Great American Authors

Who Are the Most Famous American Authors?

1. Mark Twain

Birthdate: November 30, 1835

Birthplace: Florida, Missouri, United States
Died: April 21, 1910

Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in the now-abandoned village of

Florida, Mark Twain was the sixth child of Jane Lampton and John
Marshall Clemens.

Samuel left school after the fifth grade to start a printer

apprenticeship. He later received an honorary Doctorate of Letters
from the University of Oxford in 1907. Twain achieved acclaim and
money after writing humorous tall tales, like the Jumping Frog story
published in New York’s “The Saturday Press.”

Famous Works

 The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (1867)

 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)
 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)

2. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Birthdate: September 24, 1896

Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Died: December 21, 1940

His birth name was Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. He was the third
child of Mary McQuillan and Edward Fitzgerald.
Francis’ early education prepared him for a writing career, including
St. Paul Academy and Newman School. Those preparatory schools
were followed by Princeton University, although he left to join the
army during World War I.

His talent was nurtured and honed from a teen to an adult, as he

became one of the famous American authors of his generation.

Famous Works

 This Side of Paradise (1920)

 The Great Gatsby (1925)
 Tender is the Night (1934)

3. Ernest Hemingway
Birthdate: July 21, 1899
Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, United States
Died: July 2, 1961

Ernest Miller Hemingway’s mother (Grace Hall) was an opera singer,

and his father (Clarence Hemingway) was a physician. He was one
of six children they had.

Ernest attended Oak Park and River Forest High School before
joining the Red Cross during World War I. Hemingway became
injured on the Italian front, and his time during the war inspired A
Farewell to Arms.

Hemingway received the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature. He had

been nominated three times previously. It celebrated his influence
on contemporary writing, with The Old Man and the Sea cited as the
most recent example at the time.

Famous Works

 The Sun Also Rises (1926)

 A Farewell to Arms (1929)
 For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940)
4. Toni Morrison

Birthdate: February 18, 1931

Birthplace: Lorain, Ohio, United States
Died: August 5, 2019

Chloe Ardelia Morrison was one of four children of Ramah Willis and
George Wofford. She attended Lorain High School, where she
participated in the debate team, drama club, and the yearbook
staff.

Toni got her B.A. in English from Howard University and Master of
Arts from Cornell University. In 1967, Toni Morrison became the
first black woman editor for Random House’s fiction department.

She is one of the famous American authors to receive accolades in

her lifetime, including the National Book Critics Circle Award in
1977, the Pulitzer Prize in 1987, the Nobel Prize in Literature in
1993, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

Famous Works

 Sula (1973)
 Song of Solomon (1977)
 Beloved (1987)

5. J.D. Salinger

Birthdate: January 1, 1919

Birthplace: Manhatten, New York, United States
Died: January 27, 2010

Jerome David Salinger was one of two children for Marie Jillich and
Sol Salinger.
He attended public schools for several years before enrolling in the
preparatory McBurney School. Jerom later attended Pennsylvania’s
Valley Forge Military Academy, graduating in 1936.

The Catcher in the Rye has built a reputation as one of the greatest
novels of the last century. It is #15 on the BBC’s “The Big Read,”
while making both Time Magazine’s and Modern Library’s list of top
100 English novels of the 20th century.

Famous Works

 A Perfect Day for Bananafish (1948)

 The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
 Nine Stories (1953)

6. Edgar Allan Poe

Birthdate: January 19, 1809
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 7, 1849

Edgar’s parents were the actors Elizabeth Hopkins and David Poe.
He became orphaned when he was two and subsequently raised by
Frances and John Allan.

Poe attended the University of Virginia for one year, leaving

because of money issues. He later became a cadet at West Point but
left to pursue writing.

Poe is considered the first American writer that earned a living from
his written works. History looks back to him as one of the famous
American authors for his poetry, pioneering work in science fiction
and the invention of the detective fiction genre.

Famous Works

 The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841)

 Lenore (1843)
 The Raven (1845)
7. Nathaniel Hawthorne

Birthdate: July 4, 1804

Birthplace: Salem, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 19, 1864

Born to Elizabeth Clarke Manning and Nathaniel Hawthorne Sr., he

was one of three children.

After some primary education, Nathaniel’s uncle Robert supported

him financially to enter Bowdoin College. He graduated in 1825.
After school, Nathaniel Hawthorne became an editor to earn wages
while writing.

Hawthorne was elected Phi Beta Kappa in 1824, and he became a

well-received author during his lifetime. Accolades from critics and
other authors through the years have cemented his place as one of
America’s best authors, especially in dark romanticism.
Famous Works

 Twice Told Tales (1837)

 The Scarlet Letter, A Romance (1850)
 The House of the Seven Gables, A Romance (1851)

8. John Steinbeck

Birthdate: February 27, 1902

Birthplace: Salinas, California, United States
Died: December 20, 1968

John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. spent his younger years working on

ranches and in migrant fields, which inspired later literary works.
His mother (Olive Hamilton) was a school teacher, and his father
(John Ernst Steinbeck) was known as a county treasurer.
After graduating from Salinas High School, John attended Stanford
University near Palo Alto but did not graduate. Besides writing short
stories and novels, Steinbeck was also a war correspondent.

The Grapes of Wrath became a Pultizer Prize winner, and he is the

1962 Nobel Prize in Literature recipient.

Famous Works

 Of Mice and Men (1937)

 The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
 East of Eden (1952)

9. Harper Lee

Birthdate: April 28, 1926

Birthplace: Monroeville, Alabama, United States
Died: February 19, 2016
Nelle Harper Lee was born to Frances Cunningham and Amasa
Coleman Lee. She was the youngest of four children and is a
descendant of General Robert E. Lee.

Lee went to Huntingdon College before transferring to the University

of Alabama. She left one semester before graduating with a degree.

To Kill a Mockingbird made Harper Lee a 1961 Pulitzer Prize winner.

It became a literary American classic and contributed to her earning
the 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Famous Works

 To Kill a Mockingbird (1960)

 Love – In Other Words (1961)
 Go Set a Watchman (2015)
10. Herman Melville

Birthdate: August 1, 1819

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: September 28, 1891

Herman’s mother was Marie Gansevoort, and his father was Allen
Melvill. He was the third of eight children.

Melville attended several preparatory schools, where he was a good

speaker. Financial woes after his father’s death prevented him from
advancing further in his studies.
His legacy as a writer grew in importance during the 1980s, with
honors including works inducted into the Library of America and
release of United States Postal Service stamps.

Famous Works

 Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life (1846)

 Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (1851)
 Billy Budd, Sailor (An Inside Narrative) (1891, 1924)

11. Emily Dickinson

Birthdate: December 10, 1830

Birthplace: Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 15, 1886
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was the middle of three children, born to
Emily Norcross and Edward Dickinson.

Her education was heavily “classical” for a girl in the Victorian Era.
After primary schooling, she spent several years in Amherst
Academy.

Most of Dickinson’s works were published posthumously, leaving

accolades for future Americans to bestow. She is considered one of
the greatest poets, and her style and poetry is taught across the
country.

Famous Works

 I Felt a Funeral, In My Brain

 My Life Had Stood – A Loaded Gun
 Wild Nights – Wild Nights!

Giants of American Literature

A glance at the works attributed to these writers is enough to
include them on any list of famous American authors.

The diversity of backgrounds is a testament to the success of the

American Dream that these individuals put to paper. Here is to
hoping this list grows in the 21st century.

12. Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer was one of the best English poets of all time, considered a
father of English language and literature. Before the likes of Shakespeare,
Chaucer dominated the literary scene, most famous for his work 'The Canterbury
Tales'.

12. William Shakespear

1. Plays:
 Hamlet
 Romeo and Juliet
 Macbeth
 Othello
 King Lear
 Julius Caesar
 A Midsummer Night's Dream
 Much Ado About Nothing
 The Tempest
 Twelfth Night
2. Poetry:
 Sonnets (154 sonnets)
 Venus and Adonis
 The Rape of Lucrece
Shakespeare's works are celebrated for their poetic language, complex
characters, exploration of human nature, and universal themes that
continue to resonate with audiences around the world.

1. "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare:

 Summary: "Romeo and Juliet" is a tragic play that tells the story of two
young lovers from feuding families, the Montagues (Romeo's family) and
the Capulets (Juliet's family). Romeo and Juliet meet and fall deeply in love,
but their relationship is doomed by the enmity between their families. The
play explores themes of love, fate, and the consequences of hatred.
 Main Characters:
 Romeo: The son of Lord Montague, deeply in love with Juliet.
 Juliet: The daughter of Lord Capulet, deeply in love with Romeo.
 Friar Laurence: A Franciscan friar who marries Romeo and Juliet
secretly.
 Mercutio: Romeo's close friend, known for his wit and humor.
 Tybalt: Juliet's cousin, hot-headed and aggressive.
2. "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer:
 Summary: "The Canterbury Tales" is a collection of stories told by a group of
pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury. Each
pilgrim tells a tale, showcasing various genres and themes. The tales offer a
vivid portrait of medieval society.
 Main Characters: Various characters tell the tales, including the Knight, the
Wife of Bath, the Miller, the Pardoner, the Summoner, and the Host (Harry
Bailey), who facilitates the storytelling.
3. "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe:
 Summary: "The Raven" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a grieving
man who is visited by a mysterious raven late at night. The raven perches on
a bust of Pallas Athena and repeatedly utters the word "Nevermore," which
torments the narrator as he mourns the loss of his beloved Lenore.
 Main Characters:
 The Narrator: A grief-stricken man mourning the loss of Lenore.
 The Raven: A supernatural bird that speaks a single word,
"Nevermore."
4. "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare:
 Summary: "Hamlet" is a tragedy that follows Prince Hamlet of Denmark as
he seeks revenge against his uncle, King Claudius, who has murdered
 Hamlet's father (the previous king) and married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude.
The play delves into themes of revenge, madness, and mortality.
 Main Characters:
 Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, the protagonist.
 Claudius: Hamlet's uncle and the current king of Denmark.
 Gertrude: Hamlet's mother, now married to Claudius.
 Ophelia: Daughter of Polonius, Hamlet's love interest.
 Polonius: The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius's court, father of Ophelia
and Laertes.
5. "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare:
 Summary: "Macbeth" is a tragedy that tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish
general, who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become
king. Consumed by ambition and spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth,
Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne. Guilt and paranoia
plague Macbeth as he descends into tyranny.
 Main Characters:
 Macbeth: The ambitious protagonist who becomes King of Scotland.
 Lady Macbeth: Macbeth's wife, who manipulates him into
committing murder.
 Duncan: The King of Scotland, murdered by Macbeth.
 Banquo: Macbeth's friend and fellow general, whose descendants are
prophesied to inherit the throne.
 The Three Witches: Supernatural beings who prophesy Macbeth's
rise and downfall.
6. "Paradise Lost" by John Milton:
 Summary: "Paradise Lost" is an epic poem that retells the biblical story of
the Fall of Man, focusing on the rebellion of Satan and the expulsion of
Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
 Characters:
 Satan: The central antagonist of the poem, who leads a rebellion
against God.
 Adam: The first man created by God.
 Eve: The first woman, created from Adam's rib.
 God: The divine creator and authority figure in the poem.
7. "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes:
  Summary: "Don Quixote" is a novel about a middle-aged man named
Alonso Quixano who becomes obsessed with chivalrous ideals and sets out
on adventures as a self-proclaimed knight-errant, Don Quixote.
 Characters:
 Don Quixote: The main character, a dreamer who believes himself to
be a knight.
 Sancho Panza: Don Quixote's loyal squire, known for his down-to-
earth nature.
 Dulcinea del Toboso: Don Quixote's idealized love interest, based on a
real woman named Aldonza Lorenzo.
9. "The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri:
 Summary: "The Divine Comedy" is an epic poem that follows the journey of
Dante through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Heaven (Paradiso).
It explores themes of sin, redemption, and the afterlife.
 Characters:
 Dante Alighieri: The author and protagonist, who travels through the
realms guided by Virgil and later by Beatrice.
 Virgil: The Roman poet who serves as Dante's guide through Hell and
Purgatory.
 Beatrice: Dante's idealized love and guide through Heaven,
representing divine grace.
A) "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe:
11."Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe:
 Summary: "Annabel Lee" is a poem about a young couple deeply in love.
The death of the woman, Annabel Lee, causes the narrator's grief to
intensify.
 Characters:
 Annabel Lee: The narrator's beloved, who dies prematurely but
continues to be cherished by the narrator.
 The Narrator: The grieving lover who recounts the story of his lost
love.
12. "The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe:
 Summary: "The Bells" is a poem that explores the sounds and symbolism of
different types of bells, from cheerful to mournful, echoing the stages of
human life.
 Characters: The poem does not feature specific characters but uses bells as
symbolic elements of life's various stages.
13. "To Helen" by Edgar Allan Poe:
 Summary: "To Helen" is a poem that celebrates the beauty and allure of a
woman named Helen, often associated with Helen of Troy from Greek
mythology.
 Characters:
 Helen: The idealized figure symbolizing beauty and inspiration in the
poem.
 The Narrator: The poet expressing admiration and reverence for
Helen.

Teaching English Language:

1. Communicative Approach: Modern teaching methodologies emphasize the
importance of the communicative approach, which focuses on real-life
communication skills. Teachers facilitate interactive activities that promote
meaningful exchanges in English.
2. Language Skills Development: English language teaching aims to develop all
language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each skill is
integrated into lessons to ensure holistic language development.
3. Cultural Context: Language teaching incorporates cultural aspects to
enhance understanding and appreciation of English-speaking cultures
worldwide. This includes exposure to literature, media, and customs.
4. Use of Technology: Integrating technology into English language teaching
provides engaging resources and facilitates interactive learning. Educational
apps, multimedia materials, and online platforms support language
acquisition.
Assessment of English Language:
1. Formative Assessment: Ongoing assessment during instruction helps
monitor students' progress and provides feedback for improvement. It
includes activities like quizzes, discussions, and observations.
2. Summative Assessment: End-of-unit or end-of-term assessments evaluate
overall language proficiency. These can include standardized tests, projects,
presentations, or writing tasks.
3. Testing Language Skills: Assessments measure different language skills—
listening, speaking, reading, and writing—using appropriate testing formats
like multiple-choice, essays, interviews, or performance tasks.
4. Feedback and Reflection: Effective assessment provides constructive
feedback to learners, guiding them on areas for improvement. It
encourages reflection on learning strategies and language development.