Here are seven author birthdays for this week. Check out which authors are your favorites, and find out who shares your day.
You can find and buy the books relating to our author birthdays at the LitStack Bookshop on our list of Sharon’s Birthday Picks.
In This Week’s Author Birthdays:
Louise Glück – April 22
Louise Glück, a renowned American poet and essayist, was born in New York City on April 22. In 2020, she was honored with the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature for her unparalleled poetic talent that beautifully captures the essence of human experience. Serving as the Poet Laureate of the United States from 2003 to 2004, Glück is celebrated for her emotionally charged and introspective writing style, earning her a reputation as an autobiographical poet.
Louise Glück maintained a deep bond with Vermont writer Kathryn Davis until her passing. The two frequently exchanged letters, offering each other guidance and support in their artistic endeavors over the course of their enduring friendship and literary journeys. Glück passed away at the age of 80 in her Cambridge, Massachusetts home on October 13, 2023, after a battle with cancer.
William Shakespeare – April 23
William Shakespeare, a prominent figure in English literature, was born approximately on April 23 and baptized on April 26. Renowned for his exceptional talent as a playwright, poet, and actor, he is hailed as the most eminent writer in the English language and a leading dramatist worldwide. From 1589 to 1613, Shakespeare created the majority of his known works. Initially focusing on comedies and histories, his early plays are esteemed as masterpieces within these genres. Transitioning to tragedies around 1608, he crafted iconic works such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth – all revered as some of the finest pieces in English literature.
William Shakespeare passed away on 23 April 1616 at the age of 52, shortly after drafting his will in which he claimed to be in good health. The circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery, with no existing contemporary accounts shedding light on the cause. However, fifty years later, John Ward, the vicar of Stratford, recorded in his notes that Shakespeare, along with Drayton and Ben Jonson, had a jovial gathering where they indulged in excessive drinking, where Shakespeare contracted a fatal fever.
Sue Grafton – April 24
Sue Grafton, an American author renowned for her detective novels, was born on April 24. Intrigued by mystery series with interconnected titles, she embarked on a unique project to create a series of novels following the alphabet sequence. Her most famous works include the alphabet series, featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional locale of Santa Teresa, California. Grafton had planned to conclude the series with Z Is for Zero; however, her untimely passing prevented her from commencing this final installment. Emphatically, her daughter affirmed that Grafton adamantly opposed having a ghostwriter continue the series in her name and declared that for their family, the alphabet now concludes at Y.
Sue Grafton declined to sell the film and television rights, as her experience in writing screenplays had effectively cured her of any inclination to collaborate with Hollywood. Following a two-year struggle with appendix cancer, Grafton passed away at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara on December 28, 2017.
Dorothy Salisbury Davis – April 25
Dorothy Salisbury Davis, a native of Chicago, Illinois, was born on April 25, and was known as a distinguished writer specializing in mysteries and crime fiction. Proficient in crafting both novels and short stories, she delved into the intricate workings of criminal minds with a particular focus on the psychological underpinnings. Notably, Davis shied away from gratuitous violence in her narratives and exhibited a unique ability to humanize both antagonists and protagonists alike. It was her third novel, A Gentle Murderer (1951), that truly solidified Davis’ standing within the literary world..
She was renowned for delving into psychological suspense in her novels, and had a unique ability to immerse readers in the inner thoughts of female characters facing danger and turmoil. She passed away on August 3, 2014, at the age of 98, while residing in a senior living facility in Palisades, New York.
Bernard Malamud – April 26
Bernard Malamud, an acclaimed American author and storyteller, entered the world on April 26. Crafting poignant parables from the tapestry of Jewish immigrant life, he hailed from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, where his father ran a modest grocery store. Despite their financial struggles, Malamud’s literary prowess shone through in his debut novel The Natural (1952; adapted into a film in 1984), a captivating tale of a baseball prodigy blessed with extraordinary abilities. His renowned work The Fixer (1966), delving into the depths of antisemitism within the Russian Empire, not only secured him both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize but also solidified his legacy as a masterful chronicler of human experiences.
Bernard Malamud’s literary works vividly capture the harsh realities and struggles faced by immigrants, while also showcasing their unwavering determination to achieve their aspirations despite their impoverished circumstances. He died in Manhattan on March 18, 1986, at the age of 71, where he had resided in the Upper West Side’s Lincoln Towers during the winter months since 1972.
Jessie Redmon Fauset – April 27
Born April 27, Jessie Redmon Fauset, a multifaceted literary figure during the Harlem Renaissance, made significant contributions as the literary editor of The Crisis. Through her editorship and own writings, she reshaped African-American literature in the 1920s by authentically depicting the complexities of African-American life and history. Fauset’s works often featured middle-class black characters grappling with issues of self-identity and racial discrimination. In her notable novel Comedy: American Style (1933), the protagonist Olivia Carey struggles with her desire to assimilate into white culture while her family embraces their cultural heritage.
Jessie Redmon Fauset transitioned from her teaching career in 1919 to take on the role of literary editor at The Crisis, a publication established by W. E. B. Du Bois of the NAACP. She passed away on April 30, 1961, due to heart disease and was laid to rest at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.
Harper Lee – April 28
Nelle Harper Lee, an esteemed American novelist born on April 28, achieved critical acclaim for her iconic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which earned her the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and solidified its status in contemporary American literature. She provided invaluable assistance to her dear friend Truman Capote during the research phase of his renowned book In Cold Blood. With the unexpected discovery of her long-lost manuscript Go Set a Watchman by her attorney Tonja Carter in a secure storage facility, the revelation that HarperCollins would release this hidden gem to the public on July 14, 2015, further added to Lee’s legacy as a brilliant and enigmatic writer.
In the wake of Harper Lee’s passing in 2016, news emerged that renowned producer Scott Rudin had enlisted Aaron Sorkin to pen a theatrical adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee, who passed away on February 19, 2016, at the age of 89, was reported by her nephew Hank Connor to have departed in her sleep.
Other LitStack Resources
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You can find and buy the books relating to our author birthdays at the LitStack Bookshop on our list of Sharon’s Birthday Picks.
