Meet the Masterminds Behind the Most Influential Books with High-Quality Author Summaries

American novelist, poet, and journalist known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "A Death in the Family".

Marguerite Duras, modern French writer of novels, plays and essays; master of literary sensuality and psychological intensity.

Salman Rushdie is an acclaimed author, best known for his controversial novel "The Satanic Verses".

Flannery O'Connor is a Southern Gothic novelist acclaimed for her thoughtful critiques of modern culture and faith.

Grace Paley was an American short story writer, political activist, and teacher who wrote about life's hardships with wry wit and humor.

Legendary German authors of classic fairy tales and folktales, remembered for "Grimms' Fairy Tales".

Muriel Spark is a revered Scottish author with a clear, witty style, who wrote novels acclaimed for their wit and subtle political and social commentary.

John Crowley is an acclaimed novelist and short story writer, best known for poetic, philosophical works of speculative fiction.

Paul Scott is an acclaimed English novelist known for his sweeping saga "The Raj Quartet."

Numerous of Nathanael West's works examine the dark side of American life with wit and existential critique.

Rebecca West is a revolutionary 20th century British author renowned for her groundbreaking works on gender, history, and politics.

Mavis Gallant was a celebrated Canadian author noted for her short stories, essays, and memoirs.

William Trevor is a renowned Irish writer of stories, plays and novels, exploring the complexities of everyday life with compassion and wit.

Romantic poet, playwright, and literary critic influenced by imagination, emotion and supernaturalism.

Renaissance playwright Tennessee Williams transformed American theater with symbolic works of passion and tragedy.

Dashiell Hammett was an American author of crime fiction, best known for creating iconic characters, such as Sam Spade.

T.S. Eliot was a prominent poet and essayist, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his lyrical and critical works.

Julian Barnes is a renowned contemporary British author of novels, short stories and essays.

Thomas Carlyle was a social critic and historian known for his sardonic wit and influence on generations of thinkers.

Jaron Lanier is a renowned computer scientist and author, with knowledge on a multitude of emerging technologies.

Charles Portis is a celebrated American author known for his satirical works of fiction that blend comedy and adventure.

Crockett Johnson was a prolific and celebrated American cartoonist and children's book author.

Richard Nisbett is an esteemed psychologist and researcher, renowned for uncovering the complexities of human cognition.

Lee Ross is an acclaimed author of young adult and children's novels exploring difficult topics in inventive ways.