George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin on this day in 1856. Shaw, Ireland's famous playwright and most well known for his works like "Pygmalion," is amongst the four Irishmen who have received the Nobel Peace Prize for literature. In 1925, he was awarded the prize, just two years after William Butler Yeats won the award. Shaw was also well known for being a Socialist, writing … [Read more...] about July 26, 1856
February 14, 1856
Born on February 14, 1856 in Galway as James Thomas Harris, Frank Harris would later become a world renowned author and editor and friend to famous authors of his time. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1869 and studying at University of Kansas, Harris returned to England and began a journalistic career, befriending George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells and Oscar Wilde. After returning … [Read more...] about February 14, 1856
March 31, 1855
Charlotte Brontë, author of "Jane Eyre," died on this day in 1885. She was born in 1816 to the Reverend Patrick Brontë (formerly Brunty) and Maria Branwell. Maria died of cancer while her six children were still very young. Charlotte's father sent her away to school, where conditions were so terrible that Charlotte's two older sisters died of tuberculosis. Her experiences at … [Read more...] about March 31, 1855
October 16, 1854
One of Ireland's most famous playwrights and novelists, Oscar Wilde was born on this day in Dublin in 1854. Wilde was born to a wealthy family. His father was an eminent Dublin surgeon and his mother was a talented poet, where Wilde likely inherited his passion for writing from. He attended Trinity College Dublin and then went on to study at Magdalen College Oxford. His works, … [Read more...] about October 16, 1854
February 25, 1852
Thomas Moore, the famous Irish poet who penned the lyrics to "The Minstrel Boy" and "The Last Rose of Summer," died on this day in 1852. Born in Dublin in 1779, Moore showed an early interest in music. While studying law at Middle Temple in London, Moore gained recognition for ballads such as "The Meeting of the Waters." His earliest works were published in "Moore's Irish … [Read more...] about February 25, 1852