(1) Munshi Premchand
Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (1882 - 1936)
mostly known by his pen name Premchand, he was an Indian novelist short story
writer who is famous for his modern Hindustani
literature. Premchand is one of the Pioneer Hindi and Urdu social fictions.
Notable
literary works
(1) Godaan
(2) Karmanhoomi
(3) Maansarovar
(4) Idgah
(5) Shatranj ke Khiladi
Premchand
was one of the first writers in India to write about caste system and
conditions of women and laborers he is regarded as foremost Hindi writer of
early 20th century.
Munshi
Premchand began his carrier by publishing collection of five short stories
under the pen name of Nawab Rai but switched over to Premchand later on.
Although
Premchand written in Hindi language but his works are widely translated into
English. Even today Munshi Premchand considered as Upanyas Samrat (Emperor among the novelists) by Hindi writers.
(2) R. K Narayan
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayan
Swami (1906 to 2001) simply known as R.K Narayan was an Indian novelist, short
story writer mostly known for his witty short stories. Narayan was a leading
author of early Indian literature in English.
Notable
works
(1) Swami and Friends
(2) The Bachelor of Arts
(3) The English Teacher
(4) Thr Guide
(5) Malgudi Days
Narayan’s most famous works
highlights social context and everyday life, his short stories have been
compared to those of Guy de Maupassant.
Graham Greene who is Narayan’s
mentor and friend appreciated him and also helped Narayan to publish his first
four books.
Narayan is known for creating a
fictional town in South India called Malgudi
through his stories Narayan’s span of literary career is over 60 years in which
he won Sahitya Academy Award for his
Novel guide he also won Padma Bhushan and Padma vibhushan for his contribution
to the country.
Today he is considered as one of the
three greatest Indian English authors along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao.
(3) Ruskin Bond
Ruskin
Bond (1934 to present) is an Anglo Indian novelist and short story writer, Bond
has written more than 500 short stories essay and novels, he is also famous for
his children's books.
Notable
literary works
(1) The Room on the Roof
(2) Our trees still grow in Dehra
(3) A Flight of Pigeons
(4) The Blue Umbrella
Bond
was born in Punjab state, British India in British Family. He began his
literary career with his first novel ‘The Room on the Roof’ his most famous
work is ‘Our Trees Still Grows in Dehra’ got Sahitya Academy Award and Bond was
also awarded the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards.
Because
Ruskin Bond spend most of his life on hill stations, his works have also
influence on mountain life for example the ‘Room on the Roof’ is first novel in
which he shares his experience in Dehradun.
Bond
is also famous for his children's books his first children book was ‘Angry
River’ his works reflects his Anglo - Indian experiences political, social,
cultural aspects of India.
Ruskin
Bond is regarded as a ‘visual writer’ because he first imagine it like a film and
notes it down.
(4) Anton Chekhov
About the author
Anton
Chekhov was a Russian playwright and short story writer who is considered as
one of the greatest author in Literature. Chekhov was one of the pioneer of
early modernism in theatre. he won Pushkin Prize in Literature.
Notable works
(1) The Cherry
Orchard
(2) The Sea-Gull
(3) Three Sisters
(4) Uncle Vanya
Along
with Henrik Ibsen he is considered as a pioneer of early modern drama. Chekhov
produced 4 classic and many short stories. He was physician by profession but he
said that …
“ Medicine is my
lawful wife and literature is my mistress”
(5) O. Henry
William
Sydney Porter (1862 to 1910) better known by his pen name O Henry, was an
American writer famous for his short stories although also written some poetry
and non fiction.
Notable
works
(1) The Gift of Magi
(2) The Duplicity of Hargreaves
(3) The ransom of red chief
(4) Cabbages and Kings
(5) The Four Million
Porter’s
stories are best known for their naturalistic observation with witty narration
and surprise ending. Most of Porter’s stories set during 20th
century because of his obvious affection towards New York City called New York
as “Baghdad on the Subway” during his time he was called as answer to Guy de
Maupassant’s short stories.
Due
to Porter's heavy influence on English literature and Annual prize of O Henry Award given to outstanding
short stories.
(6) Michel de Montaigne
Michel
De Montaigne (1533 to 1592) also known as Lord Montaigne was one of the most
significant philosopher of the French Renaissance.
Notable
works
(1) Essais
(2) Travel Journal
(3) Of Cannibals
Montaigne
popularized the essay as a literary genre he is notable for its merging of
casual anecdotes and autobiography with intellectual insights.
During
his lifetime he is admired more as a statesmen rather than author. Many
literary critics considered him as a self indulge writer because of his
declaration "I am myself the matter of my book".
(7) Francis Bacon
Francis
Bacon (1561 to 16 26) also known as Lord
Verulam was an English philosopher and Statesman who also served as
attorney general and Lord of the chancellor of England.
Notable
works
(1) Novan Organum
(2) New Atlantis
(3) Collection of Essays
(4) The Adventures of learning
(5) The wisdom of Ancients
Bacon
was graduated from Trinity College - University of Cambridge, he is called as
the father of Empricism because his scientific theories like inducting
reasoning.
He
was fond of libraries and developed a system for cataloguing books under the
categories history, poetry and philosophy. Bacon's works remained influential
even in the last period of scientific revolution.
(8) Charles Lamb
Charles lamb (1775 - 1834) known by his
pen name, he was an English poet, essayist and best known for his ''Essays of
Elia'', The children's book - ''Tales from Shakespeare'' Lamb was Central
literary figure in English literature along with his contemporaries
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey, William Wordsworth and William Hazlit.
Charles lamb considered as most lovable figure in English literature by many critics.
Notable works
(1) Essays of
Elia
(2) The
Adventure of Ulysses
(3) Tales from
Shakespeare
(4) Blank verse,
poems
(5) The last
essays of Elia.
Lamb occupies a unique position in the history of English essays
although he began his literary career as a poet, he is remembered as the
greatest as a essayist today. Lamb is very important essayist in 19 century a
group of romantic essayists.
He is often called as the prince of
essays in England critics like Hugh Walker calls him essayist par excellence
who should be taken as a role model. Lamb is famous for his ability to charm
The Reader with the element of his self reflection in his essays.
Thus lamb's position in English
essay is unquestioned. His essays are the greatest contribution to this genre
of literature the unique charm of which lies in the bewitching personality of
the creative writer.
(9) William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt (1778 to
1830) was an English essayist, dramatist, literary critic and philosopher.
Hazlitt was also social commentator. He was one of the foremost the literary
critic of British literature.
Notable works
(1) Characters of
Shakespeare's play
(2) Table - Talk
(3) The Spirit of the age
(4) On personal character
(essay)
In today's time Hazlitt
is considered as greatest critics and essayist in the history of English
language. Hazlitt acknowledges as the finest art critic of Romanticism. Despite
highly stood among the historians of literature and art, his works are a little
read and out of print.
During 19th century he was the part of ‘literary
Cannon’ including Charles lamb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth and
John Keats.
(10) R. L Stevenson
Robert
Louis Stevenson (1850 – 1894) commonly known as R.L Stevenson was Scottish
novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer he was one of the prominent writers
of Victorian era.
Notable
works
(1) Treasure Island
(2) A child's Garden of Verses
(3) Kidnapped
(4) Strange case of D.r Jekyll and
M.r Hyde
Stevenson
was born and educated worked in Edinburgh. As a young man he introduced to
London literary circles and also travelled through Europe. His writing
initially was of romance and Adventure fictions but later on change to darker
realism in his last days.
Today
Stevenson's works are considered as General acclaims. In 2018 he was ranked
just behind Charles Dickens as the 26th most translated author in the world.
