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Timeline: Fiction

Years: 1001 - 2000	Subject: Literature
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191737091

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BCE CE

Year	Event
1001	Japanese author Murasaki Shibubi produces, in The Tale of Genji, a book which can be considered the world's first novel Go to Murasaki, Shikibu (978–1014) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 11th century Literature Asia East Asia Japan Europe
1605	Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes publishes the first part of his satirically romantic novel Don Quixote Go to Quixote, Don in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature Europe Spain
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 English literature Literature in English Slavery British Isles Europe Society 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1759	Voltaire publishes Candide, a satire on optimism prompted by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 Go to Voltaire (1694–1778) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1762	Two books in this year, émile and Du Contrat Social, prompt orders for the arrest of Jean-Jacques Rousseau Go to Rousseau, Jean‐Jacques (1712–78) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature French literature Philosophy Europe France
1764	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Gothic Europe Britain
1766	Irish novelist Oliver Goldsmith publishes The Vicar of Wakefield, with a hero who has much to complain about but keeps calm Go to Goldsmith, Oliver (1728–74) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1774	Goethe's romantic novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, brings him an immediate European reputation Go to Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (1749–1832) in The Oxford Companion to the Mind (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature German literature Europe Germany
1794	Goethe and Schiller become friends, and together create the movement known as Weimar classicism Go to Weimar classicism in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Performing arts Theatre Literature German literature Drama Poetry Europe Germany
1798	US author Charles Brockden Brown publishes Wieland, the first of four novels setting Gothic romance in an American context Go to Brown, Charles Brockden (1771–1810) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1811	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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1818	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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1819	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1820	Washington Irving tells the story of the long sleep of Rip Van Winkle in his Sketch Book Go to Irving, Washington in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1821	The Spy, a romance set in the American Revolution, establishes the reputation of US author James Fenimore Cooper Go to Cooper, James Fenimore (1789–1851) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1823	James Fenimore Cooper's The Pioneers introduces Natty Bumppo, frontiersman known for his 'leather stockings' Go to Bumppo, Natty in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1825	Italian author Alessandro Manzoni begins publication (completed 1827) of his novel I Promessi Sposi ('The Betrothed') Go to Manzoni, Alessandro (1785–1873) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Italian literature Europe Italy
1826	In James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, Natty Bumppo sides with a Mohican chief Go to Last of the Mohicans, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1830	French author Stendhal publishes his novel Le Rouge et Le Noir ('The Red and the Black') Go to Stendhal (1783–1842) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France
1831	Victor Hugo publishes his novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, in which the hunchback, Quasimodo, is obsessed with Esmeralda Go to Hugo, Victor in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France
1833	Alexander Pushkin publishes a novel in verse, Eugene Onegin Go to Pushkin, Alexander (1799–1837) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Poetry Europe Russia
1834	Alexander Pushkin publishes his best-known short story, The Queen of Spades Go to Pushkin, Alexander (1799–1837) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia American novelist William Gilmore Simms publishes Guy Rivers, the first of his series known as the Border Romances Go to Simms, William Gilmore (1806–70) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1835	French author Honoré de Balzac publishes Le Père Goriot, one of the key novels that he later includes in La Comédie Humaine Go to Balzac, Honoré de (1799–1850) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France The Partisan, set in South Carolina, launches the series of novels by William Gilmore Simms known as the Revolutionary Romances Go to Simms, William Gilmore (1806–70) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1838	US author Nathaniel Hawthorne publishes Fanshawe, his first novel, at his own expense Go to Hawthorne, Nathaniel (1804–64) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1839	Edgar Allan Poe publishes a characteristically gothic tale, The Fall of the House of Usher Go to Poe, Edgar Allan (1809–49) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1841	August Dupin solves the case in Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue, considered to be the first example of a detective story Go to Poe, Edgar Allan (1809–49) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1842	The publication of the first part of the satirical novel Dead Souls, by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol, proves a sensation in Russia Go to Gogol, Nikolai (1809–52) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia Honoré de Balzac begins publication of a collected edition of his fiction under the title La Comédie Humaine Go to Balzac, Honoré de (1799–1850) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France
1843	Edgar Allan Poe publishes The Pit and the Pendulum, a cliff-hanging tale of terror at the hands of the Spanish Inquisition Go to Poe, Edgar Allan (1809–49) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Society Rulers and politicians 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1848	Honoré de Balzac completes publication of La Comédie Humaine, a 17-volume collected edition of his numerous novels and stories Go to Balzac, Honoré de (1799–1850) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1850	Nathaniel Hawthorne publishes his novel The Scarlet Letter, in which Hester Prynne is forced to wear the letter A for Adultress Go to Prynne, Hester [Lit.] in The Oxford Dictionary of Reference and Allusion (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1851	US author Nathaniel Hawthorne bases his novel The House of the Seven Gables on a curse invoked against his own family Go to House of the Seven Gables, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Herman Melville publishes Moby Dick; or, The Whale, a novel based on his own 18-month experience on a whaler in 1841-2 Go to Melville, Herman (1819–91) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1852	Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes a massively successful antislavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, that sells 300,000 copies in its first year Go to Stowe, Harriet Beecher in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English Slavery Society North America United States
1855	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1856	Gustave Flaubert publishes Madame Bovary, a novel of frustrated romanticism in a provincial French context Go to Flaubert, Gustave in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1858	Oliver Wendell Holmes' book The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table is the first in a breakfast-table series Go to Holmes, Oliver Wendell (1809–94) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1859	French author Stendhal publishes his novel La Chartreuse de Parme ('The Charterhouse of Parma') Go to Stendhal (1783–1842) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1862	Victor Hugo publishes his novel Les Misérables, an immensely complex story about the adventures of ex-convict Jean Valjean Go to Misérables, Les in The New Oxford Companion to Literature in French (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Dostoevsky publishes Notes from the House of the Dead, a semi-autobiographical novel about life in a Siberian labour camp Go to Dostoevsky, Fyodor Mikhailovich (1821–81) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1864	Dostoevsky publishes Notes from Underground, the bitter memories of a retired civil servant that is often described as the first existentialist novel Go to Dostoevsky, Fyodor Mikhailovich (1821–81) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia
1865	Samuel Clemens, writing under the pseudonym Mark Twain, has immediate success with The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Go to Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Leo Tolstoy publishes the first volume of his epic novel War and Peace, following the lives of several aristocratic families during the Napoleonic wars Go to Tolstoy, Leo Nikolaievich, Count (1828–1910) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia
1866	Dostoevsky publishes Crime and Punishment, a novel narrated by Raskolnikov, a St Petersburg student and murderer Go to Dostoyevsky, Fyodor Mikhaylovich in The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia
1868	US author Louisa May Alcott begins serial publication of her book for children, Little Women (in book form 1869) Go to Alcott, Louisa May (1832–88) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Dostoevsky publishes The Idiot, a novel about the simple-minded and truthful Prince Myshkin Go to Dostoevsky, Fyodor Mikhailovich (1821–81) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia
1871	French author émile Zola publishes The Fortune of the Rougons, the first in a 20-novel series that he calls Les Rougon-Macquart Go to Zola, Émile (1840–1902) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1873	The Gilded Age, by Charles Dudley Warner and Mark Twain, provides the familiar name for life in the US towards the end of the nineteenth century Go to Gilded Age, The: A Tale of To-day in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1875	Leo Tolstoy publishes the first volume of his novel Anna Karenina, in which the heroine develops a fatal love for Count Vronsky Go to Tolstoy, Leo Nikolaievich, Count (1828–1910) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1876	Mark Twain publishes The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, in which Tom and his friends find excitement in a small town on the Mississippi Go to Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1879	US author Joel Chandler Harris introduces Uncle Remus in a story in the Constitution Go to Harris, Joel Chandler (1848–1908) in The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1880	Gustave Flaubert dies, with his novel Bouvard et Pécuchet incomplete Go to Flaubert, Gustave (1821–80) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France Dostoevsky publishes his novel The Brothers Karamazov, featuring the four sons of the depraved Feodor Pavlovich Karamazov Go to Dostoevsky, Fyodor Mikhailovich (1821–81) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia US author Lew Wallace publishes a historical novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Go to Wallace, Lew[is] (1827–1905) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1881	In Washington Square Henry James tells the sad story of heiress Catherine Sloper Go to Washington Square in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Joel Chandler Harris publishes Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings, the first of many Uncle Remus volumes Go to Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Henry James's novel The Portrait of a Lady studies an American girl, Isabel Archer, in the unfamiliar context of Europe Go to Portrait of a Lady, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1884	Huck Finn and his friend Tom Sawyer continue their exploits on the Mississippi in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Go to Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1885	In his novel The Rise of Silas Lapham US author William Dean Howells follows the fortunes of a self-made man in Boston Go to Rise of Silas Lapham, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1886	US author Frances Hodgson Burnett publishes Little Lord Fauntleroy, featuring an aristocratic child in a velvet suit Go to Little Lord Fauntleroy in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1890	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1891	Herman Melville dies in obscurity in New York, with an unpublished manuscript of Billy Budd (not printed till 1924) Go to Billy Budd in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1892	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1893	US author Stephen Crane cannot find a publisher for his first novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, so issues it privately Go to Maggie: A Girl of the Streets in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1895	Stephen Crane succeeds handsomely with his second novel, The Red Badge of Courage, set in the American Civil War Go to Red Badge of Courage, The: An Episode of the American Civil War in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1897	Henry James views the feckless adults in Maisie's life through the eyes of the child herself in What Maisie Knew Go to What Maisie Knew in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1898	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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1900	Frank Baum introduces children to Oz, in his book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Go to Wizard of Oz, The Wonderful (1900) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States After a prodigiously productive career as novelist and journalist, Stephen Crane dies of tuberculosis at the age of 28 Go to Crane, Stephen (1871–1900) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Jack London's first collection of stories, The Son of the Wolf, brings him a wide readership Go to London, Jack Griffith (1876–1916) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Theodore Dreiser's first novel, Sister Carrie, receives no publicity because his publisher, Frank Doubleday, considers it immoral Go to Sister Carrie in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States The Voice of the People is the first of Ellen Glasgow's novels set in her native state, Virginia Go to Glasgow, Ellen (1874–1945) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1901	Thomas Mann's first novel, Buddenbrooks, brings him immediate success Go to Mann, Thomas (1875–1955) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature German literature Europe Germany 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Frank Norris publishes The Octopus, the first of a projected trilogy of novels set in Southern California Go to Octopus, The: A Story of California in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1902	Edith Wharton's publishes her first full-length novel, The Valley of Decision Go to Valley of Decision, The in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1903	US author Jack London publishes a novel, The Call of the Wild, in which a huge pet dog has alarming adventures Go to Call of the Wild, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Pit, the second volume of an uncompleted trilogy by US novelist Frank Norris, is published posthumously Go to Pit, The: A Story of Chicago in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1905	Edith Wharton publishes the novel that brings her fame and fortune, The House of Mirth Go to House of Mirth, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Dixon's popular novel The Clansman presents the Ku Klux Klan in heroic terms Go to Clansman, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1906	Upton Sinclair publishes The Jungle, a hard-hitting novel about the Chicago meat-packing industry Go to Jungle, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1907	Russian author Maxim Gorky completes his novel Mat ("The Mother"), written mainly during a visit to the USA Go to Gorky, Maxim (1868–1936) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature Europe Russia 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1908	Jack London's novel Iron Heel foresees a future repressive capitalist regime in the USA Go to Iron Heel, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Anatole France casts a satirical eye on human society in his novel L'île des pingouins ("Penguin Island") Go to France, Anatole (1844–1924) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France Lucy Maud Montgomery's first novel, Anne of Green Gables, brings her instant fame and fortune Go to Anne of Green Gables (1908) in The Oxford Companion to Canadian History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1909	André Gide publishes La Porte étroite ('Strait is the Gate') Go to Gide, André-Paul-Guillaume (1869–1951) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France Jack London publishes his most autobiographical novel, Martin Eden Go to London, Jack (1876–1916) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1910	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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania New Zealand Frances Hodgson Burnett publishes The Secret Garden, which becomes a classic of children's literature Go to Children of the Chapel of Paul's 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 North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1913	In O Pioneers Willa Cather finds her major theme, life on the frontier Go to Cather, Willa (1873–1947) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States In Pollyanna Eleanor Porter introduces an immensely successful character, the irrepressibly optimistic orphan Pollyanna Whittier Go to Porter, Eleanor Hodgman (1868–1920) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain German author Thomas Mann publishes the novella Death in Venice Go to Mann, Thomas (1875–1955) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature German literature Venice Europe Germany Alain-Fournier completes his semi-autobiographical novel Le Grand Meaulnes Go to Alain-Fournier (1886–1914) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France Edith Wharton's novel The Custom of the Country begins publication in serial form Go to Wharton, Edith (1862–1937) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Marcel Proust publishes at his own expense Swann's Way, the first volume of Remembrance of Things Past Go to Proust, Marcel (1871–1922) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1914	Tarzan makes his first appearance in Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel Tarzan of the Apes Go to Burroughs, Edgar Rice (1875–1950) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland 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 English literature 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US novelist Ernest Poole publishes The Harbor, set on the Brooklyn waterfront Go to Poole, Ernest (1880–1950) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Franz Kafka publishes Metamorphosis, the tale of a travelling salesman who wakes up to find himself transformed into an insect Go to Kafka, Franz (1883–1924) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Bohemia Czech Republic 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1916	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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Australia Felix is the first in Henry Handel Richardson's trilogy of novels about her father Go to Richardson, Henry Handel (1870–1946) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia
1918	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In My Antonia Willa Cather's heroine survives setbacks on the Nebraska frontier Go to Cather, Willa (1873–1947) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1919	Sherwood Anderson establishes a reputation with a collection of short stories, Winesburg, Ohio Go to Anderson, Sherwood (1876–1941) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1920	After several less successful novels, the French writer Colette makes her reputation with Chéri Go to Colette (1873–1954) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature French literature Europe France Edith Wharton publishes her best-known novel, The Age of Innocence Go to Wharton, Edith (1862–1937) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The publication of Scott FitzGerald's first novel, This Side of Paradise, brings him instant success Go to Fitzgerald, F[rancis] Scott (1896–1940) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The American novelist Sinclair Lewis has his first major success with Main Street, an unflattering portrayal of American village life Go to Lewis, [Harry] Sinclair (1885–1951) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1922	D.H. Lawrence takes a house in Sydney, where he writes the bulk of his novel Kangaroo Go to Lawrence, D. H. (1885–1930) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia Sinclair Lewis creates an archetypal character in George Folanshee Babbitt, a real-estate broker in the Midwestern town of Zenith Go to Babbitt in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Thomas Mann publishes a fragment of his Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man Go to Mann, Thomas (1875–1955) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature German literature Europe Germany
1923	The Czech novelist Jaroslav Hasek dies with his masterpiece, The Good Soldier Schweik, incomplete Go to Hašek, Jaroslav (1883–1923) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Bohemia Czech Republic The Italian novelist Italo Svevo has his first great success when The Confessions of Zeno is published in France Go to Svevo, Italo (1861–1928) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Italian literature Europe Italy 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1924	German author Thomas Mann publishes his novel The Magic Mountain Go to Mann, Thomas (1875–1955) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature German literature Europe Germany 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1925	Scott FitzGerald publishes his novel The Great Gatsby, set in a contemporary world of lavish indulgence underpinned by crime Go to Fitzgerald, F[rancis] Scott (1896–1940) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States DuBose Heyward publishes his first novel, Porgy, set in Charleston's Catfish Row Go to Heyward, Dubose (1885–1940) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Franz Kafka's novel The Trial is published posthumously Go to Kafka, Franz (1883–1924) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Bohemia Czech Republic 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Irish novelist Liam O'Flaherty publishes The Informer Go to O'Flaherty, Liam (1896–1984) in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature British Isles Europe Ireland 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1926	Russian Jewish writer Isaac Babel publishes a collection of stories, Red Cavalry, based on his own experiences in the army Go to Babel, Isaac Emmanuelovich (1894–1941) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Europe Russia Soldiers Pay is the first published novel of the Mississippi author William Faulkner Go to Faulkner William (1897–1962) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States French author André Gide publishes his only novel, The Counterfeiters Go to Gide, André-Paul-Guillaume (1869–1951) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France Franz Kafka's novel The Castle is published posthumously Go to Kafka, Franz (1883–1924) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Bohemia Czech Republic US author Ernest Hemingway succeeds with his second novel, The Sun also Rises (also known as Fiesta) Go to Sun Also Rises, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1927	French author François Mauriac publishes a novel of marital claustrophobia, Thérèse Desqueyroux Go to Thérèse Desqueyroux in The New Oxford Companion to Literature in French (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France US author Thornton Wilder achieves world-wide success with his second novel, The Bridge of San Luis Rey Go to Bridge of San Luis Rey, The in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Hermann Hesse publishes a mystical novel, Steppenwolf, based on the concept of a double personality Go to Steppenwolf, Der in The Oxford Companion to German Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature German literature Europe Germany 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Mysterious German author B. Traven writes a novel, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, about three Americans searching for a lost gold mine in Mexico Go to Traven, B. in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Latin America Central America Mexico
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Caribbean Russian author Mikhail Sholokhov publishes the first section of And Quiet Flows the Don Go to Sholokhov, Mikhail Aleksandrovich (1905–84) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Europe Russia 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 English literature Literature in English Italian literature 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1929	Sartoris is the first of 14 novels by William Faulkner set in his fictional Yoknapatawpha County Go to Sartoris family in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States French author Jean Cocteau publishes Les Enfants Terribles, a novel about a brother and sister in a suffocatingly claustrophobic relationship Go to Cocteau, Jean (1889–1963) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Ernest Hemingway publishes A Farewell to Arms, closely reflecting his own wartime experiences Go to Farewell to Arms, A in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Italian writer Alberto Moravia wins success with his first novel, The Time of Indifference Go to Moravia, Alberto (1907–1990) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Italian literature Europe Italy Erich Maria Remarque publishes All Quiet on the Western Front, a novel based on his wartime experiences in the German army Go to Remarque, Erich Maria (1898–1970) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature German literature Europe Germany US author Thomas Wolfe publishes an autobiographical first novel, Look Homeward, Angel Go to Look Homeward, Angel: A Story of the Buried Life in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1930	US crime-writer Dashiell Hammett publishes The Maltese Falcon, the novel in which he introduces his sardonic private eye, Sam Spade Go to Spade, Sam in The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In his novel As I Lay Dying William Faulkner follows the journey of a coffin in a mule-drawn wagon Go to As I Lay Dying in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author John Dos Passos publishes the first novel of his trilogy The 42nd Parallel Go to 42nd Parallel, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In Pietr-Le-Letton, the first novel published under his own name, the Belgian writer Georges Simenon introduces Inspector Maigret Go to Simenon, Georges (1903–89) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Europe Belgium
1932	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US novelist Erskine Caldwell publishes Tobacco Road, about white sharecroppers coping with poverty and desperation in Georgia Go to Tobacco Road in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Young Lonigan: a Boyhood in Chicago Streets is the first novel in James T. Farrell's Studs Lonigan trilogy Go to Young Lonigan: A Boyhood in Chicago Streets in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author Damon Runyon publishes his first collection of stories about low-life New York, under the title Guys and Dolls Go to Runyon (884–1946) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1933	In My Life and Hard Times James Thurber's publishes an affectionate account of his family, including the night the bed fell on his father Go to Thurber, James Grover (1894–1961) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Erskine Caldwell publishes a novel, God's Little Acre, about a farmer obsessed with finding gold on his farm Go to God's Little Acre in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1934	US author Scott Fitzgerald publishes his novel Tender Is the Night Go to Tender Is the Night in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author Henry Miller publishes in Paris a largely sexual autobiography, Tropic of Cancer, about his life as an expatriate Go to Tropic of Cancer in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature French literature Literature in English Europe France North America United States Australian author Christina Stead publishes a first novel based on her own family, Seven Poor Men of Sydney Go to Seven Poor Men of Sydney in The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1935	Tortilla Flat brings success for the US novelist John Steinbeck Go to Tortilla Flat in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Elias Canetti publishes the novel later translated into English as Auto da Fé Go to Canetti, Elias (1905–1994) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Italian literature Europe Italy Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges publishes A Universal History of Infamy, one of the first examples of magic realism Go to magic realism in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Latin America Argentina South America R.K. Narayan's novel Swami and Friends is the first set in his fictional town of Malgudi Go to Narayan, R. K. (1906–2001) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Europe
1936	US author Margaret Mitchell publishes her one book, which becomes probably the best-selling novel of all time – Gone with the Wind Go to Gone with the Wind in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States William Faulkner's novel Absalom, Absalom! chronicles the violently destructive rise and fall of a poor Southern white, Thomas Sutpen Go to Absalom, Absalom! in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States French-born US author Anaïs Nin publishes her first novel, The House of Incest Go to Nin, Anaïs (1903–77) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1937	John Steinbeck publishes Of Mice and Men, a novel about two itinerant farm labourers in California Go to Of Mice and Men in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Danish author Karen Blixen publishes her autobiographical novel Out of Africa Go to Blixen, Karen (1885–1962) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Africa East Africa Europe 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain French writer Jean-Paul Sartre succeeds with his first novel, La Nausée ('Nausea') Go to Sartre, Jean‐Paul (1905–80) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Irish author Samuel Beckett publishes his first novel, Murphy Go to Beckett, Samuel (1906–1989) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1939	James Joyce's Finnegans Wake is published after 17 years in the making Go to Finnegans Wake in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature British Isles Europe Ireland Britain US author Henry Miller publishes in Paris Tropic of Capricorn, about his adolescence in New York Go to Miller, Henry (1891–1980) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature French literature Literature in English Europe France North America United States James Thurber publishes his short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Go to Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family, sharecroppers who are forced to move west to escape the horrors of the Dust Bowl Go to Grapes of Wrath, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Australian author Patrick White publishes his first novel, Happy Valley Go to White, Patrick (1912–90) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US crime-writer Raymond Chandler publishes his first novel, The Big Sleep, introducing the hard-boiled detective Philip Marlowe Go to Chandler, Raymond (1888–1959) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1940	US author Richard Wright publishes Native Son, his semi-autobiographical novel about racial equality Go to Native Son in The Concise Oxford Companion to African American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Ernest Hemingway publishes the novel For Whom the Bell Tolls, set in the Spanish Civil War Go to For Whom the Bell Tolls in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain US author Carson McCullers publishes her first novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Go to Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1941	Scott Fitzgerald's final and incomplete novel, The Last Tycoon, is published posthumously Go to Last Tycoon, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author Eudora Welty publishes her first collection of stories, A Curtain of Green Go to Welty, Eudora (1909–2001) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1942	French author Albert Camus creates an early anti-hero in his novel The Outsider (L'étranger) Go to Camus, Albert (1913–60) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France French author Marguerite Duras makes her name with her partly autobiographical novel The Sea Wall Go to Duras, Marguerite (1914–1996) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1944	Saul Bellow publishes his first novel, Dangling Man, a study of an intellectual adrift as he waits to be drafted into the army Go to Dangling Man in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Jorge Luis Borges publishes Fictions, a collection of short stories Go to Borges, Jorge Luis (1899–1986) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Latin America Argentina South America
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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1946	Eudora Welty sets her novel Delta Wedding in a contemporary southern plantation Go to Welty, Eudora (1909–2001) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1948	Norman Mailer has immediate success with his first novel, The Naked and the Dead, based on his military service in the Pacific Go to Naked and the Dead, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US novelist and poet Jack Kerouac coins a term for his contemporaries, the Beat Generation Go to Beat and Beat Generation in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Poetry Social and domestic Society North America United States
1949	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1950	The Family Moskat, about a Jewish family in Warsaw, is the first of Isaac Bashevis Singer's books to be published in English Go to Singer, Isaac Bashevis (1904–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Europe Poland North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1951	Catcher in the Rye is US author J.D. Salinger's immensely successful first novel Go to Catcher in the Rye, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US novelist Carson McCullers publishes a collection of stories, The Ballad of the Sad Café Go to McCullers, Carson (1917–67) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1952	US author Ralph Ellison publishes his first novel, Invisible Man, a Kafkaesque account of a black immigrant's life in New York Go to Ellison, Ralph (1914–1994) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Ernest Hemingway publishes The Old Man and the Sea, about an epic struggle between an aged Cuban fisherman and a gigantic marlin Go to Old Man and the Sea, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Caribbean North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In his novel East of Eden John Steinbeck develops the biblical theme of Cain and Abel in a family saga set in California Go to East of Eden in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1953	Saul Bellow publishes The Adventures of Augie March, a novel about the experiences of a young Chicago Jew Go to Bellow, Saul (1915–2005) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain South African author Nadine Gordimer publishes her first novel, The Lying Days Go to Gordimer, Nadine (1923– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Literature in English Africa South Africa South Africa (republic)
1954	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain 19-year-old Françoise Sagan has a major international success with her first novel, Bonjour Tristesse Go to Sagan, Françoise (1935–2004) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1955	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Mann publishes a longer but still incomplete version of his novel Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man Go to Bekenntnisse des Hochstaplers Felix Krull. Der Memoiren erster Teil in The Oxford Companion to German Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature German literature Europe Germany 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1956	Sicilian author Giuseppe de Lampedusa completes his novel The Leopard, but does not live to see it published Go to Tomasi Di Lampedusa, Giuseppe (1896–1957) in The Oxford Companion to Italian Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Italian literature Sicily Europe Italy Japanese novelist Yukio Mishima publishes The Temple of the Golden Pavilion Go to Mishima, Yukio (1925–1970) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Asia East Asia Japan Europe
1957	US novelist John Cheever publishes The Wapshot Chronicle, depicting a wealthy and eccentric family in Massachusetts Go to Cheever, John (1912–1982) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Jack Kerouac publishes a largely autobiographical novel, On the Road, describing his experiences travelling through the US and Mexico Go to McCarthy, Mary (1912–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Latin America Mexico North America United States In Voss Australian author Patrick White creates an epic novel about a disastrous attempt to cross the continent Go to Voss 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 Australia and Oceania Australia 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Boris Pasternak's only novel, Doctor Zhivago, is first published in an Italian translation Go to Pasternak, Boris Leonidovich (1890–1960) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature Europe Russia
1958	Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita is published in Paris Go to Lolita in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature French literature Literature in English Europe France North America United States Truman Capote publishes a short novel, Breakfast at Tiffany's, with a bewitching central character, Holly Golightly Go to Breakfast at Tiffany's in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1959	German novelist Günter Grass has an immediate success with his first novel, The Tin Drum Go to Grass, Günter Wilhelm (1927– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature German literature Europe Germany Saul Bellow publishes Henderson the Rain King, in which an American millionaire acquires a strange role in an African tribe Go to Henderson the Rain King in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US author William Burroughs' Naked Lunch, an account of the horrors of a junkie's life, is published in Paris Go to Naked Lunch, The in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Philip Roth publishes his first book, Goodbye, Columbus, a novella and five short stories Go to Roth, Philip (1933– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1960	Irish author Edna O'Brien publishes her first novel, The Country Girls Go to O'Brien, Edna (1932– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature British Isles Europe Ireland Britain US author Harper Lee publishes her first and only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird Go to Lee, Harper (1926– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author John Updike begins to chart the fictional progress of Harry Angstrom, known as Rabbit, in Rabbit, Run Go to Ballou, Adin (1803–90) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1961	J.D. Salinger publishes Franny and Zooey, the second of his collections of stories about the Glass family Go to Barefoot Boy, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Caribbean novelist V.S. Naipaul features his Trinidad family in A House for Mr Biswas Go to House for Mr Biswas, A in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Latin America Caribbean US author Joseph Heller publishes his first novel, Catch-22, set in the last months of World War II Go to Catch-22 in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1962	The Reivers, the last of William Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha novels, is published just a month before his death Go to Reivers, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In Pale Fire Vladimir Nabokov tells his story through an editor's annotations to a poem Go to Pale Fire in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1963	US poet Sylvia Plath publishes under a pseudonym her only novel, The Bell Jar Go to Bell Jar, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Mary McCarthy's novel The Group follows the subsequent adventures of eight fellow graduates from Vassar Go to McCarthy, Mary (1912–89) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author and illustrator Maurice Sendak publishes a fantasy for young children, Where the Wild Things Are Go to Where the Wild Things Are (1963) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US author Joyce Carol Oates publishes her first novel, With Shuddering Fall Go to Oates, Joyce Carol (1938– ) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author Saul Bellow publishes Herzog, a novel featuring a professor of history who is a compulsive sender of messages Go to Herzog in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1967	Flann O'Brien's novel The Third Policeman has a great success when published posthumously Go to Third Policeman, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez publishes a classic of magic realism, One Hundred Years of Solitude Go to García Márquez, Gabriel (1928– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Latin America South America 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US author William Styron's novel The Confessions of Nat Turner describes a historical slave revolt in 1831 Go to Confessions of Nat Turner, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1968	Gore Vidal publishes Myra Breckenridge, featuring a lively transsexual as the central character Go to Vidal, Gore (1925– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Alexander Solzhenitsyn's novel Cancer Ward is smuggled to New York for publication Go to Solzhenitsyn, Alexander (1918–2008) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Europe Russia
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US novelist Philip Roth publishes Portnoy's Complaint, a monologue in which the hero gives his psychoanalyst a frank description of his sexual frustrations Go to Portnoy's Complaint in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Space-traveller Billy Pilgrim suffers horrors in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five Go to Slaughterhouse-Five; or The Children's Crusade. A Duty-Dance with Death in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Canadian author Margaret Atwood publishes her first novel, The Edible Woman Go to Atwood, Margaret Eleanor (1939– ) 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 North America Canada United States
1970	US author Maya Angelou publishes her autobiographical first novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Go to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1973	Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow conjures up weird events in wartime London Go to Pynchon, Thomas (1937–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author Stephen King publishes Carrie, the first of his many best-selling horror novels Go to King, Stephen (1947) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author Erica Jong publishes her first novel, Fear of Flying Go to Jong, Erica (1942) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1975	US author E.L. Doctorow sets his novel Ragtime in the early years of the 20th century Go to Doctorow, E[dgar] L[awrence] (1931–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Canadian novelist Robertson Davies completes his semi-autobiographical Deptford Trilogy Go to Davies, Robertson (1913–95) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America Canada
1978	US author John Irving has wide success with his novel The World According to Garp Go to Irving, John (1942–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1980	Italian academic Umberto Eco publishes The Name of the Rose, a medieval murder mystery Go to Eco, Umberto (1932– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Italian literature Europe Italy
1981	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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1982	Chilean author Isabel Allende publishes her first novel, The House of the Spirits Go to Allende, Isabel (1942– ) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature American literature China Latin America Chile South America Australian novelist Thomas Keneally publishes Schindler's Ark and wins the Booker Prize Go to Keneally, Thomas (1935– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia
1983	South African novelist J.M. Coetzee publishes The Life and Times of Michael K, and wins the Booker Prize Go to Coetzee, J. M. (1940– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Africa South Africa South Africa (republic)
1984	Czech novelist Milan Kundera publishes The Unbearable Lightness of Being, in the tradition of magic realism Go to Kundera, Milan (1929– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Bohemia Czech Republic 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1985	Peter Carey publishes Illywhacker, a novel narrated by a 139-year-old Australian Go to Carey, Peter (1943– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia US author Don DeLillo publishes a novel of weird disasters, White Noise Go to DeLillo, Don (1936– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Gabriel García Márquez publishes Love in a Time of Cholera, a novel about love rekindled after five decades Go to García Márquez, Gabriel (1928– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature American literature Latin America South America Antiguan author Jamaica Kincaid publishes her first novel, Annie John Go to Kincaid, Jamaica (1949) in The Concise Oxford Companion to African American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Latin America Caribbean
1987	US author Toni Morrison publishes her novel Beloved, loosely based on a real incident among freed slaves after the Civil War Go to Morrison, Toni (1931– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US author Tom Wolfe gives a bleak view of contemporary New York in his novel The Bonfire of the Vanities Go to Wolfe, Tom (1931–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English Religion Islam Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Asia Central Asia Iran (Persia) Europe Britain Australian author Peter Carey's novel Oscar and Lucinda wins the Booker Prize Go to Carey, Peter (1943– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia
1991	Canadian poet and novelist Michael Ondaatje publishes The English Patient Go to Ondaatje, Michael (1943– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America Canada 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1992	US author Jane Smiley retells the Lear story in A Thousand Acres Go to Smiley, Jane (1951– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US-born Canadian author Carol Shields' novel The Republic of Love is set in her home town of Winnipeg Go to Shields, Carol (1935–2003) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America Canada All the Pretty Horses is the first volume of US author Cormac McCarthy's trilogy set in Mexico Go to McCarthy, Cormac (1933) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Latin America Mexico North America United States
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US author Annie Proulx wins major awards with her second novel, The Shipping News Go to Proulx, E. Annie (1935– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 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 English literature Literature in English 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Irish author Roddy Doyle publishes a novel that wins the Booker Prize, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha Go to Doyle, Roddy (1958) in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature British Isles Europe Ireland 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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1997	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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Indian author Arundhati Roy publishes her first novel, The God of Small Things Go to Roy, Arundhati (1961– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Literature in English Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Europe
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 English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain

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date: 03 March 2021

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