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Timeline: English literature

Years: 731 - 2000	Subject: Literature
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191737053

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BCE CE

Year	Event
731	The Venerable Bede, in his monastery at Jarrow, completes his history of the English church and people Go to Bede (673–735) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 8th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
c. 800	Beowulf, the first great work of Germanic literature, mingles the legends of Scandinavia with the experience in England of Angles and Saxons Go to Beowulf in A Dictionary of English Folklore (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 8th century 9th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Germany Britain
c. 950	The material of the Eddas, taking shape in Iceland, derives from earlier sources in Norway, Britain and Burgundy Go to Edda in The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 10th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe France Norway Britain
c. 1300	Duns Scotus, known as the Subtle Doctor in medieval times, later provides humanists with the name Dunsman or dunce Go to Duns Scotus, Bl Johannes (c.1265–1308) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 13th century 14th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1340	William of Ockham advocates paring down arguments to their essentials, an approach later known as Ockham's Razor Go to Ockham's razor n. in A Dictionary of Psychology (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1367	A narrator who calls himself Will, and whose name may be Langland, begins the epic poem of Piers Plowman Go to Piers Plowman in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain One of four new yeomen of the chamber in Edward III's household is Geoffrey Chaucer Go to Chaucer, Geoffrey (c.1343–1400 in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1375	The courtly poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells of a mysterious visitor to the round table of King Arthur Go to Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1385	Chaucer completes Troilus and Criseyde, his long poem about a legendary love affair in ancient Troy Go to Troilus and Criseyde in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1387	Chaucer begins an ambitious scheme for 100 Canterbury Tales, of which he completes only 24 by the time of his death Go to Canterbury Tales in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1469	Thomas Malory, in gaol somewhere in England, compiles Morte d'Arthur – an English account of the French tales of King Arthur Go to Malory, Sir Thomas (d. 1471) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 15th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1510	Erasmus and Thomas More take the northern Renaissance in the direction of Christian humanism Go to humanism in The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Belgium Netherlands Britain
1524	William Tyndale studies in the university at Wittenberg and plans to translate the Bible into English Go to Tyndale, William (c.1494–1536) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Reformation Literature Literature in English German literature Religion Christianity British Isles Europe Germany Britain
1549	The first version of the English prayer book, or Book of Common Prayer, is published with text by Thomas Cranmer Go to Book of Common Prayer noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Reformation Literature Literature in English Religion Christianity British Isles Europe Britain
1564	Marlowe and Shakespeare are born in the same year, with Marlowe the older by two months Go to Marlowe, Christopher in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1567	The Book of Common Prayer and the New Testament are published in Welsh, to be followed by the complete Bible in 1588 Go to Book of Common Prayer noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Reformation Literature Literature in English Religion Christianity Wales British Isles Europe Britain
1582	The 18-year-old William Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway in Stratford-upon-Avon Go to Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1587	Marlowe's first play, Tamburlaine the Great, introduces the swaggering blank verse of Elizabethan and Jacobean drama Go to Marlowe, Christopher in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1590	English poet Edmund Spenser celebrates the Protestant Elizabeth I as The Faerie Queene Go to Spenser, Edmund in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1592	After tentative beginnings in the three parts of Henry VI, Shakespeare achieves his first masterpiece on stage with Richard III Go to Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1601	Shakespeare's central character in Hamlet expresses both the ideals of the Renaissance and the disillusion of a less confident age Go to Hamlet [Shakes.] in The Oxford Dictionary of Reference and Allusion (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1604	James I commissions the Authorized version of the Bible, which is completed by forty-seven scholars in seven years Go to Durgāpur (West Bengal/India) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Reformation Literature Literature in English Religion Christianity British Isles Europe Britain William Shakespeare's name appears among the actors in a list of the King's Men Go to Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Britain 1500-1750 Theatre Literature Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1605	Ben Jonson writes The Masque of Blackness, the first of his many masques for the court of James I Go to masque in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1606	The satirical voice of the English playwright Ben Jonson is heard to powerful effect in Volpone Go to Volpone [Lit.] in The Oxford Dictionary of Reference and Allusion (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1609	Shakespeare's sonnets, written ten years previously, are published Go to Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1611	Shakespeare's last completed play, The Tempest, is performed Go to Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1616	John Smith publishes A Description of New England, an account of his exploration of the region in 1614 Go to Smith, John (1580–1631) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature American literature Literature in English Politics Conquest and colonization Exploration British Isles American Indians British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain North America United States William Shakespeare dies at New Place, his home in Stratford-upon-Avon, and is buried in Holy Trinity Church Go to Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Britain 1500-1750 Theatre Literature Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1621	John Donne, England's leading Metaphysical poet, becomes dean of St Paul's Go to Donne, John (c.1572–1631) in The Oxford Dictionary of the Renaissance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1623	John Heminge and Henry Condell publish thirty-six Shakespeare plays in the First Folio Go to Folio, the First in A Dictionary of Shakespeare (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1633	George Herbert's only volume of poems, The Temple, is published posthumously Go to Herbert, George (1593–1633) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1637	John Milton's Lycidas is published in memory of a Cambridge friend, Edward King Go to Milton, John (1608–74) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1650	The poems of Massachusetts author Anne Bradstreet are published in London under the title The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America Go to Bradstreet, Anne (c.1612–1672) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature American literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles British colonial America Europe Britain North America United States
1653	Devoted fisherman Izaak Walton publishes the classic work on the subject, The Compleat Angler Go to Walton, Izaak (1593–1683) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1660	On the first day of the new year Samuel Pepys gets up late, eats the remains of the turkey and begins his diary Go to Pepys, Samuel (1633–1703) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1667	Paradise Lost is published, earning its author John Milton just £10 Go to Paradise Lost in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1669	Samuel Pepys ends his diary, after only writing it for nine years Go to Pepys, Samuel (1633–1703) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1678	Part I of The Pilgrim's Progress, written during John Bunyan's two spells in Bedford Gaol, is published and is immediately popular Go to Pilgrim's Progress in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1688	Aphra Behn's novel Oroonoko makes an early protest against the inhumanity of the African slave trade Go to Behn, Mrs Afra (1640–89) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Slavery British Isles Europe Society Britain
1690	John Locke publishes his Essay concerning Human Understanding, arguing that all knowledge is based on experience Go to Locke, John (1632–1704) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy British Isles Europe Britain
1702	The Augustan Age begins in English literature, claiming comparison with the equivalent flowering under Augustus Caesar Go to Augustan age in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1709	The Tatler launches a new style of journalism in Britain's coffee houses, followed two years later by the Spectator Go to Tatler in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1710	25-year-old George Berkeley attacks Locke in his Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge Go to Berkeley, George (1685–1753) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1712	Alexander Pope's Rape of the Lock introduces a delicate vein of mock-heroic in English poetry Go to Pope, Alexander (1688–1744) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Papacy Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1719	Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, with its detailed realism, can be seen as the first English novel Go to Robinson Crusoe in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1726	Jonathan Swift sends his hero on a series of bitterly satirical travels in Gulliver's Travels Go to Swift, Jonathan (1667–1745) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1739	David Hume publishes his Treatise of Human Nature, in which he applies to the human mind the principles of experimental science Go to Hume, David (1711–76) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1747	Samuel Richardson's Clarissa begins the correspondence that grows into the longest novel in the English language Go to Clarissa: or The History of a Young Lady in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1749	Henry Fielding introduces a character of lasting appeal in the lusty but good-hearted Tom Jones Go to Tom Jones, The History of in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1751	English poet Thomas Gray publishes his Elegy written in a Country Church Yard Go to Gray, Thomas (1716–71) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1755	Samuel Johnson publishes his magisterial Dictionary of the English Language Go to Johnson, Samuel (1709–84) in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1758	James Woodforde, an English country parson with a love of food and wine, begins a detailed diary of everyday life Go to Woodforde, Revd James (1740–1803) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1759	Laurence Sterne publishes the first two volumes of Tristram Shandy, beginning with the scene at the hero's conception Go to Sterne, Laurence (1713–68) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1762	Fingal, supposedly by the medieval poet Ossian, is a forgery in the spirit of the times by James MacPherson Go to Macpherson, James (1736–96) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1763	James Boswell meets Samuel Johnson for the first time, in the London bookshop of Thomas Davies Go to Boswell, James (1740–95) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1764	English historian Edward Gibbon, sitting among ruins in Rome, conceives the idea of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Go to Gibbon, Edward (1737–94) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain English author Horace Walpole provides an early taste of Gothic thrills in his novel Castle of Otranto Go to Walpole, Horace, 4th earl of Orford (1717–97) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Gothic Europe Britain
1768	A Society of Gentlemen in Scotland begins publication of the immensely successful Encyclopaedia Britannica Go to Encyclopaedia Britannica in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1770	17-year-old Thomas Chatterton, later hailed as a significant poet, commits suicide in a London garret Go to Chatterton, Thomas (1752–70) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1773	Oliver Goldsmith's play She Stoops to Conquer is produced in London's Covent Garden theatre Go to Goldsmith, Oliver (1728–74) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Johnson and James Boswell undertake a journey together to the western islands of Scotland Go to Johnson, Samuel (1709–84) in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1774	Encouraged by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine emigrates to America and settles in Philadelphia Go to Paine, Thomas (1737–1809) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature American literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles British colonial America Europe Britain North America United States
1776	English historian Edward Gibbon publishes the first volume of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Go to Gibbon, Edward (1737–94) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish economist Adam Smith analyzes the nature and causes of the Wealth of Nations Go to Smith, Adam (1723–90) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain
1777	Richard Brinsley Sheridan's second play, The School for Scandal, is an immediate success in London's Drury Lane theatre Go to Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1751–1816) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1789	William Blake publishes Songs of Innocence, a volume of his poems with every page etched and illustrated by himself Go to Blake, William (1757–1827) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain In his Principles Jeremy Bentham defines 'utility' as that which enhances pleasure and reduces pain Go to Bentham, Jeremy (1748–1832) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1790	Anglo-Irish politician Edmund Burke publishes Reflections on the Revolution in France, a blistering attack on recent events across the Channel Go to Burke, Edmund (1729–97) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century French Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Literature French literature Literature in English Politics Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Ireland Wars and Revolutions Britain
1791	Scottish poet Robert Burns publishes Tam o' Shanter, in which a drunken farmer has an alarming encounter with witches Go to ‘Tam o' Shanter’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Paine publishes the first part of The Rights of Man, his reply to Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France Go to Rights of Man, The in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century French Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Literature French literature Literature in English Politics Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain
1792	English author Mary Wollstonecraft publishes a passionately feminist work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Politics Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Paine moves hurriedly to France, to escape a charge of treason in England for opinions expressed in his Rights of Man Go to Rights of Man, The in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century French Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Literature French literature Literature in English Politics Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe France Wars and Revolutions Britain
1794	William Blake's volume Songs of Innocence and Experience includes his poem 'Tyger! Tyger! burning bright' See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1795	Thomas Paine publishes his completed Age of Reason, an attack on conventional Christianity Go to Age of Reason, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Religion Christianity Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1797	Samuel Taylor Coleridge says that while writing Kubla Khan he is interrupted by 'a person on business from Porlock' Go to ‘Kubla Khan: a Vision in a Dream’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1798	English poets Wordsworth and Coleridge jointly publish Lyrical Ballads, a milestone in the Romantic movement Go to Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' is published in Lyrical Ballads Go to Ancient Mariner, The Rime of the in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1804	William Blake includes his poem 'Jerusalem' in the Preface to his book Milton Go to Milton in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Jerusalem Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1805	Walter Scott publishes The Lay of the Last Minstrel, the long romantic poem that first brings him fame Go to Lay of the Last Minstrel, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1810	Walter Scott's poem Lady of the Lake brings tourists in unprecedented numbers to Scotland's Loch Katrine Go to Lady of the Lake, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1811	Percy Bysshe Shelley is expelled from Oxford university for circulating a pamphlet with the title The Necessity of Atheism Go to Shelley, Percy Bysshe (1792–1822) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Jane Austen publishes her first work in print, Sense and Sensibility, at her own expense Go to Austen, Jane in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1812	The first two cantos are published of Byron's largely autobiographical poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, bringing him immediate fame Go to Byron, George Gordon, 6th Baron Byron (1788–1824) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1813	Pride and Prejudice, based on a youthful work of 1797 called First Impressions, is the second of Jane Austen's novels to be published Go to Austen, Jane in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1818	Percy Bysshe Shelley publishes probably his best-known poem, the sonnet Ozymandias Go to Shelley, Percy Bysshe (1792–1822) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Two of Jane Austen's novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, are published in the year after her death Go to Austen, Jane (1775–1817) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Mary Shelley publishes Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, a Gothic tale about giving life to an artificial man Go to Shelley, Mary in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1819	William Cobbett brings back to England the bones of Thomas Paine, who died in the USA in 1809 Go to Cobbett, William (1763–1835) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Byron begins publication in parts of his longest poem, Don Juan an epic satirical comment on contemporary life Go to Don Juan in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Walter Scott publishes Ivanhoe, a tale of love, tournaments and sieges at the time of the crusades Go to Ivanhoe in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1820	English poet John Keats publishes Ode to a Nightingale, inspired by the bird's song in his Hampstead garden Go to Keats, John (1795–1821) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley publishes Ode to the West Wind, written mainly in a wood near Florence Go to ‘Ode to the West Wind’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Florence Europe Britain
1821	English author Thomas De Quincey publishes his autobiographical Confessions of an English Opium-Eater Go to De Quincey, Thomas in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet John Keats dies in Rome at the age of twenty-five Go to Keats, John (1795–1821) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Italian literature Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Rome Europe Italy Britain English radical William Cobbett begins his journeys round England, published in 1830 as Rural Rides Go to Cobbett, William (1763–1835) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain English author William Hazlitt publishes Table Talk, a two-volume collection that includes most of his best-known essays Go to Hazlitt, William in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1824	12-year-old Charles Dickens works in London in Warren's boot-blacking factory Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1832	English author Frances Trollope ruffles transatlantic feathers with her Domestic Manners of the Americans, based on a 3-year stay Go to Trollope, Frances (1780–1863) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature American literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain North America United States
1836	24-year-old Charles Dickens begins monthly publication of his first work of fiction, Pickwick Papers (published in book form in 1837) Go to Pickwick Papers in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1837	Charles Dickens' first novel, Oliver Twist, begins monthly publication (in book form, 1838) Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1842	English poet Robert Browning publishes a vivid narrative poem about the terrible revenge of The Pied Piper of Hamelin Go to Browning, Robert in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Thomas Babington Macaulay publishes a collection of stirring ballads, Lays of Ancient Rome Go to Macaulay, Thomas Babington (1800–59) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1843	Ebenezer Scrooge mends his ways just in time in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol Go to Scrooge, Ebenezer in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1844	In his novel Coningsby Benjamin Disraeli develops the theme of Conservatism uniting 'two nations', the rich and the poor Go to Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Society Rulers and politicians Britain
1845	Friedrich Engels, after running a textile factory in Manchester, publishes The Condition of the Working Class in England Go to Engels, Friedrich (1820–95) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Communism Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1846	Edward Lear publishes his Book of Nonsense, consisting of limericks illustrated with his own cartoons Go to Lear, Edward (1812–88) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain After marrying secretly, the English poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett go abroad to live in Florence Go to Browning, Elizabeth Barrett (1806–61) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Florence Europe Britain The three Brontë sisters jointly publish a volume of their poems and sell just two copies Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1847	English author William Makepeace Thackeray begins publication of his novel Vanity Fair in monthly parts (book form 1848) Go to Thackeray, William Makepeace (1811–63) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charlotte becomes the first of the Brontë sisters to have a novel published — Jane Eyre Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights follows just two months after her sister Charlotte's Jane Eyre Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1848	Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë die within a period of eight months Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1849	Charles Dickens begins the publication in monthly numbers of David Copperfield, his own favourite among his novels Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1850	Alfred Tennyson's elegy for a friend, In Memoriam, captures perfectly the Victorian mood of heightened sensibility Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron (1809–92) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1852	London physician Peter Mark Roget publishes his dictionary of synonyms, the Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases Go to Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1854	Within six weeks of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimea, Tennyson publishes a poem finding heroism in the disaster Go to Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1855	Tennyson publishes a long narrative poem, Maud, a section of which ('Come into the garden, Maud') becomes famous as a song Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron (1809–92) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Anthony Trollope publishes The Warden, the first in his series of six Barsetshire novels Go to Trollope, Anthony (1815–82) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1857	In Tom Brown's Schooldays Thomas Hughes depicts the often brutal aspects of an English public school Go to Hughes, Thomas (1822–96) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1859	Charles Darwin puts forward the theory of evolution in On the Origin of Species, the result of 20 years' research Go to Darwin, Charles (1809–82) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Science Life sciences Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In On Liberty John Stuart Mill makes the classic liberal case for the priority of the freedom of the individual Go to Mill, John Stuart (1806–73) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Smiles provides an inspiring ideal of Victorian enterprise in Self-Help, a manual for ambitious young men Go to Smiles, Samuel (1812–1904) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Tennyson publishes the first part of Idylls of the King, a series of linked poems about Britain's mythical king Arthur Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron Tennyson (1809–92) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charles Dickens publishes his French Revolution novel, A Tale of Two Cities Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Edward FitzGerald publishes The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, romantic translations of the work of the Persian poet Go to Fitzgerald, Edward (1809–83) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1859 February	English author George Eliot wins fame with her first full-length novel, Adam Bede Go to Eliot, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1860	Charles Dickens begins serial publication of his novel "Great Expectations" (in book form 1861) Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain George Eliot publishes The Mill on the Floss, her novel about the childhood of Maggie and Tom Tulliver Go to Eliot, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1861	Mrs Henry Wood publishes her first novel, East Lynne, which becomes the basis of the most popular of all Victorian melodramas Go to East Lynne in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1862	Oxford mathematician Lewis Carroll tells 10-year-old Alice Liddell, on a boat trip, a story about her own adventures in Wonderland Go to Amaryllis in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1863	English author Charles Kingsley publishes an improving fantasy for young children, The Water-Babies Go to Water‐Babies, The: A Fairy Tale for a Land‐Baby in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1865	Lewis Carroll publishes Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a development of the story he had told Alice Liddell three years earlier Go to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1866	Algernon Swinburne scandalizes Victorian Britain with his first collection, Poems and Ballads Go to Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837–1909) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1867	The first volume of Das Kapital is completed by Marx in London and is published in Hamburg Go to Kapital, Das in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English German literature Politics Communism Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Germany Britain
1869	English author Matthew Arnold publishes Culture and Anarchy, an influential collection of essays about contemporary society Go to Culture and Anarchy in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1871	George Eliot publishes Middlemarch, in which Dorothea makes a disastrous marriage to the pedantic Edward Casaubon Go to Eliot, George in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1872	Lewis Carroll publishes Through the Looking Glass, a second story of Alice's adventures Go to Carroll, Lewis in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1874	English author Thomas Hardy has his first success with his novel Far from the Madding Crowd Go to Far from the Madding Crowd in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1875	After spending much time in Europe in recent years, Henry James moves there permanently and settles first in Paris Go to James, Henry (1843–1916) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry James's early novel Roderick Hudson is serialized in the Atlantic Monthly and is published in book form in 1876 Go to Roderick Hudson in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1876	William Gladstone's pamphlet Bulgarian Horrors, protesting at massacre by the Turks, sells 200,000 copies within a month Go to Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Persecution and repression Turks Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Henry James moves to London, which remains his home for the next 22 years Go to James, Henry (1843–1916) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins develops a new verse form that he calls 'sprung rhythm' Go to sprung rhythm in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Lewis Carroll publishes The Hunting of the Snark, a poem about a voyage in search of an elusive mythical creature Go to Carroll, Lewis in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1878	21-year-old Joseph Conrad, a Polish subject, goes to sea with the British merchant navy Go to Conrad, Joseph (1857–1924) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1879	Henry James's story Daisy Miller, about an American girl abroad, brings him a new readership Go to Daisy Miller: A Study in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1881	The Aesthetic Movement and 'art for art's sake', attitudes personified above all by Whistler and Wilde, are widely mocked and satirized in Britain Go to Aesthetic movement in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1883	Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure story, Treasure Island, features Long John Silver and Ben Gunn Go to Treasure Island in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1884	Oxford University Press publishes the A volume of its New English Dictionary, which will take 37 years to reach Z Go to Oxford English Dictionary, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1885	Explorer and orientalist Richard Burton begins publication of his multi-volume translation from the Arabic of The Arabian Nights Go to Arabian Nights Entertainments, or The Thousand and One Nights in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1886	Robert Louis Stevenson introduces a dual personality in his novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Go to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Strange Case of in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Hardy publishes his novel The Mayor of Casterbridge, which begins with the future mayor, Michael Henchard selling his wife and child at a fair Go to Mayor of Casterbridge, The, a Story of Character in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Joseph Conrad becomes naturalized as a British subject and continues his career at sea in the far East Go to Conrad, Joseph (1857–1924) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1887	Sherlock Holmes features in Conan Doyle's first novel, A Study in Scarlet Go to Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1859–1930) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1889	23-year-old Irish author William Butler Yeats publishes his first volume of poems, The Wanderings of Oisin Go to Wanderings of Oisin, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain The Fabian Society publishes Essays in Socialisman influential volume of essays edited by Bernard Shaw Go to Fabian Society in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Politics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1890	Scottish anthropologist James Frazer publishes The Golden Bough, a massive compilation of contemporary knowledge about ritual and religious custom Go to Frazer, Sir James George (1854–1941) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Religion Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain 9-year-old Daisy Ashford imagines an adult romance and high society in The Young Visiters Go to Ashford, Daisy (1881–1972) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1891	A Gaelic pressure group, the Highland Association, is founded to preserve the indigenous poetry and music of Scotland Go to Mod, Royal National in The Oxford Companion to Scottish History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Literature Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Oscar Wilde publishes his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray in which the ever-youthful hero's portrait grows old and ugly Go to Wilde, Oscar (1854–1900) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Hardy publishes his novel Tess of the Durbervilles, with a dramatic finale at Stonehenge Go to Tess of the D'Urbervilles; A Pure Woman in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1892	Oscar Wilde's comedy Lady Windermere's Fan is a great success with audiences in London's St. James Theatre Go to Lady Windermere's Fan in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain W.B. Yeats founds the National Literary Society in Dublin, with Douglas Hyde as its first president Go to literary revival in The Oxford Companion to Irish History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain W.B. Yeats publishes a short play The Countess Cathleen, his first contribution to Irish poetic drama Go to Countess Cathleen, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Bernard Shaw's first play, Widowers' Houses, deals with the serious social problem of slum landlords Go to Widowers' Houses in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Mr Pooter is the suburban anti-hero of the The Diary of a Nobody, by George and Weedon Grossmith Go to Diary of a Nobody, The in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1894	French-born artist and author George du Maurier publishes his novel Trilby Go to Trilby in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book surrounds the child Mowgli with a collection of vivid animal guardians Go to Jungle Book, The (1894) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1895	Oscar Wilde's most brilliant comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest is performed in London's St. James Theatre Go to Importance of Being Earnest, The: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Oscar Wilde loses a libel case that he has brought against the marquess of Queensberry for describing him as a sodomite Go to Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, 9th marquis of (1844–1900) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Oscar Wilde is sent to Reading Gaol to serve a two-year sentence with hard labour after being convicted of homosexuality Go to Wilde, Oscar (1854–1900) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain H.G. Wells publishes The Time Machine, a story about a Time Traveller whose first stop on his journey is the year 802701 Go to Wells, H. G. (1866–1946) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1896	English poet A.E. Housman publishes his first collection, A Shropshire Lad Go to Housman, A. E. (1859–1936) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1897	Somerset Maugham publishes his first novel, Liza of Lambeth, based on the London life he has observed as a medical student Go to Maugham, W. Somerset (1874–1965) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Bram Stoker publishes Dracula, his gothic tale of vampirism in Transylvania Go to Dracula in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1898	Henry James moves from London to Lamb House in Rye, Sussex, which remains his home for the rest of his life Go to James, Henry (1843–1916) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain H.G. Wells publishes his science-fiction novel The War of the Worlds, in which Martians arrive in a rocket to invade earth Go to War of the Worlds, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry James publishes The Turn of the Screw in a collection of short stories Go to Turn of the Screw, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1899	E. Nesbit publishes The Story of the Treasure Seekers, introducing the Bastable family who feature in several of her books for children Go to Nesbit, E. (1858–1924) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1900	Joseph Conrad publishes his novel Lord Jim about a life of failure and redemption in the far East Go to Lord Jim in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1901	Beatrix Potter publishes at her own expense The Tale of Peter Rabbit Go to Tale of Peter Rabbit, The (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rudyard Kipling's experiences of India are put to good use in his novel Kim Go to Kim in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1902	Rudyard Kipling publishes his Just So Stories for Little Children Go to Just So Stories for Little Children (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The play Cathleen ni Houlihan, by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, fosters Irish nationalism Go to Cathleen ni Houlihan in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain The Tale of Peter Rabbit is published commercially, a year after being first printed by Beatrix Potter at her own expense Go to Tale of Peter Rabbit, The (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain John Masefield's poem 'Sea Fever' is published in Salt-Water Ballads Go to Masefield, John (1878–1967) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles begins publication in serial form Go to Hound of the Baskervilles, The: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry James publishes the first of his three last novels, The Wings of the Dove Go to Wings of the Dove, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Joseph Conrad publishes a collection of stories including Heart of Darkness, a sinister tale based partly on his own journey up the Congo Go to ‘Heart of Darkness’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1903	Erskine Childers has a best-seller in The Riddle of the Sands, a thriller about a planned German invasion of Britain Go to Childers, Erskine (1870–1922) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Henry James publishes The Ambassadors, the second of his three last novels written in rapid succession Go to Ambassadors, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British philosopher G.E. Moore publishes Principia Ethica, an attempt to apply logic to ethics Go to Moore, G. E. (1873–1958) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1904	Joseph Conrad publishes his novel Nostromo, about a revolution in South America and a fatal horde of silver Go to Nostromo in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Latin America South America Henry James publishes his last completed novel, The Golden Bowl Go to Golden Bowl, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain J.M Barrie's play for children Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up has its premiere in London Go to Peter Pan in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Under the pseudonym Saki, H.H. Munro publishes Reginald, his first volume of short stories Go to Reginald (1904) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1905	The Bloomsbury Group gathers for informal evenings at the family home of Virginia and Vanessa Stephens (later Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell) Go to Bloomsbury Group in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Arts Literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Oscar Wilde's De Profundis, a letter of recrimination written in Reading Gaol to Lord Alfred Douglas, is published posthumously Go to de profundis in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain H.G. Wells publishes Kipps: the story of a simple soul, a comic novel about a bumbling draper's assistant Go to Kipps in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Bernard Shaw has two new plays opening in London in the same year, Major Barbara and Man and Superman Go to Shaw, George Bernard (1856–1950) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Sir Percy Blakeney rescues aristocrats from the guillotine in Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel Go to Scarlet Pimpernel, The (1905) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1906	The first volume of the inexpensive Everyman's Library is issued by Joseph Dent, a London publisher Go to Everyman’s Library in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain E. Nesbit publishes The Railway Children, the most successful of her books featuring the Bastable family Go to Railway Children, The (1906) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain John Galsworthy publishes The Man of Property, the first of his novels chronicling the family of Soames Forsyte Go to Man of Property, The (1906) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1907	J.M. Synge's Playboy of the Western World provokes violent reactions at its Dublin premiere Go to Playboy of the Western World, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Edmund Gosse publishes Father and Son, an account of his difficult relationship with his fundamentalist father, Philip Gosse Go to Gosse, Sir Edmund (1849–1928) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain James Joyce completes the 15 short stories eventually published in 1914 as Dubliners Go to Dubliners in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1908	Rat, Mole and Toad, in Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, appeal to a wide readership Go to Wind in the Willows, The (1908) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Welsh poet W.H. Davies has a success with The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp, his account of life on the road and in dosshouses Go to Davies, W. H. (1871–1940) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain
1909	The heroine of H.G. Wells' novel Ann Veronica is a determined example of the New Woman Go to Ann Veronica in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1910	In his poem Cargoes John Masefield compares a 'dirty British coaster' with two romantic boats from the past Go to Masefield, John (1878–1967) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain John Buchan publishes Prester John, the first of his adventure stories Go to Buchan, John, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (1875–1940) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain H.G. Wells publishes The History of Mr Polly, a novel about an escape from drab everyday existence Go to Wells, H. G. (1866–1946) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rudyard Kipling publishes If, which rapidly becomes his most popular poem among the British Go to Kipling, Rudyard (1865–1936) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain E.M. Forster publishes Howard's End, his novel about the Schlegel sisters and the Wilcox family Go to Howards End in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1911	D.H. Lawrence's career as a writer is launched with the publication of his first novel, The White Peacock Go to Lawrence, D. H. (1885–1930) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rupert Brooke publishes Poems, the only collection to appear before his early death in World War I Go to Brooke, Rupert Chawner (1887–1915) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain G.K. Chesterton's clerical detective makes his first appearance in The Innocence of Father Brown Go to Chesterton, G. K. (1874–1936) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In a German Pension is New Zealand author Katherine Mansfield's first collection of stories Go to Mansfield, Katherine (1888–1923) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Australia and Oceania New Zealand Max Beerbohm publishes his novel Zuleika Dobson, in which the beauty of his heroine causes havoc among the students at Oxford Go to Beerbohm, Max (1872–1956) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1912	Ludwig Wittgenstein moves to Cambridge to study philosophy under Bertrand Russell Go to Wittgenstein, Ludwig (1889–1951) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Walter De la Mare establishes his reputation with the title poem of his collection The Listeners Go to de la Mare, Walter (1873–1956) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1913	The first issue of the New Statesman is published by Beatrice and Sidney Webb Go to New Statesman in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Compton Mackenzie publishes the first volume of his autobiographical novel Sinister Street Go to Mackenzie, Sir Compton (1883–1972) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Alfred North Whitehead and Bertrand Russell complete a work of mathematical logic, Principia Mathematica Go to Newton, Sir Isaac (1642–1727) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain D.H. Lawrence publishes a semi-autobiographical novel about the Morel family, Sons and Lovers Go to Lawrence, D. H. (1885–1930) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1914	James Joyce's novel Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man begins serial publication in a London journal, The Egoist Go to Joyce, James (1882–1941) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain After years of delay James Joyce's Dubliners, a collection of short stories, is published Go to Joyce, James (1882–1941) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain American-born poet Thomas Stearns Eliot crosses the Atlantic to England, making it his home for the rest of his life Go to Eliot, T. S. (1888–1965) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States The Times Literary Supplement is published in London as an independent paper, separate from The Times Go to Times Literary Supplement (1902– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Robert Tressell's Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is published posthumously in an abbreviated version Go to Tressell, Robert in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1915	Somerset Maugham publishes his semi-autobiographical novel Of Human Bondage Go to Maugham, W. Somerset (1874–1965) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The English writer Virginia Woolf publishes her first novel, The Voyage Out Go to Woolf, Virginia (1882–1941) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain D.H. Lawrence's novel about the Brangwen family, The Rainbow, is seized by the police as an obscene work Go to Lawrence, D(avid) H(erbert) (1885–1930) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Secret agent Richard Hannay makes his first appearance in John Buchan's Thirty-Nine Steps Go to Buchan, John, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (1875–1940) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rupert Brooke's 1914 and Other Poems is published a few months after his death in Greece Go to Brooke, Rupert Chawner (1887–1915) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1916	Robert Graves publishes his first book of poems, Over the Brazier Go to Graves, Robert Ranke (1895–1985) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The author H.H. Munro ('Saki') is killed by a sniper's bullet on a battlefield in France Go to Saki (1870–1916) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature French literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Britain
1917	Jeeves and Bertie Wooster make their first appearance in P.G. Wodehouse's The Man with Two Left Feet Go to Wodehouse, Sir P. G. (1881–1975) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1918	Lytton Strachey fails to show conventional respect to four famous Victorians in his influential volume of short biographies entitled Eminent Victorians Go to Strachey, (Giles) Lytton (1880–1932) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rebecca West publishes her first novel, The Return of the Soldier Go to West, Dame Rebecca (1892–1983) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1919	In The Economic Consequences of the Peace Maynard Keynes publishes a strong attack on the reparations demanded from Germany Go to Keynes, John Maynard, 1st Baron (1883–1946) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1920	Sapper's patriotic hero makes his first appearance, taking on the villainous Carl Peterson in Bull-dog Drummond Go to Sapper (1888–1937) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love, a continuation of the family story in The Rainbow, is published first in the USA Go to Lawrence, D(avid) H(erbert) (1885–1930) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States The Belgian detective Hercule Poirot features in Agatha Christie's first book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles Go to Christie, Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa (1891–1976) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1921	Somerset Maugham's short story 'Rain' (in his collection The Trembling of a Leaf) introduces the lively American prostitute Sadie Thompson Go to Maugham, W. Somerset (1874–1965) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Ludwig Wittgenstein publishes his influential study of the philosophy of logic, Tractatus Logico Philosophicus Go to Wittgenstein, Ludwig (1889–1951) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1922	John Galsworthy publishes his novels about the Forsyte family as a joint collection under the title The Forsyte Saga Go to Galsworthy, John (1867–1933) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain American-born poet T.S. Eliot publishes The Waste Land, an extremely influential poem in five fragmented sections Go to Eliot, T. S. (1888–1965) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1923	The gentleman detective Lord Peter Wimsey makes his first appearance in Dorothy Sayers' Whose Body? Go to Sayers, Dorothy L(eigh) (1893–1957) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Bernard Shaw's play Saint Joan has its world premiere in New York Go to Shaw, Bernard (1856–1950) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature American literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States
1924	E.M. Forster's novel A Passage to India builds on cultural misconceptions between the British and Indian communities Go to Forster, E. M. (1879–1970) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Christopher Robin features for the first time in A.A. Milne's When We Were Very Young Go to Milne, A(lan) A(lexander) (1882–1956) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1925	English writer Ivy Compton-Burnett finds her characteristic voice in her second novel, Pastors and Masters Go to Compton‐Burnett, Dame Ivy (1884–1969) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Virginia Woolf publishes her novel Mrs Dalloway, in which the action is limited to a single day Go to Woolf, Virginia (1882–1941) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1926	Patrick Abercrombie publishes The Preservation of Rural England, calling for rural planning to prevent the encroachment of towns Go to Abercrombie, Sir (Leslie) Patrick (1879–1957) in A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain T.E. Lawrence publishes privately his autobiographical Seven Pillars of Wisdom, describing his part in the Arab uprising Go to Lawrence, T(homas) E(dward) (1888–1935) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and the others make their first appearance in A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh Go to Milne, A. A. (1882–1956) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Hugh MacDiarmid writes his long poem A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle in a revived version of the Lallans dialect of the Scottish borders Go to MacDiarmid, Hugh (1892–1978) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1927	Henry Williamson wins a wide readership with Tarka the Otter, a realistic story of the life and death of an otter in Devon Go to Williamson, Henry in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Anglo-Irish author Elizabeth Bowen publishes her first novel, The Hotel Go to Bowen, Elizabeth (1899–1973) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Virginia Woolf uses a Hebridean holiday as the setting for her narrative in To The Lighthouse Go to To the Lighthouse in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1928	Caribbean-born author Jean Rhys publishes her first novel, Postures, based on her affair with the writer Ford Madox Ford Go to Rhys, Jean (?1890–1979) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Caribbean Siegfried Sassoon publishes Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, the first volume of a semi-autobiographical trilogy Go to Sassoon, Siegfried Lorraine (1886–1967) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Set in a World War I trench, the play Journey's End reflects the wartime experiences of its British author, R.C. Sherriff Go to Journey's End in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain D.H. Lawrence's new novel, in which Lady Chatterley is in love with her husband's gamekeeper, is privately printed in Florence Go to Lady Chatterley's Lover in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Italian literature Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Italy Britain Evelyn Waugh succeeds with a comic first novel, Decline and Fall Go to Decline and Fall in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Radclyffe Hall's novel The Well of Loneliness is the first to deal openly with a lesbian subject Go to Hall, Radclyffe (1883–1943) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1929	Richard Hughes publishes his first novel, A High Wind in Jamaica Go to Hughes, Richard (1900–76) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Blind Fireworks is Ulster writer Louis MacNeice's first collection of poems Go to MacNeice, Louis (1907–63) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author J.B. Priestley has an immediate success with his first novel, The Good Companions Go to Priestley, J. B. (1894–1984) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet Robert Graves puts behind him an England he dislikes in his autobiography, Goodbye to All That Go to Goodbye to All That in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1930	English author W.H. Auden's first collection of poetry is published with the simple title Poems Go to Auden, W(ystan) H(ugh) (1907–1973) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Swallows and Amazons is the first of Arthur Ransome's adventure stories for children Go to Ransome, Arthur (1884–1967) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence star in the West End in Private Lives, Coward's comedy of marital complications Go to Private Lives in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Agatha Christie's Miss Marple makes her first appearance, in Murder at the Vicarage Go to Miss Marple in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A spoof history text book, 1066 and all that, is justifiably described by its authors, Walter Sellar and Robert Yeatman, as a Memorable History of England Go to Sellar, W. C. (1898–1951) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1931	Virginia Woolf publishes the most fluid of her novels, The Waves, in which she tells the story through six interior monologues Go to Waves, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1932	US poet Archibald MacLeish publishes a narrative epic, Conquistador, about the conquest of Mexico Go to MacLeish, Archibald (1892–1982) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain Latin America Mexico British author C.S. Lewis publishes a moral parable, The Screwtape Letters, about the problems confronting a trainee devil Go to Lewis, C. S. (1898–1963) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British author Aldous Huxley gives a bleak view of a science-based future in his novel Brave New World Go to Brave New World in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain John Cowper Powys's novel A Glastonbury Romance is published first in New York Go to Glastonbury Romance, A in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1933	H.G. Wells publishes The Shape of Things to Come, a novel in which he accurately predicts a renewal of world war Go to Wells, H. G. (1866–1946) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Pylon group of British poets get their name from Stephen Spender's poem 'The Pylons' Go to Pylon School in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Antonia White publishes an autobiographical first novel, Frost in May Go to White, Antonia (1899–1979) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In Down and Out in Paris and London English author George Orwell writes a sympathetic account of the people he meets on hard times Go to Down and Out in Paris and London in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1934	In I, Claudius the autobiography of the Roman emperor is ghost-written by Robert Graves Go to I, Claudius in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In A Handful of Dust Evelyn Waugh sends his hero Tony Last to a disastrous fate, far away in the Amazon rain forest Go to Handful of Dust, A in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1935	T.S. Eliot's play Murder in the Cathedral has its first performance in Canterbury cathedral Go to Murder in the Cathedral in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British publisher Allen Lane launches a paperback series to which he gives the name Penguin Books Go to Penguin Books in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1936	John Maynard Keynes defines his economics in The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money Go to Keynes, John Maynard (1883–1946) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain In Language, Truth and Logic 26-year-old A.J. Ayer produces a classic exposition of Logical Positivism Go to logical positivism in A Dictionary of Critical Theory (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Terence Rattigan's first play, French without Tears, is performed in London Go to Rattigan, Sir Terence (1911–77) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1937	C.S. Forester's central character, Horatio Hornblower, features for the first time – in The Happy Return Go to Forester, Cecil Scott (1899–1966) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain George Orwell reveals the harsh realities of contemporary British life in The Road to Wigan Pier Go to Road to Wigan Pier, The in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1938	British author Evelyn Waugh publishes a classic Fleet Street novel, Scoop, introducing Lord Copper, proprietor of The Beast Go to Scoop in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In Homage to Catalonia George Orwell describes his experiences fighting for the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War Go to Homage to Catalonia (1938) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British author Graham Greene publishes Brighton Rock, a novel following 17-year-old Pinkie in the criminal underworld of the seaside town Go to Brighton Rock in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Maxim de Winter's house, Manderley, holds dark secrets in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca Go to Rebecca in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1939	W.H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood emigrate together to the USA, later becoming US citizens Go to Isherwood, Christopher (1904–86) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States Irish author Flann O'Brien publishes his first novel, At Swim-Two-Birds Go to At Swim-Two-Birds in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain British author Christopher Isherwood publishes his novel Goodbye to Berlin, based on his own experiences in the city Go to Goodbye to Berlin in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain T.S. Eliot gives cats a poetic character in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats Go to Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1940	Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman is rejected by numerous publishers before becoming, decades later, his best-known novel Go to Third Policeman, The in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1941	British author Rebecca West publishes an account of Yugoslavia, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon Go to West, Dame Rebecca in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1942	English children's author Enid Blyton introduces the Famous Five in Five on a Treasure Island Go to Blyton, Enid Mary (1897–1968) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1944	The separate poems forming T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets are brought together for the first time as a single volume, published in New York Go to Eliot, T. S. (1888–1965) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States
1945	English author Nancy Mitford has her first success with the novel The Pursuit of Love Go to Mitford, Nancy (1904–73) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Evelyn Waugh publishes Brideshead Revisited, a novel about a rich Catholic family in England between the wars Go to Brideshead Revisited in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In George Orwell's fable Animal Farm a ruthless pig, Napoleon, controls the farmyard using the techniques of Stalin Go to Animal Farm in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1946	Titus Groan begins British author Mervyn Peake's trilogy of gothic novels Go to Peake, Mervyn (1911–68) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1947	English author and alcoholic Malcolm Lowry publishes an autobiographical novel, Under the Volcano Go to Under the Volcano in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain J.B. Priestley challenges audiences with An Inspector Calls, a play in which moral guilt spreads like an infection Go to Inspector Calls, An in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1948	Christopher Fry's verse drama The Lady's Not For Burning engages in high-spirited poetic word play Go to Lady's Not for Burning, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1949	Enid Blyton introduces her most successful character, Noddy, a small boy who can't avoid nodding when he speaks Go to Blyton, Enid in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain George Orwell publishes Nineteen Eighty-Four, a novel set in a terrifying totalitarian state of the future, watched over by Big Brother Go to Nineteen Eighty‐Four in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1950	C.S. Lewis gives the first glimpse of Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Go to Narnia in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British author Doris Lessing publishes her first novel, The Grass is Singing Go to Lessing, Doris (1919– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1951	British author John Wyndham creates a dark fantasy in his novel The Day of the Triffids Go to Wyndham, John in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A Question of Upbringing begins Anthony Powell's 'A Dance to the Music of Time' Go to Powell, Anthony (1905–2000) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British art historian Nikolaus Pevsner undertakes a massive task, a county-by-county description of The Buildings of England Go to Pevsner, Sir Nikolaus (30 Jan. 1902) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Architecture British architecture Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1952	Evelyn Waugh publishes Men at Arms, the first novel in the Sword of Honour trilogy based on his wartime experiences Go to Waugh, Evelyn (Arthur St John) (1903–1966) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1953	English author L.P. Hartley sets his novel The Go-Between in the summer of 1900 Go to Go-Between, The in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain James Bond, agent 007, has a licence to kill in Ian Fleming's first novel, Casino Royale Go to Fleming, Ian Lancaster (1908–1964) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1954	Dylan Thomas's 'play for voices', Under Milk Wood, is broadcast on BBC radio, with Richard Burton as narrator Go to Under Milk Wood in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Politician and author Winston Churchill completes his six-volume history The Second World War Go to Churchill, Sir Winston (1874–1965) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Anglo-Irish novelist Iris Murdoch publishes her first novel, Under the Net Go to Murdoch, Dame Iris (1919–99) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain English author Kingsley Amis's first novel, Lucky Jim, strikes an anti-establishment chord Go to Amis, Sir Kingsley (1922–95) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain William Golding gives a chilling account of schoolboy savagery in his first novel, Lord of the Flies Go to Lord of the Files, in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1955	Kingsley Amis and other young writers in Britain become known as Angry Young Men Go to Angry Young Men in The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American is set in contemporary Vietnam and foresees troubles ahead Go to Quiet American, The in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet Philip Larkin finds his distinctive voice in his collection The Less Deceived Go to Larkin, Philip Arthur (1922–1985) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British philologist J.R.R. Tolkien publishes the third and final volume of his epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings Go to Lord of the Rings, The in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1956	English poet Ted Hughes marries US poet Sylia Plath Go to Hughes, Ted (1930–1998) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States John Osborne's play Look Back in Anger features in the first season of London's new English Stage Company Go to Look Back in Anger in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1957	The Hawk in the Rain is English author Ted Hughes' first volume of poems Go to Hughes, Ted (1930–1998) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The publication of the novel Justine launches Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet Go to Durrell, Lawrence (1912–90) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Alexandria Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author John Braine publishes his first novel, Room at the Top Go to Braine, John (1922–86) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Stevie Smith publishes her collection of poems Not Waving but Drowning Go to Smith, Stevie (1903–1971) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Laurence Olivier brings the music-hall artist Archie Rice vibrantly to life in John Osborne's The Entertainer Go to Entertainer, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1958	Irish dramatist Brendan Behan's play The Hostage is produced in Dublin Go to Behan, Brendan (1923–1964) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Chicken Soup with Barley begins a trilogy by English playwright Arnold Wesker Go to Wesker, Arnold (1932) in The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Alan Sillitoe publishes his first novel, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Go to Saturday Night and Sunday Morning in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Harold Pinter's first play in London's West End, The Birthday Party, closes in less than a week Go to Birthday Party, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1959	Keith Waterhouse has a wide success with his second novel, Billy Liar Go to Waterhouse, Keith (1929–2009) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Harold Pinter's second play in London's West End, The Caretaker, immediately brings him an international reputation Go to Caretaker, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British author Laurie Lee remembers a Cotswold boyhood in Cider with Rosie Go to Lee, Laurie (1914–97) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1960	English poet John Betjeman publishes his long autobiographical poem Summoned by Bells Go to Summoned by Bells in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Paul Scofield plays Thomas More in Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons Go to Man for All Seasons, A in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Penguin Books are prosecuted for obscenity for publishing D.H. Lawrence's novel Lady Chatterley's Lover, and are acquitted Go to Lady Chatterley's Lover in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1961	British author Roald Dahl publishes a novel for children, James and the Giant Peach Go to Dahl, Roald (1916–1990) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British novelist Muriel Spark publishes The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, set in an Edinburgh school in the 1930s Go to Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1962	Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, setting poems by Wilfred Owen, is first performed in the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral Go to War Requiem in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Music Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British author Doris Lessing publishes an influential feminist novel, The Golden Notebook Go to Golden Notebook, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British author P.D. James's first novel, Cover Her Face, introduces her poet detective Adam Dalgleish Go to James, P. D. (1920– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Anthony Burgess publishes A Clockwork Orange, a novel depicting a disturbing and violent near-future Go to Clockwork Orange, A in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1963	US poet Sylvia Plath commits suicide in London Go to Plath, Sylvia (1932–1963) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States English author John Le Carré publishes a Cold-War thriller The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Go to Le Carré, John (1931– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Margaret Drabble publishes her first novel, A Summer Birdcage Go to Drabble, Dame Margaret (1939– ) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Sexual intercourse begins in this year, according to Philip Larkin's 1974 poem Annus Mirabilis Go to Larkin, Philip (1922–85) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1964	Roald Dahl publishes a fantasy treat for a starving child, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Go to Dahl, Roald (1916–1990) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author A.S. Byatt publishes her first novel, Shadow of a Sun Go to Byatt, A. S. (1936– ) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1966	English novelist Paul Scott publishes The Jewel in the Crown, the first volume in his 'Raj Quartet' Go to Raj Quartet, The in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Irish poet Seamus Heaney wins critical acclaim for Death of a Naturalist, his first volume containing more than a few poems Go to Heaney, Seamus Justin (1939– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Northern Ireland British Isles Europe Ireland Britain After a long period of obscurity, Wide Sargasso Sea brings novelist Jean Rhys back into the literary limelight Go to Rhys, Jean (1894–1979) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard, is produced at the Edinburgh Festival Go to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1967	English author Angela Carter wins recognition with her quirky second novel, The Magic Toyshop Go to Carter, Angela (1940–92) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English playwright Alan Ayckbourn has his first success with Relatively Speaking Go to Ayckbourn, Sir Alan (1939– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Three young Liverpool poets publish a shared anthology under the title The Mersey Sound Go to McGough, Roger (1937– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, by English dramatist Peter Nichols, has its premiere in London Go to Day in the Death of Joe Egg, A in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1968	English biographer Michael Holroyd completes his two-volume life of Lytton Strachey Go to Holroyd, Michael (1935– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1969	English novelist John Fowles publishes The French Lieutenant's Woman, set in Lyme Regis in the 1860s Go to Fowles, John (1926–2005) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1972	English dramatist Caryl Churchill's first play, Owners, is produced in London Go to Churchill, Caryl (1938– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet James Fenton publishes his first collection, Terminal Moraine Go to Fenton, James (1949– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1973	British economist Ernst Friedrich Schumacher publishes an influential economic tract, Small is Beautiful Go to Schumacher, Ernst Friedrich (1911–1977) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature Literature in English Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Martin Amis, son of Kingsley Amis, publishes his first novel, The Rachel Papers Go to Amis, Martin (1949– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1974	German-born British art historian Nikolaus Pevsner completes his monumental 46-volume Buildings of England Go to Pevsner, Sir Nikolaus (30 Jan. 1902) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Architecture British architecture Literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1975	English author Ruth Prawer Jhabwala wins the Booker Prize with her novel Heat and Dust Go to Jhabvala, Ruth Prawer (1927– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1978	Iris Murdoch publishes The Sea, the Sea, and wins the 1978 Booker Prize Go to Murdoch, Dame Iris (1919–99) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Andrew Motion publishes his first collection of poems, The Pleasure Steamers Go to Motion, Andrew (1952– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British author Ian McEwan publishes his first novel, The Cement Garden Go to McEwan, Ian (1948– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1979	Peter Shaffer's play about Mozart, Amadeus, has its premiere in London Go to Shaffer, Peter Levin (1926– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1981	War Music is the first instalment of Christopher Logue's version of the Iliad Go to Logue, Christopher (1926–2011) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children uses the moment of India's independence to launch an adventure in magic realism Go to Rushdie, Salman (1947– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Asia South Asia India (republic) Europe Britain English author Anita Brookner publishes her first novel, A Start in Life Go to Brookner, Anita (1928– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1982	Michael Frayn's farce Noises Off opens in London's West end Go to Frayn, Michael (1933) in The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1983	British economist Nicholas Kaldor attacks monetarism in The Economic Consequences of Mrs Thatcher Go to Kaldor, Nicholas, Baron (1908–1986) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Society Rulers and politicians Britain Ronald Harwood's play The Dresser is partly inspired by the British actor Donald Wolfit Go to Harwood, Ronald (1934– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1984	English author Julian Barnes publishes a multi-faceted literary novel, Flaubert's Parrot Go to Barnes, Julian (1946– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1985	British Rasta poet Benjamin Zephaniah publishes his second collection as The Dread Affair Go to Zephaniah, Benjamin (1958– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1987	English poets John Fuller and James Fenton collaborate in a volume of satirical poems, Partingtime Hall Go to Fuller, John (1937– ) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Talking Heads, a series of dramatic monologues by English author Alan Bennett, is broadcast on British TV Go to Bennett, Alan (1934– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1988	Ayatollah Khomeini declares a fatwa against Salman Rushdie for his Satanic Verses Go to Rushdie Affair in The Oxford Dictionary of Islam (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Religion Islam Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Asia Central Asia Iran (Persia) Europe Britain British physicist Stephen Hawking explains the cosmos for the general reader in A Brief History of Time: from the Big Bang to Black Holes Go to Hawking, Stephen William (1943– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Science Physics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1990	Racing Demon launches a trilogy on the British establishment by English playwright David Hare Go to Hare, Sir David (1947– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1991	Alan Bennett's play The Madness of George III is performed at the National Theatre in London Go to Bennett, Alan (1934– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Regeneration is the first volume of English author Pat Barker's trilogy of novels set during World War I Go to Barker, Pat (1943– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1992	English poet Thom Gunn's The Man with Night Sweats deals openly with AIDS Go to Gunn, Thom (1929–2004) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1993	English novelist Sebastian Faulks publishes Birdsong, set partly in the trenches of World War I Go to Faulks, Sebastian (1953– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Vikram Seth publishes his novel A Suitable Boy, a family saga in post-independence India Go to Seth, Vikram (1952– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Asia South Asia India (republic) Europe Britain Scottish author Irvine Welsh publishes his first novel, Trainspotting Go to Welsh, Irvine (1958– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1994	Louis de Bernières publishes Captain Corelli's Mandolin, a love story set in Italian-occupied Cephalonia Go to De Bernières, Louis (1954– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1997	The poems forming Ted Hughes's Birthday Letters describe his relationship with Sylvia Plath Go to Hughes, Ted (1930–1998) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A schoolboy wizard performs his first tricks in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Go to Rowling, J. K. (1965–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1998	Michael Frayn's play Copenhagen dramatizes the visit of Werner Heisenberg to Niels Bohr in wartime Denmark Go to Frayn, Michael (1933– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Denmark Britain
2000	The Amber Spyglass completes Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials Go to Pullman, Philip (1946– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 21st century Literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain

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date: 25 September 2023

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