938 memoir by English writer George Orwell, in which he accounts his personal experiences and observations while fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Covering the period between December 1936 and June 1937, Orwell re ...

'' * Nichita Smochină – ''Republica Moldovenească a Sovietelor'' (The Moldavian Republic of Soviets) * Derek A. Traversi – ''An Approach to Shakespeare'' *

– '' World Brain'' *

Virginia Woolf Adeline Virginia Woolf (; ; 25 January 1882 28 March 1941) was an English writer and one of the most influential 20th-century modernist authors. She helped to pioneer the use of stream of consciousness narration as a literary device. Vir ...

– '' Three Guineas''

Births

January 2 Events Pre-1600 * 69 – The Roman legions in Germania Superior refuse to swear loyalty to Galba. They rebel and proclaim Vitellius as emperor. * 366 – The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Emp ...

– Hans Herbjørnsrud, Norwegian short story writer (died

2023 Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...

) *

January 5 Events Pre-1600 * 1477 – Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is defeated and killed in a conflict with René II, Duke of Lorraine; Burgundy subsequently becomes part of France. 1601–1900 * 1675 – Battle of Colmar: The French ...

–

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (; born James Ngugi; 5January 193828May 2025) was a Kenyan author and academic, who has been described as East Africa's leading novelist and an important figure in modern African literature. Ngũgĩ wrote primarily in Eng ...

(also known as James Ngigi), Kenyan novelist (died

2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...

) *

January 6 Events Pre-1600 * 1066 – Following the death of Edward the Confessor on the previous day, the Witan meets to confirm Harold Godwinson as the new King of England; Harold is crowned the same day, sparking a succession crisis that will ...

– Mario Rodríguez Cobos ("Silo"), Argentine author and spiritualist (died

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

) *

January 13 Events Pre-1600 * 27 BC – Octavian transfers the state to the free disposal of the Roman Senate and the people. He receives Spain, Gaul, and Syria as his province for ten years. * 532 – The Nika riots break out, during the ra ...

– Nabaneeta Dev Sen, Indian novelist, children's author and poet (died

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

) *

January 20 Events Pre-1600 * 250 – Pope Fabian is martyred during the Decian persecution. *1156 – Finnish peasant Lalli kills English clergyman Henry (bishop of Finland), Henry, the Bishop of Turku, on the ice of Köyliönjärvi, Lake Köyli� ...

– Liz Calder, English publisher and editor *

February 7 Events Pre-1600 * 457 – Leo I becomes the Eastern Roman emperor. * 987 – Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros, Byzantine generals of the military elite, begin a wide-scale rebellion against Emperor Basil II. * 1301 & ...

– Andrea Newman, English novelist and screenwriter (died

) *

February 9 Events Pre-1600 * 474 – Zeno (emperor), Zeno is crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire *1003 – Boleslaus III, Duke of Bohemia, Boleslaus III is restored to authority with armed support from Bolesław I ...

– Jovette Marchessault, French Canadian writer and artist (died

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

) *

February 12 Events Pre-1600 * 1096 – Pope Urban II confirms the foundation of the abbey of La Roë under Robert of Arbrissel as a community of canons regular. * 1404 – The Italian professor Galeazzo di Santa Sofia performed the first post- ...

** Judy Blume, American children's author ** Tor Obrestad, Norwegian novelist, poet and documentary writer (died

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

) *

February 22 Events Pre-1600 * 1076 – Having received a letter during the Lenten synod of 14–20 February demanding that he abdicate, Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. * 1316 – The Battle of Picotin, between Fer ...

–

Ishmael Reed Ishmael Scott Reed (born February 22, 1938) is an American poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, composer, playwright, editor and publisher known for his Satire, satirical works challenging American political culture. Perhaps his best-known wor ...

, American poet, essayist and novelist *

March 1 Events Pre-1600 * 509 BC – Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the first triumph of the Roman Republic after his victory over the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus at the Battle of Silva Arsia. * 293 – Emperor Diocleti ...

– Michael Kurland, American author of sci-fi and detective fiction *

March 14 Events Pre-1600 * 1074 – Battle of Mogyoród: Dukes Géza and Ladislaus defeat their cousin Solomon, King of Hungary, forcing him to flee to Hungary's western borderland. * 1590 – Battle of Ivry: Henry of Navarre and the H ...

– Eleanor Bron, English humorous writer and actress *

March 24 Events Pre-1600 *1199 – King Richard I of England is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting in France, leading to his death on April 6. * 1387 – English victory over a Franco- Castilian- Flemish fleet in the Battle of Margat ...

– Ian Hamilton, English critic, biographer and poet (died

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

) *

March 27 Events Pre-1600 * 1309 – Pope Clement V imposes excommunication and interdiction on Venice, and a general prohibition of all commercial intercourse with Venice, which had seized Ferrara, a papal fiefdom. * 1329 – Pope John XXII ...

– Hansjörg Schneider, Swiss novelist (died

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

) *

April 20 Events Pre-1600 * 1303 – The Sapienza University of Rome is instituted by a bull of Pope Boniface VIII. 1601–1900 * 1653 – Oliver Cromwell dissolves England's Rump Parliament. * 1657 – English Admiral Robert Blake destroy ...

– Chiung Yao, Taiwanese romance novelist (died

2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...

) * April 25 – John Nagenda, Ugandan writer and sportsman (died

) *

April 30 Events Pre-1600 * 311 – The Diocletianic Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire ends. * 1315 – Enguerrand de Marigny is hanged at the instigation of Charles, Count of Valois. *1492 – Spain gives Christopher Columbus ...

–

Larry Niven Laurence van Cott Niven (; born April 30, 1938) is an American science fiction writer. His 1970 novel ''Ringworld'' won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, Hugo, Locus Award, Locus, Ditmar Award, Ditmar, and Nebula Award for Best Novel, Nebula award ...

, American sci-fi author *

May 13 Events Pre-1600 * 1344 – A Latin Christian fleet defeats a Turkish fleet in the battle of Pallene during the Smyrniote crusades. *1373 – Julian of Norwich has visions of Jesus while suffering from a life-threatening illness, v ...

– Norma Klein, American author (died

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

) *

May 15 Events Pre-1600 * 221 – Liu Bei, Chinese warlord, proclaims himself emperor of Shu Han, the successor of the Han dynasty. * 392 – Emperor Valentinian II is assassinated while advancing into Gaul against the Frankish usurpe ...

– Nancy Garden, American author (died

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

) *

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. *13 ...

– Marco Aurelio Denegri, Peruvian literature critic, television host and sexologist (died

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

) *

May 25 Events Pre-1600 * 567 BC – Servius Tullius, the king of Rome, celebrates a triumph for his victory over the Etruscans. * 240 BC – First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. * 1085 – Alfonso VI of Castile takes ...

Raymond Carver Raymond Clevie Carver Jr. (May 25, 1938 – August 2, 1988) was an American short story writer and poet. He published his first collection of stories, '' Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?'', in 1976. His breakout collection, '' What We Talk About ...

, American short-story writer and poet (died 1988) ** Margaret Forster, English novelist and biographer (died

) *

May 26 Events Pre-1600 * 17 – Germanicus celebrates a triumph in Rome for his victories over the Cherusci, Chatti, and other German tribes west of the Elbe. * 451 – Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sasanian Empire ta ...

– Lyudmila Petrushevskaya, Russian novelist and playwright * June 5 – M. K. Wren (Martha Kay Renfroe), American novelist (died

) *

June 16 Events Pre-1600 * 632 – Yazdegerd III ascends the throne as king (''shah'') of the Persian Empire. He becomes the last ruler of the Sasanian dynasty (modern Iran). *1407 – Ming–Hồ War: Retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son K ...

–

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 nonfiction. Her novels ''Black ...

, American novelist * June 24 – Lawrence Block, American crime fiction writer *June 26 – Maria Velho da Costa, Portuguese writer (died

) *July 15 – Josephine Cox, English novelist (died

) *July 19 **Nicholas Bethell, English historian and politician (died 2007 in literature, 2007) **Dom Moraes, Indian poet and columnist (died 2004 in literature, 2004) **Tom Raworth, English poet (died 2017 in literature, 2017) **Mary-Kay Wilmers, American-born editor *July 28 – Robert Hughes (critic), Robert Hughes, Australian critic and historian (died

) *August 15 – Janusz Zajdel, Polish writer (died 1985 in literature, 1985) *August 21 – Mudrooroo (Colin Johnson), Australian novelist (died

) *August 25 – Frederick Forsyth, English novelist (died

) *August 30 – Dorota Terakowska, Polish writer and journalist, author of fantasy books for children and young adults (died 2004 in literature, 2004) *September 3 – Caryl Churchill, English dramatist *September 12 – Richard Booth, Welsh bookseller (died

) *September 15 – Charles L. Mee, American dramatist *September 18 – Poornachandra Tejaswi, Kannada writer (died 2007 in literature, 2007) *September 19 – Keorapetse Kgositsile, South African Poet Laureate (died

) *October 12 – Anne Perry (Juliet Marion Hulme), English historical novelist (died

) *October 13 – Hugo Young, English journalist (died 2003 in literature, 2003) *October 17 – Les Murray (poet), Les Murray, Australian poet (died

) *October 19 – Allan Massie, Singapore-born Scottish writer *November 3 – Terrence McNally, American playwright (died

) *November 4 – Daniel Snowman, English non-fiction writer and historian *December 14 – Leonardo Boff (Genézio Darci Boff), Brazilian philosopher and theologian *December 21 – Frank Moorhouse, Australian journalist, author and screenwriter (died 2022 in literature, 2022) *December 31 – Basudeb Dasgupta, Bengali novelist (died 2005 in literature, 2005) *''unknown date'' – Gabriel Ruhumbika, Tanzanian novelist

Deaths

*January 4 – Paola Drigo, Italian writer (born 1876 in literature, 1876) *January 16 – Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (Sarat Chandra Chattergee), Bengali novelist (born 1876 in literature, 1876) *January 19 – Branislav Nušić, Serbian novelist and dramatist (born 1864 in literature, 1864) *January 29 – Armando Palacio Valdés, Spanish novelist and critic (born 1853 in literature, 1853) *February 13 – Momčilo Nastasijević, Serbian poet, novelist and dramatist (born 1894 in literature, 1894) *March 6 – Eva Allen Alberti, American dramatics teacher (born 1856 in literature, 1856) *

– Helen M. Winslow, American editor, author and publisher (born 1851 in literature, 1851) *March 31 – Willem Kloos, Dutch poet and critic (born 1859 in literature, 1859) *April 19 – Sir Henry Newbolt, English poet (born 1862 in literature, 1862) *April 21 – Lady Ottoline Morrell, English literary hostess (born 1873 in literature, 1873) *

– James Forbes (screenwriter), James Forbes, Canadian American dramatist and screenwriter (born 1871 in literature, 1871) *June 9 – Ovid Densusianu, Romanian poet, philologist, and literary historian (born 1873 in literature, 1873) *June 26 **James Weldon Johnson, American politician, poet and activist (born 1871 in literature, 1871) **E. V. Lucas, English essayist and biographer, 70 *July 21 – Owen Wister, American Western fiction writer and historian (born 1860 in literature, 1860) *August 7 – Konstantin Stanislavski, Russian theatre director (born 1863 in literature, 1863) *August 26 – Millosh Gjergj Nikolla, Albanian poet and writer (tuberculosis, born 1911 in literature, 1911) *September 15 – Thomas Wolfe, American novelist (tuberculosis, born 1900 in literature, 1900) *October 3 – Olivia Shakespear, British novelist, playwright and patron of the arts (born 1863) *October 27 – Lascelles Abercrombie, English poet and literary critic (born 1881 in literature, 1881) *December 13 – Virginia Frazer Boyle, American author and poet (born 1863 in literature, 1863) *December 23 – Robert Herrick (novelist), Robert Herrick, American realist novelist (born 1868 in literature, 1868) *December 25 – Karel Čapek, Czech science fiction author and dramatist (pneumonia, born 1890 in literature, 1890) *December 27 – Osip Mandelstam, Russian poet and essayist (in detention, born 1891 in literature, 1891)

Awards

*Carnegie Medal (literary award), Carnegie Medal for children's literature: Noel Streatfeild, '' The Circus Is Coming'' *Hawthornden Prize – David Jones (poet), David Jones, ''In Parenthesis'' *James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction: C. S. Forester, '' A Ship of the Line'' and '' Flying Colours'' *James Tait Black Memorial Prize for biography: Sir Edmund Chambers, ''Samuel Taylor Coleridge'' *Newbery Medal for children's literature:

, '' The White Stag'' *Newdigate prize: Michael Thwaites *Nobel Prize in Literature: Pearl S. Buck *Pulitzer Prize for Drama:

, '' Our Town'' *Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: Marya Zaturenska, ''Cold Morning Sky'' *Pulitzer Prize for the Novel: John Phillips Marquand, ''The Late George Apley''

References

{{Year in literature article categories