You can find and buy the books relating to our author birthdays at the LitStack Bookshop on our list of Sharon’s Birthday Picks.
Here are seven author birthdays for this week.
Check out which authors are your favorites, and find out who shares your day.
In This Week’s Author Birthdays:
Daphne du Maurier – May 13
Daphne du Maurier, an accomplished English novelist, biographer, and playwright, was born on May 13. Despite being labeled as a romantic novelist, her works have been praised for their haunting and mysterious qualities with hints of the supernatural. Initially overlooked by critics, her bestselling novels have since gained recognition for their exceptional storytelling. Many of her works, such as Rebecca, Frenchman’s Creek, and Jamaica Inn, have been successfully adapted into popular films. Additionally, her short stories The Birds and Don’t Look Now have captivated audiences with their eerie narratives.
Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca, published in 1938, proved to be her most triumphant creation. The book quickly captivated readers, with sales reaching close to 3 million copies from 1938 to 1965. Notably, Rebecca has remained a timeless classic that continues to be in circulation. Tragically, du Maurier passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 19, 1989, at the age of 81 in her beloved home in Par, Cornwall – a place that had inspired many of her literary works.
Roque Dalton – May 14
Roque Dalton, a talented Salvadoran poet and intellectual, was born on May 14. Known for his emotionally charged and image-rich works, he tackled themes of life, death, love, and politics with a hint of sarcasm. Considered one of the most captivating poets in Latin America, his writings resonated deeply with readers. In 1965, during a tumultuous summer in El Salvador, he faced arrest, torture, and a death sentence. However, luck was on his side as an earthquake damaged his prison cell wall allowing him to escape.
During his exile in Mexico in 1961, Dalton penned numerous poems that later appeared in The Window in My Face (1961) and The Injured Party’s Turn (1962). He even dedicated the latter collection to the Salvadoran police chief who had accused him. Tragically, Roque was fatally shot in a house in San Salvador’s Santa Anita neighborhood in May 1975. It’s suspected that there may have been accomplices involved in his execution.
Katherine Anne Porter – May 15
Katherine Anne Porter, born on May 15, was a multi-talented American writer known for her work as a journalist, essayist, novelist, poet, and political activist. While her novel Ship of Fools was the top-selling book in America in 1962, it was her short stories that truly captured the hearts of critics. Her first collection of short stories, Flowering Judas and Other Stories, was published in 1930. The expanded edition released in 1935 received such high praise that it solidified her position as a prominent figure in American literature.
Katherine Anne Porter found financial stability with the success of her sole novel, Ship of Fools, published in 1962. Inspired by her memories of a voyage from Vera Cruz to Germany in 1931, the book marked a turning point in her life. Following a fulfilling life journey, Porter passed away at the age of 90 in Silver Spring, Maryland on September 18, 1980. Her final resting place is alongside her mother at Indian Creek Cemetery in Texas.
Adrienne Rich – May 16
Adrienne Rich, an American poet, essayist, and feminist, was born on May 16. She is known for her significant contributions in highlighting the struggles faced by women and lesbians through poetry. Rich’s early interest in poetry was nurtured by her father, who not only encouraged her to read but also to write. In 1976, she formed a lasting partnership with Jamaican-born novelist and editor Michelle Cliff. That same year, Rich published the controversial work Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution, where she openly discussed how lesbianism held personal and political significance for her.
During the early 2000s, Adrienne Rich was actively involved in anti-war movements, raising her voice against the looming war in Iraq through poetry readings and various protests. She passed away on March 27, 2012, at the age of 82 in her residence in Santa Cruz, California. Her son, Pablo Conrad, revealed that her demise was a result of her battle with rheumatoid arthritis over many years. Notably, her final collection had been published just a year prior to her passing.
Anna Brownell Jameson – May 17
Anna Brownell Jameson, born on May 17, was a renowned Anglo-Irish art historian who delved into various fields such as art and literary criticism, philosophy, travel writing, and feminism. Her prolific writings gained her widespread recognition. One of her earliest works that showcased her original thinking was Characteristics of Women: Moral, Poetical, and Historical (1832). Through her analysis of William Shakespeare’s female characters, she presented a nuanced perspective on female virtue. This publication, later titled Shakespeare’s Heroines, achieved remarkable success.
In 1842, Mrs. Jameson embarked on her most triumphant endeavor – the creation of her acclaimed six-volume series, Sacred and Legendary Art. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1860 before completing the final two volumes. However, her dear friend Lady Eastlake took up the mantle and finished them in 1864.
Patrick Dennis – May 18
Edward Everett Tanner III, who later adopted the pseudonym Patrick Dennis, was born on May 18. He gained fame as an American author, with his novel Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade becoming one of the top-selling American books of the 20th century. Using his pen name since his time at Evanston High, he authored a total of sixteen books, including the widely beloved Auntie Mame. Despite wrestling with his homosexual inclinations throughout his life, he tied the knot with Louise Stickney in 1948 and became a father to two children.
During the mid-1970s, Patrick Dennis fell ill and sadly passed away in 1976 at the age of 55 due to pancreatic cancer. His legacy continues to be celebrated as a significant part of LGBT Culture. Meanwhile, Tanner’s literary works lost popularity in the 1970s, leading to all his books going out of print. Later in life, he transitioned from writing to pursue a fulfilling career as a butler, a role that his friends mentioned brought him joy.
Nora Ephron – May 19
On the 19th of May, Nora Ephron, a talented American journalist, writer, and filmmaker, was born. She made a name for herself by creating and directing delightful romantic comedies, earning recognition such as a prestigious British Academy Film Award. One of her notable works includes the beloved romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, which she both directed and wrote in 1993. Additionally, Ephron captivated readers with her novel Heartburn in 1983. Notably, she entrusted her son Jacob with the secret identity of Deep Throat and freely shared this information with anyone curious enough to ask.
Nora Ephron passed away in June 2012 at Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan due to pneumonia, a complication of leukemia, at the age of 71. The Tribeca Film Festival offers the Nora Ephron Prize, a $25,000 award for a female writer or filmmaker who possesses a unique voice.
Other LitStack Resources
Be sure to look at other Author Birthdays, a weekly feature on LitStack from contributing writer Sharon Browning, and be sure and support independent bookstores – buy a book today at LitStack Bookshop, with tons of author birthday titles on our list of Sharon’s Birthday Picks.
As a Bookshop, BAM, Barnes & Noble, Audiobooks.com, Amazon, and Envato affiliate, LitStack may earn a commission at no cost to you when you purchase products through our affiliate links.
You can find and buy the books we recommend at the LitStack Bookshop on our list of LitStack Recs.
