John Hollander (born October 28, 1929) taught English to hear itself. A poet, critic, and scholar, he united intellect and melody, proving that poetry’s structure is not confinement but creation. Through form, rhythm, and reflection, Hollander revealed that English verse thinks musically — every echo a renewal of meaning and sound.
Birth of John Hollander (1929–2013) – The Architect of Form and Sound in Modern English Poetry
by Charles Baudelaire Two brand new translations of works by Charles Baudelaire. His seminal, controversial poetry collection, The Flowers of Evil, now acknowledged as one of the most important and influential poetry books ever – and Fanfarlo, Baudelaire’s only sustained work of prose fiction, an ironic self-portrait of a young man, a novella which shines […]
The Flowers of Evil and Fanfarlo
Born on October 27, 1914, Dylan Thomas redefined English poetry through rhythm, sound, and vision. His verse fused the musical and the mythic, transforming words into living music. From Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night to Under Milk Wood, he revived English as a language that sings, breathes, and feels.
Birth of Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) – The Voice That Made English Sing Again
Born on October 24, 1932, Adrian Mitchell transformed English poetry into a language of empathy and protest. With wit, rhythm, and moral fire, he restored poetry’s voice to the streets, proving that clarity and compassion could be revolutionary—and that verse still belongs to the people who listen.
Birth of Adrian Mitchell (1932–2008) – The People’s Voice in Modern English Poetry
Born on October 22, 1919, Doris Lessing redefined English fiction as a tool of liberation and self-examination. Her fearless prose, from The Golden Notebook to her political essays, gave English new emotional and moral dimensions — a language capable of truth, rebellion, and psychological depth that reshaped modern consciousness.
Birth of Doris Lessing (1919–2013) – The Radical Mind of Modern English Fiction
Regular readers of this blog are probably aware of my fondness for Barbara Comyns – a startlingly original writer with a very distinctive style. Her novels have a strange, slightly off-kilter feel, frequently blending surreal imagery and touches of dark, deadpan humour with the harsh realities of life. This wry sense of the absurd is […]
The Juniper Tree by Barbara Comyns
Born on October 19, 1931, John le Carré transformed espionage fiction into moral literature. His spare, elegant prose exposed the human cost of secrecy, creating a lexicon of betrayal and introspection. Through characters like George Smiley, he redefined English realism—where truth whispers, loyalty trembles, and language itself becomes deception.
Birth of John le Carré (1931–2020) – The Chronicler of Betrayal and Moral Ambiguity
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