The most eccentric English poets. English writers of world renown

Almost simultaneously with Byron, another outstanding representative of revolutionary romanticism in England, the great English poet Shelley, entered literature. Indeed, in the person of Shelley, the English people found a remarkable poet-thinker and fighter, who was able to discern in modernity the barely noticeable shoots of the future and create radiant pictures of a revived humanity, when private property and the exploitation of man by man disappear.

Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on August 4, 1792. At this time, Europe was shocked by the revolutionary events in France, and in England an industrial revolution was taking place, which radically changed the socio-economic appearance of the country. The social environment to which Shelley belonged by birth was far from the progressive aspirations of the era, and the great English poet did not owe his revolutionary inspiration to it.

Shelley came from a wealthy noble family that settled in Fylde Place, near Horsham, in Sussex. Neither the poet's grandfather, Baronet Bysshe Shelley, nor his father, Timothy Shelley, ever took an active part in the political life of the country; these were narrow-minded, law-abiding people who firmly adhered to the ancient principles. They invariably gave their votes in the House of Commons to the Whig party and firmly believed in the inviolability of the existing order of things.

According to the testimony of most of Shelley's friends and biographers, the future poet was lonely in his family, with whom he later broke completely. Already in his youth, he developed a dislike for the arrogant ignoramuses who make up the privileged elite of England. This hostility over the years turned into a deep social conflict. The poet early encountered the injustice and stupidity of English laws on inheritance and primogeniture, which disfigured human relationships. He watched with indignation as his own father impatiently awaited the death of his grandfather so that he could take possession of the inheritance and receive a sinecure in Parliament.

A private boarding school and then an aristocratic school at Eton added a new page to the life experience of young Shelley. These were difficult years. At school, Shelley was subjected to severe persecution: neither teachers nor students could forgive him for an independent way of thinking. “Education at Eton was of a scholastic nature; the attention of the authorities and mentors was directed to preventing the penetration of genuine science into the school. But, contrary to prohibitions, Shelley is fond of natural science, physics, chemistry, revealing a broad philosophical interest in life, which later so brightly colored all of his poetry. In his school years, Shelley begins to think about the causes of social evils, a feeling of protest arises in him, a dream of a just life and a desire to serve this bright dream with all his might.

At Eton, Shelley gets acquainted with Godwin's treatise "Political Justice", and a little later with its author. Godwin became for a long time one of the main teachers of the young Shelley, who claimed that the study of "Political Justice" "opened his mind to a new and wider view of the world." In the same years, Shelley got acquainted with the famous work of Thomas Paine "The Rights of Man", which also had a great influence on the future poet. Reading Godwin, Payne, as well as the French Enlightenment, primarily Rousseau, contributed to the formation of the democratic views of the young Shelley.

The beginning of his literary activity also belongs to the time of his stay at Eton. At Eton, he wrote most of his first novel Zastrozzi (Zastrozzi, 1810) and began the novel St Irvyne, or the Rosicrucian, completed in 1811. These first experiences of Shelley in the field of prose are bears the imprint of immaturity and lack of independence. They were written under the strong influence of the "Gothic" novel by A. Radcliffe and M. Lewis, which was fashionable at that time in England, as well as Godwin's novel "Saint Leon".

At Eton, Shelley also tried his hand at lyricism. His first collection of poems, which also included poems by the poet's sister, was released anonymously in 1810 under the title Original Poetry. By Victor and Cazire. The collection was withdrawn from sale by Shelley himself, who admitted its immaturity. However, already in it there are poems that make it possible to predict the further direction of Shelley's poetry. He denounces tyranny and praises freedom; he is concerned about the plight of the people. Such, for example, is The Song of the Irish (1809), where Shelley sings of the brave fighters who fell for the independence of Ireland, whose shadows call the people to revenge

Ireland, your feat is immortal!

Countless are the sufferings of the people,

Ireland, bring back freedom with the sword!

Alas, your brave soldiers

IN damp earth, embraced by grave sleep,

But even the shadows of their enemies are frightening,

And they call on fellow citizens to take revenge.

(Translated by K. B.).

In 1810 Shelley entered Oxford University. What English universities were like in the first half of the 19th century can be seen from the characteristics that Engels gives them in Letters from London. “The whole world knows the pitiful pettiness of English universities,” he wrote in 1843. The university served mainly as a nursery for the clergy. Education rested on religious basis, the departments were occupied by narrow-minded pedants; revelry, feasts, and aristocratic idleness characterized the lifestyle of the student “golden youth.”

In search of answers to the exciting questions of existence: about the origin of the universe, about the meaning and purpose of human life, about the boundaries and possibilities of knowledge - Shelley had to develop completely independently, coming into conflict with official university “science”.

During these years, Shelley's democratic orientation was determined. In one of his letters to Hogg, at the end of 1810, Shelley writes: “Men are equal, and I am convinced that equality will be achieved in a higher and more perfect state of society... Down with fanaticism! Down with intolerance! Your faithful friend will give all his strength, all his little means to this cause.”

During his university years, the moral, unusually bright, appearance of the poet took shape, whom everyone who knew him personally characterizes as an incorruptible, sympathetic person who devoted his life entirely to caring for the suffering and oppressed. In the collection of poems “Posthumous Fragments of Margaret Nicholson” (1810), written and published in the Oxford period, as well as in other poems of this time, tyrannical, political motives predominate.

The Oxford period is characterized by the poem “To Death,” in which young Shelley challenges tyrants who shed the blood of nations and exterminate entire generations. The poem ends with the providence of the future liberation of humanity, which

Will soon throw off the chains of slavery:

The blood will stop

And make peace in the bright brotherhood

Us Freedom and Love.

Kings! nothing is eternal

Except fiery love,

Your power is not infinite

Like all people, you are mortal.

(Translated by K.V.).

All this makes Shelley an intolerant person at Oxford University. When the university authorities learned that Shelley was the author of the seditious pamphlet “The Necessity of Atheism” (1811), he was immediately expelled from the university, and along with him his comrade Hogg, who tried to intercede for Shelley. Shelley was abandoned by both his family and his fiancee. No one wanted to compromise themselves by having a connection with a rebel and apostate.

This is how independent life began. The poet was 19 years old when he found himself thrown out of the circle to which he belonged by birth. He could now devote himself to the activity that most attracted him, the fight against that which cripples a person and turns him into a miserable slave.

Subsequently, Shelley wrote to Byron: “I cannot complain about the old pedants for helping me leave the university sooner than I wanted. If I had stayed there for a few more years, they would have strangled in me any love for education, any desire to leave the herd of cattle like them.”

The direction of Shelley's political, philosophical and artistic activity is determined, first of all, by the fundamental changes that took place in social life England in the second half of the 18th and early 19th centuries as a result of the industrial revolution.

The industrial revolution, which dramatically changed the entire appearance of old England, was accompanied by the growth of the proletariat and the impoverishment of the broad masses of the working people. “More and more quickly, society was divided into large capitalists and poor proletarians, and between them, instead of the stable middle class of old times, we see a changing mass of artisans and small traders, doomed to a very precarious existence and representing the most fluid part of the population.” This time is characterized by the aggravation of class contradictions and the first spontaneous actions of the working class.

It is these features of the historical development of England that create the basis for the emergence of English utopian socialism of the early 19th century (R. Owen), a movement with which English revolutionary romanticism is largely associated.

Shelley was strongly influenced by the French bourgeois revolution of 1789 and the English and French Enlightenment. In his pamphlets, letters, works of art the names of Locke, Voltaire, encyclopedists and Rousseau are found. In the note to the fifth canto of Queen Mab, Shelley refers to a treatise by J.-J. Rousseau "On the Origin of Inequality" and quotes from him. In one of his letters to Godwin, Shelley speaks of his intention to write "for the good of mankind" an Inquiry into the Causes of the Defeat of the French Revolution. The French Revolution was reflected in an allegorical form in the poem "The Rise of Islam".

On the political and some philosophical writings of Shelley - on the "Declaration of Rights", "The Necessity of Atheism" and others - there is an undoubted imprint of the traditions of the Enlightenment and the French bourgeois revolution of 1789

This is my personal top 10 English romantics of those whom I read (well, I didn’t read just two, Crabb, who is strangely attributed by “literary critics” to romantics, and John Clare - the most famous poets, the British themselves do not call anyone romantics). And the distribution in places is subjective, according to the principle "I am a reader, I see it that way" ...

Top 10 English Romantic Poets as I See Him

1. Robert Burns. A man known to Russians mainly for two poems, one of which he did not write (that tedious song about nature and weather that E. Ryazanov passed off as him; and the second about love and poverty, performed by a pseudo-aunt in a completely different film) , for some reason, stubbornly the British themselves are taken out as romantics, although they did not even live up to the beginning of the 19th century. Well, perhaps they are "right in essence", more precisely, in terms of the content of the poems. By the way, for a long time here, in Russia, Burns was judged solely by Marshak's translations ... Which are terrible! Trimming, gag and selectivity. Marshakovsky Burns seemed like such a drunken goon, preoccupied with “getting laid with the love of a woman.” HZ - maybe this was missing in the life of Marshak, and maybe in general in the life of a Soviet person. But the fact is that Burns is also a powerful satirist, as evidenced by his great poems, translated, fortunately (better late than not at all), after Marshak. In general, I am always for satire, humor and irony, of which Burns has a lot, and that is why he is “in the lead.”

2. John Keats. Yes, that's it, that's it, Keats. Because his verse is very melodic, sonorous and bright (you can even a beautiful word call it "plastic"). Because even about sad things he writes lightly and optimistically - for example, the essentially creepy story of a pot of basil. Keats, unlike many others, has not a “scientific” talent, but a natural one. He doesn’t have much reading or depth of ideas, and where would they come from at his age? And Byron can laugh as much as he wants at his “stupidity” and “childhood,” but he himself has few such lines that are not carefully cleaned and planed, but simple and organic. And few people fit the concept of “romanticism” as well in terms of general mood and content as Keats.

3. Walter Scott. Exactly what. Because all these “ballads about knights, noble maidens and other Scots” are all from him, from the heir of the Buccleuch family. Personally, I really, really like “Marmion”, and “The Minstrel’s Last Song”, and even “The Maiden of the Lake”. And it was Scott who brought into fashion the genre of the novel in verse, which no one else except the romantics (and those on their fingers) had mastered. And it was completely in vain that Sir Walter perceived Byron’s poems so strangely - as something after which he was ashamed to write, and it was time to move on to the prose of life. Apparently, I just wanted to write words in lines rather than in a column for a long time, and a solid excuse was needed...

4. And now only George Gordon Byron. Because in addition to good and strong things, he also wrote a bunch of all sorts of crap. For example, I could never read his “Manfred” about God and some dinosaurs, and even with pathos, “Cain” or “Don Juan”, a frivolous poem, inflated to a thick book. Yes, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage is a classic, yes, The Scottish Bards and A Vision of Judgment are very strong and satirical. But in general, Byron is somewhat hypercholeric, has ups and downs, and even has a rather strong whiff of classicism. It seems to me that a third of the lord’s reputation is his scandalous shockingness, and the remaining two are his talent.

5. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Yes, "The Old Sailor" is something with something, one of the most powerful things in the world of romantic poetry (and indeed). And "Christabel", and "Kubla Khan", and other stuff-dryuks ... That's just all of them, except for the "Sailor", not a damn thing finished, because the opium was running out. There is a seal on all this, not so much of forcedness, but of a heavy work that killed the author, and even perfectionism. Therefore, even Coleridge's amusing poems, for example, "Satan's Walk", look somehow ominous, gloomy and "globally pessimistic". Very sad creativity, destructive, though beautiful, like a girl with consumption...

6. Robert Southey. And it’s not that Southie is a bad poet, not at all - both Zhukovsky loved him (and actively “used”) and Pushkin. And his ballads are generally something with something, in terms of ballads he, IMHO, is the best author of all time - for one “King of the Crocodiles” you can give all the romantic French poetry. They just don’t translate it from us, no matter what. So, Vitkovsky put together a collection of ballads in 2006 - and that’s it. So we sit, lovers of translated romanticism, and lick our lips at Southie - at least we could read some poems, he only has five of them...

7. Thomas Moore. Glamorous Ireland, sleek and polished to match the “standards of decency” of 19th century England. Such even intonations, not spilling out from the edges, although “saturated with the internal active seething of freedoms and equalities.” Although, especially in big things, talent, and the “sharp scourge of satire” and “artistic mastery of words” may appear. In general, a man who was both Byron’s best friend and the one who burned his memoirs at the insistence of his family. A man who has not decided whether he is a friend or a genie (c)

8. Percy Bysshe Shelley. Soviet “Marxist literary scholars” could not understand how “the champion of freedom and the struggle against tyranny and exploitation” could be boring and boring. But they did not understand sincerely, and were in every possible way moved by his work, ah, love of freedom, ah, death is a tyrant... But I just don’t understand - well, it’s stupidly boring. It's boring to read about all these endless Prometheans, dying of happiness to perish in the struggle for the universal "freedom" that is "out there somewhere." Byron's poems were both cheerful and lifelike. And Shelley only succeeded in the second... Oh, yes, and he also succeeded in his wife - both beautiful and smart. It’s just a pity that this didn’t have any effect on the poems.

9. William Wordsworth. The only thing worse than a dull rebel is a dull rebel who writes on specially boring topics. Well, how could a person’s jaw not turn out to put into simple (to the point of primitiveness) verses the stories of simple (to the point of primitiveness) “suffering little orphans” and other “poor, unfortunate victims of social inequality in the countryside.” If you want to be truly tired before bedtime, force yourself to read thirty pages of Wordsworth... And yes, I don’t like landscapes - in general, and especially in poetry. So all these “sheets swayed by the wind on the languid river bank” are always missed by my cash register, sorry.

10. Well, yes, William Blake they also consider him a romantic... Well, I’m not so attentive and vigilant, and I see only the rather primitive “poems” of a person who is not burdened with a special education and very deep thoughts. Somehow his picture of the world is monochrome and dull, and even reeks of truisms... And it’s just boring. In Hollywood, for some reason, they loved his “Tiger-Tiger”, they put it in almost every film about maniacs, but I, honestly, don’t find this verse particularly deep either. Well, that's the kind of scoundrel I am...

PS. And if anyone liked the topic of poets by country-literature, write in the comments, I can continue it... And if you don’t like it, don’t write, we won’t continue.

English literature in the world is represented by writers who created books in different genres and directions. Many of them are considered classics and are included in the canon of world literature.

English writers and their works

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 – 1400)

Geoffrey Chaucer- a writer who is called a father English literature. He was the first English poet to write civil lyrics and was recognized as a national poet. Chaucer wrote exclusively in English, he introduced new themes, ideas and motifs into English poetry, improved many medieval artistic methods of writing and created new poetry.

Geoffrey was the son of an ordinary London wine merchant. He managed to build a career in the royal court - he began as a page in the retinue of the Duchess of Olser. Later, the future English writer served in the army, took part in the war against France and was captured by enemies. The English king ransomed him from captivity.

Little information has been preserved about Chaucer's career. Literary scholars still find it difficult to establish the dates of writing some poems and establish their authorship.

At the time when Chaucer wrote, English literature was in a difficult state: there was no single literary language, systems of versification, unified poetic theory. Chaucer as a writer significantly influenced the development of the English language, its dominance over Latin and French.

Chaucer's main works written in English are the following texts:

• "The Book of the Duchess" Considered the poet's first great poem, it was written in honor of the memory of Duchess Blanche of Lancaster. In this text, the author tries to imitate the French style, but innovative poetic solutions can already be traced in it;
• "House of Glory"- a poem with realistic motives;
• "The Legend of Glorious Women" ;
• "Troilus and Chryseis".

Chaucer modified English poetry, gave it a new direction, which was followed by future poets of England.

Brief biography of Geoffrey Chaucer in English:

The work of the English playwright Shakespeare is called the highest achievement of Renaissance culture. His texts in English had a great influence on subsequent poets, artists and novelists, and the images from his plays became timeless and symbolic.

Little is known about Shakespeare's life. He was born into the family of a craftsman and merchant, studied at a grammar school, when teaching was carried out using a single textbook - the Bible. At the age of 18, the writer married Anne Hathaway, who was 8 years older than William.

It is believed that his first dramatic texts in English were written in 1594. Some biographers believe that at this time the writer was a member of a traveling troupe, and the experiences of these years influenced his passion for the theater. Since 1599, his life became closely connected with the Globe Theater, where he was both a playwright and an actor.

The writer's literary canon in English includes 37 dramas and 154 sonnets.

His most famous texts in English are:

• "Romeo and Juliet";
• "Venus and Adonis";
• "Julius Caesar";
• "Othello";
• "A dream in a summer night".

In literary circles over the past 2-3 centuries, the theory has been actively promoted that William Shakespeare could not have been the author of these texts due to insufficient education and some discrepancies in biographical data. in 2002, a version was put forward that the educated and intelligent Earl of Rutland, an aristocrat and a talented playwright and writer, was actually hiding behind the name of Shakespeare. The date of his death coincides with the date of death of Shakespeare, who stopped writing at this time.

This theory has not been proven and in classical understanding literature to this day, William Shakespeare is considered the one who created these texts in English, which became the property of English culture.

Robert Stevenson / Robert Stevenson (1850-1894)

He was a versatile person - he was engaged in literary criticism, poetry in English, he is considered the founder of neo-romanticism and the one who theorized information about this artistic method.

The writer was born in the capital of Scotland and belonged to the ancient Belfur family. He was raised by numerous nannies due to his mother's illness. One of the nannies, Cammy, was talented and, thanks to her, Robert became familiar with poetry. Later, the writer admitted that it was thanks to the nanny that he became a writer.

Robert Stevenson traveled a lot and during his trips he wrote notes about his impressions and emotions. In 1866 it was published The first book in English is The Pentland Rebellion. But world fame came to him after the novel “Treasure Island”. Stevenson's work is characterized by descriptions of nature, the use of legends, mythology, and some moralizing.

As a child, he was sick a lot and in his memoirs in English, the writer wrote that the “doors of death” were always open to him. This influenced his consciousness and understanding of the world. This led him to found neo-romanticism, which conveys the sharp contradictions between dreams and reality. In his understanding, travel, danger and emotions are needed so that life is filled with colors, so that people can see the beauty of the world.

The writer's main works in English:

• "Treasure Island";
• "Heather honey";
• "Proprietor of Ballantrae";
• "Children's flower gardener of poems."

Stevenson was called a "legendary man" because of his love of stories and mythology, which he embodied in his works in English.

Charles Dickens / Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

- great prose writer of world literature. Born into the family of an official, his father discovered his artistic talent very early - he forced the boy to take part in theatrical productions, read poetry, and improvise. The writer grew up in love, comfort and confidence in the future.

When he was 12 years old, his family went bankrupt, and the boy went to work in a factory, where he first encountered cruelty and injustice. This period influenced the consciousness of the future writer.

Working at this factory haunted Charles all his life - he always considered it the biggest blow in his life. That is why his English texts contain so much sympathy for the poor and downtrodden. He had to work as a paper clerk, a broker and a stenographer in Parliament.

On last job he had to do several creative tasks. After this, he comes to the understanding that he must work in English literature.

In 1836 they came out first essays "Sketches of Boz" in English, but they were not popular at the time. A few years later, he created the first chapters of the novel “The Pickwick Papers” and these texts marked the beginning of his writing career.

Two years after this novel, a novel is published in English "The Adventures of Oliver Twist" in which, for the first time in world literature, a child comes to life on the pages of a book. From this time on, fruitful writing work begins.

Dickens's major novels in English:

• "Dombey and Son";
• "Big hopes";
• "David Copperfield";
• "Little Dorrit"
• "A Tale of Two Cities."

The writer in his novels in English realistically describes the England of his era, describes in detail all the characters and issues. His texts are very deep, realistic and lively, the message of each novel is the search for justice in a cruel world.

Brontë sisters: Charlotte (1816-1855), Emily (1818-1848), Anne (1820-1849)

Bronte sisters is a unique phenomenon in world literature. Three girls, each talented in their own way, were able to take an honorable place in the canon of classical literature not only in England, but also in the world.

The most popular novels are Charlotte Bronte's Jair Eyre and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Anne Brontë wrote the books Agnes Gray and The Stranger from Waifdale Hall. In these novels, the romantic is masterfully intertwined with the realistic. The writers were able to convey the spirit of their era, create sensitive and still relevant novels.

The sisters grew up in a priestly family in the quiet town of Thornton. They became interested in writing from early childhood, their first timid attempts in English were printed in a local magazine at their own expense. They appeared in literature under male pseudonyms.

At that time, male writers had a better chance of recognition. But their first book did not attract attention - it was a collection of poems. After this, the girls turned away from poetry and took up prose. A year later, each of them wrote a novel in English - "Jane Eyre", "Agnes Gray" and "Wuthering Heights". The first book was considered the most successful. After the death of the sisters, recognition came to the novel Wuthering Heights.

The sisters lived short life– died at the age of about 30 years. And the final recognition of their work occurred after their death.

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Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Oscar Wilde- playwright and poet, literary critic and writer who embodied the principles of English aestheticism in his novels. Oscar was born in Dublin, where the writer received a classical education - he studied at Trinity College and St. Magdalene College (Oxford).

Beautiful things were always appreciated in his house - furniture, books, paintings. This influenced the aesthetic tastes of the future writer. His development as a word artist was greatly influenced by university teachers - the writer John Ruskin and Walter Pater.

After receiving his education, the writer moved to London, where he joined the aesthetic movement.

Aestheticism is a movement that combined the ideas of impressionism and neo-romanticism. The main requirement for creativity within this direction is not to imitate nature, but to recreate it according to the laws of beauty, which is inaccessible to ordinary life.

The writer believed that it is not art that reflects reality, but reality that imitates art. In 1881, the first book of his poems was published in English, and in 1888 his first fairy tales saw the world.

The writer's main works in English:

• "The Picture of Dorian Grey";
• "Pomegranate House";
• "Happy Prince";
• "The importance of Being Earnest";
• "The Ideal Man"

In the work of the writer Wilde, reality and fiction are mixed, a mix of the unreal and the real dominates in his fairy tales, he managed to create harmony between aesthetic theory and artistic truth. Most clearly, the principles of his art were embodied in fairy tales through their plot and style.

Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927)

English humorist and playwright Jerome Klapka Jerome was the most famous writer in print during his lifetime. Distinctive feature his creativity is the ability to see humor in any life situation.

As a child, Jerome dreamed of becoming a writer, writer or politician. But at the age of 12 he had to start working - collecting coal. After some time, the future writer’s sister convinced him to try himself on the theater stage. He joined a group of actors that had a small budget. They even paid for their own props and costumes.

Three years later, the future writer realized that this did not suit him and decided to try his hand at journalism. He began to write a lot in English, but most of the texts were never published. The writer also worked as a paralegal, packer and teacher. In 1885, his essay about his work in the theater was published, which made it possible to publish his other works. From then on, writing became his priority.

In 1888, the writer married and went to Honeymoon. Literary scholars believe that this influenced his style and manner of writing in English. In 1889, a book was published that immediately became very popular - “Three in the boat, not counting the dog.”

Main texts:

• “Three in the boat, not counting the dog”;
• “Why we don’t like strangers”;
• "Civilization and Unemployment";
• "Philosophy and the Demon";
• "The man who wanted to rule."

During his lifetime, Jerome's works in English were translated into many languages ​​of the world and published in many countries. He became an iconic writer in England.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

- poet and prose writer, writer, the last representative of the era of Queen Victoria. Thomas's childhood was spent in the patriarchal atmosphere of rural England. He witnessed the existence of many traditions - fairs, folk traditions, holidays, songs.

Once in 1856, the future writer became a student of an architect in Dorchester; in subsequent years he was actively engaged in self-education: he read books on literature and history, studied philosophy, German and French.

In 1867 he wrote his first novel in English, The Pauper and the Lady, which was not published. He destroyed the manuscript. Publishers alerted in the novel the radicalism of the image of all miles of population and religion. He was advised to write something “more artistic.”

In 1871, the writer anonymously published a novel in English. "Desperate Ways", which has already witnessed Hardy's unique style: detective genre, sensational motifs.

Throughout his life, Thomas Hardy wrote 14 novels in English, which are combined by the author into three cycles:

• “Inventive and experimental novels”;
• "Romantic stories and fantasies";
• “Novels of Characters and Environment.”

In his texts, the writer depicts life in the village, social injustice, studies human behavior and the factors that influence it.

The writer's main novels in English:

• "Three Strangers";
• "Barbara of the Greb Family";
• “A woman with a fantasy”;
• Alicia's Diary.

The presence of rural motifs in the writer's work is explained by his childhood experience: the first years of his life he lived in an atmosphere of folk traditions and could observe life in those conditions. Later, these observations were transformed in his work.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)

The publicist and writer grew up in the family of an architect and an artist. Arthur's stepmother had a passion for books and passed this passion on to the boy. He later recalled that she greatly influenced Arthur's career.

At the age of ten, the future writer was sent to a boarding school, where children were treated cruelly. During this period, the boy realized that he had a natural gift for inventing stories. He was often surrounded by students who listened to his inventions.

In college, Arthur was actively involved in creativity. In my last year I published a magazine and poetry in English. In 1881, Arthur was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery.

In 1885, he married a girl named Louise Hawkins and became interested in literature. Then he had a dream of becoming a professional writer. Cornhill magazine published his works from time to time. In 1886, he began work on a world-famous novel in English that would bring him popularity - "A study in Scarlet".

In 1892, the magazine Strand made an offer to the young writer to write a series of stories about Sherlock Holmes. Later, the hero of the works and the constant inventing of stories about him tired the author. But the series was popular and publishers and readers expected new stories.

Conan Doyle also wrote plays, other novels and essays in English.

The main texts of the writer:

• “Sketch in Scarlet”;
• "The Hound of the Baskervilles";
• "Brigadier Gerard";
• "Letters from Old Monroe";
• "Angel of the darkness".

Arthur Conan Doyle is famous primarily as the author and creator of Sherlock Holmes, whose image remains interesting and open to interpretation today.

Agatha Christie / Agatha Christie (1890-1976)

The famous writer, author of popular detective stories in English, was born into a family of immigrants from America. As a child, the girl was educated at home. Agatha's mother raised her children alone and devoted a lot of time to music.

With the outbreak of the First World War, Agatha worked as a nurse in a military hospital. She loved work and considered it the most noble. While working as a nurse, she wrote her first stories in English. Agata's older sister at that time already had several published texts, and she also wanted to achieve success in this field.

In 1920, the society was presented first novel in English, The Mysterious Incident at Styles. Agatha spent a long time looking for a publisher and worked hard on the text. Only the seventh publishing house that the girl approached agreed to publish the book.

Agatha wanted to write under a male pseudonym, but the publisher told her that her name was bright, readers would be able to immediately remember her. Since then, novels have been published under his real name.

She began to write a lot in English. I invented stories while working around the house, knitting, and communicating with my family.

Famous novels:

• "Three stories";
• "Five Little Pigs";
• "Inspector Poirot and others";
• "Train at 4.50 from Paddington";
• "Thirteen Mysterious Cases".

Agatha Christie considered her best text to be the book in English "Ten Little Indians". A special feature of her detective stories is the complete absence of violence - she did not describe violent scenes, blood and murders, and there are no sexual crimes in her novels. The writer tried to weave morality into each of her texts.

The best English writers and their works for children

There are many writers in English literature who have created children's works. They remain relevant and interesting even to modern children.

Lewis Carroll

English writer (real name - Charles Lutwidge) who became famous thanks to works for children. He grew up in a family of a priest, where there were seven children. Everyone received home education - the father gave the children knowledge of theology, different languages and natural sciences. Children have always been encouraged to enjoy games and inventions.

As a child, the future writer came up with different stories in English and read them to his family. His humor, ability to parody and burlesque motifs are felt in his early texts. He copied poems by Shakespeare, Milton, and Gray. Already in these parodies he showed his sharp mind and erudition.

As Charles grew up, he discovered his love for children. With adults he felt lonely, always embarrassed and silent. But with children he was open and cheerful. He walked with them, took them to the theater, told them stories, invited them to visit.

His best texts were originally created as improvisation. In his work, he turned to theatricality and fabulousness; in his texts, ancient images that are embodied in folk tales come to life.

List of major works in English:

• "Alice in Wonderland";
• “Useful and edifying poetry”;
• "Bruno's Revenge"
• "Alice for children."

Lewis's writings have been filmed many times and have been translated into other languages ​​in many countries around the world. Alice in Wonderland is an inexhaustible source of quotes for many people.

Roald Dahl is known to the world for his book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". The writer grew up in an English-speaking environment, raised by his father. He graduated from a boarding school for boys and at the age of 12 went to Tanzania. When did the second one begin? World War, he went into the service and took up aviation - he served as a pilot in Kenya.

It was published during the war years the first story in English "Gremlins", and after the war he realized that literary creativity was what he wanted to do. The writer became famous as the creator of paradoxical stories.

His main works:

• "James and the Giant Peach"
• "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory";
• "Matilda";
• "Gremlins"

His texts in English are characterized by exaggeration of reality, characters, sometimes to the point of absurdity, humor and fabulousness. Children love his stories for their humor, instructiveness and closeness to life. Dahl could create worlds in which children recognize themselves.

Laureate Nobel Prize born in India in the family of a teacher. When Kipling was 6, he was sent to study in England. The living conditions of the relative who was involved in his education were terrible: the child did not receive love and affection, he was beaten and frightened. The boy was almost blind from the resulting stress. When the mother came to visit her son, she saw his condition and took him home.

But over time, the writer returned to England and began studying at college. There he began to write poetry and his first essays in English. Some texts were published in local publishing houses.

Kipling wrote in English about ordinary people and interpreted ordinary stories. He placed a person in circumstances in which his character was best revealed. In the 90s, the writer worked very fruitfully, at that time it turned out a large number of his novels in English.

The main works of the writer:

• "The jungle book";
• "Three Soldiers";
• "Kim";
• "The Second Jungle Book."

Kipling became famous for his texts for children, but he also wrote ballads and poems in English that addressed the pressing social issues of his era.

The writer who created the legendary world of Harry Potter, went through many rejections before her book was finally published.

She was born in England. She began writing her first texts in English as a child. At age 9, she wrote Jessica Mitford's autobiography. At school, Joanna read a lot and studied well. She tried to enter Oxford, but failed her exams and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Exeter.

She began working on the first Harry Potter book in 1995. She submitted the manuscript to 12 publishing houses and all of them rejected her. Bloomsbury publishing house agreed. The first book had a circulation of 1000, after 5 months it received its first prize.

Success came to the writer, and publishing houses began to compete for the right to publish her next books. “Harry Potter” became a brand, it was filmed, and after watching the film, millions of children around the world began to dream of being at Hogwarts.

The Harry Potter series of books includes the following:

• "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone";
• "Harry Potter And The Chamber of secrets";
• "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire";
• "Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban"
• "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix";
• "Harry Potter and Half Blood Prince";
• "Harry Potter and the Deadly Relics"

Rowling also wrote other books in English that are popular among children and related to the saga:

• "The Tales of Beedle the Bard";
• "Fantastic creatures and where to find them."

English classics - popular books

Some works are considered canonical in English literature. Brief summaries and key ideas of some of them are presented below.

Hound of the Baskervilles

"The Hound of the Baskervilles" is a work by Arthur Conan Doyle in English, which has become one of the most famous in the Sherlock Holmes series. The main characters of the novel are detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant and friend Dr. Watson.

During one of his travels, the writer heard from a fellow traveler mysterious story about a dog that was called the “black devil.” This inspired Arthur to create a story that would center on a sinister dog. At the beginning of the novel, the name of Robinson Fletcher is remembered, who gave him the idea for creating this story.

The plot is typical for stories about a detective: Doctor Mortimer turns to him for help, whose friend dies under mysterious conditions. Everyone was frightened by the expression on the dead man's face, which expressed fear. There is a legend in his friend’s family that is passed down from generation to generation. It's about a dog that chases all members of its family at night. Sherlock Holmes begins an investigation into this case.

The trowel's book holds the suspense and only reveals the mystery at the end of the story. This novel has been filmed many times and is considered the best in the writer’s creative biography.

Invisible Man

"Invisible Man" is a novel by English science fiction writer H.G. Wells, written in 1897. He describes the life of an English scientist who invented a device that makes a person invisible. The scientist worked on his creation for a long time and postponed its presentation, but at some point he began to experience financial difficulties and decided to become invisible forever in order to start a new life.

The book describes the difficulties this scientist faces: how the initial euphoria of his condition gives way to complete disappointment. Main image books - Griffin - became one of the first “villains” in literature.

A study in Scarlet

"A study in Scarlet" is a work by Arthur Conan Doyle, which was published in 1887. This book allows the reader to plunge into the world of a detective, think with him and try to understand the logic of his thoughts. In this work, Sherlock Holmes appears for the first time, and readers are introduced to his manner of doing business.

This story was written in just three weeks, but it brought success to the author, and readers became acquainted with the witty detective and began to wait for the next stories.

Citadel

"Citadel"- one of the best and most profound works of the English writer Archibald Cronin. This is a parable novel that reveals the history of human development in the reality of that time.

The novel tells the story of a doctor who dreams of becoming the best in his field, but he faces various difficulties that await the young doctor in the hospital. Through building a career, he reveals himself as a person and a professional.

This novel is well deserved considered Cronin's strongest: it clearly depicts the psychological formation of personality and its decomposition, its formation under the influence of various factors of reality.

lost World

"Lost World"- a novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, which is written in an adventure style. It has not become as popular as the stories about Sherlock Holmes, but its style, plot and ideas deserve the attention of readers.

The book tells about an exciting adventure, a journey to an unknown land where different animals live. In this novel, the writer tries to show his familiarity with the latest ideas of science. This novel not only has an exciting fantasy element, it is full of sketches of animals, humor that is difficult to convey in Russian and scenes from real life.

This part of Arthur Conan Doyle's work is often left aside, but The Lost World is an example of how several original styles can be combined in one writer.

Othello

"Othello" is a play by William Shakespeare, the plot of which is based on the text “The Moor of Venice” by Giraldi Cinta. The plot of the play revolves around the depiction of the conflict between the individual and society. She talks about love, hate, jealousy, reveals important problem humanity.

The images of tragedy are lively, bright, they have both positive and negative features, each of them is a mix of reason and emotions. “Othello” has become the most popular tragedy due to the fact that it depicts acute conflicts between eternal human feelings - love, jealousy, trust.

Describes greed and the desire to get rich at any cost - problems that societies face during any era.

Essay in English “Favorite writer”

Conclusion

English writers are a popular topic for writing and conversation. Knowledge of the great classics of English literature always speaks of a person’s good taste and education. Most works have film adaptations and can be watched online.

Today, many schools no longer study such a subject as foreign literature. The younger generation, as a rule, learns about some famous English writers and their fascinating works from textbooks in English classes and thanks to modern cinema. However, everyone who studies English needs to know which English writers are classics of foreign literature. Thanks to this knowledge, you can expand your general horizons and expand your vocabulary by reading works in the original.

About the most famous

Even those who are not particularly keen on reading literature have heard the names of English writers who have gained worldwide fame. It's about about Shakespeare, Kipling, Byron, Conan Doyle and others. Let's talk briefly about the authors whose works are worthy of everyone's attention.

Rudyard Kipling (Sir Joseph Rudyard Kipling)- English poet, writer and short story writer who lived from 1865 to 1936. In the history of world literature he is known as the creator of stories and fairy tales for children, many of which were filmed. Rudyard Kipling became not only the youngest winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, but also the first Englishman to receive this award. The most famous works: “The Jungle Book”, “Riki-Tiki-Tavi”, “Kim”, “Kaa’s Hunt”, etc. Children's stories: “Baby Elephant”, “How the first letter was written”, “The cat who walked on its own” yourself”, “Why does a rhinoceros’s skin have folds”, etc.

Oscar Wilde (Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde)- an outstanding Irish poet, playwright, novelist and essayist. One of the most famous playwrights of the late Victorian period and a key figure in the development of Aestheticism and European modernism. The most famous work is considered to be the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1890). Years of the writer’s life: 1854−1900.

George Gordon Byron- English romantic poet, who from 1788 to 1824 was a symbol of romanticism and political liberalism in Europe of the 19th century. During his lifetime he was usually called "Lord Byron". Thanks to him, such terms as “Byronic” hero and “Byronicism” appeared in literature. The creative legacy left by the poet is represented by the poem “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” (1812), the novel “Don Juan”, the poems “The Giaour” and “The Corsair”, etc.

Arthur Conan Doyle (Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle)- English writer (although a doctor by training). He is the author of countless novels and short stories that are of an adventure, historical, journalistic, fantastic and humorous nature. The most popular are detective stories about Sherlock Holmes, science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, as well as a number of historical novels. Conan Doyle also wrote plays and poems. The creative heritage is represented by such works as “ White squad", "The Lost World", "The Hound of the Baskervilles", etc. Years of the writer’s life - 1859−1930.

Daniel Defoe- English writer and publicist who wrote about 500 books, magazines and pamphlets on various topics. He is one of the founders of the European realistic novel. In 1719, Daniel Defoe saw the light of the first and best novel for the whole creative life writer called "Robinson Crusoe". Famous works also include “Captain Singleton”, “The History of Colonel Jack”, “Mole Flanders”, “Roxana” (1724), etc.

William Somerset Maugham- British novelist, playwright, screenwriter and literary critic. One of the most successful prose writers of the twentieth century. For achievements in art and literature he was awarded the Order of the Knights of Honor. Maugham has 78 works, including stories, essays and travel notes. Main works: “The Burden of Human Passions”, “The Moon and a Penny”, “Pies and Wine”, “The Razor’s Edge”.

Who wrote for children

Not all famous English writers were passionate about exclusively serious life topics. Some great authors dedicated part of their work to the younger generation, writing fairy tales and stories for children. Who hasn't heard about Alice, who visited Wonderland, or Mowgli, the boy who grew up in the jungle?

Biography of the writer Lewis Carroll whose real name is Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is no less interesting than his book “Alice in Wonderland”. He grew up in big family, where there were 11 children. The boy loved to draw and always dreamed of becoming an artist. This writer told us the story of the restless heroine Alice and her endless journeys into a wonderful magical world, where she meets many interesting characters: the Cheshire cat, the mad hatter, and the queen of cards.

Roald Dahl originally from Wales. The author spent most of his childhood in boarding houses. One of these boarding houses was located near the famous Cadbury chocolate factory. It is assumed that the idea of ​​writing your best children's story entitled “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” came to him during this period. The hero of the story is a boy named Charlie, who receives one of five tickets that allows him to enter a closed chocolate factory. Charlie, along with 4 other participants, completes all the tasks in the factory, and remains the winner.

Rudyard Kipling famous for his "The Jungle Book", which tells the story of the boy Mowgli, who grows up among animals in the wild forests. Most likely this story was written under the impression of my own childhood. The fact is, after birth, the writer lived in India for the first 5 years of his life.

Joanne Rowling- the most famous writer and “storyteller” of our time. It was she who gave us such a character as Harry Potter. Joan wrote the story about the boy wizard Harry, who goes to Hogwarts school, for her children. This allowed them to plunge into the world of magic and magic and forget for a while about the poverty in which the family lived at that time. The book is full of interesting adventures.

Joan Delano Aiken became a writer because everyone in her family wrote: from her father to her sister. However, Joan was involved in children's literature. Her most famous work was the story “A Piece of Heaven in a Pie.”

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson invented the pirate Captain Flint in his famous story"Treasure Island". Hundreds of boys followed the adventures of this hero. Robert himself comes from cold Scotland, an engineer and lawyer by training. The first book was published when the author was only 16 years old; he borrowed money for publication from his father. The story about treasure island was invented by him much later during games with his son, during which they drew a treasure map together and came up with stories.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien- author of fantastic and breathtaking stories "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings". John is a teacher by training. As a child, the writer learned to read early, and did this often throughout his life. As John himself admits, he fiercely hated the story “Treasure Island,” but was crazy about “Alice in Wonderland.” The writer himself, after his stories, became the founder of the fantasy genre; it is no coincidence that he was nicknamed the “father of fantasy.”

English poetry originated at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries; it is inextricably linked with the names of such creators of literary art as Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Burns, John Keats and, of course, William Shakespeare. The first work of this kind in England is rightfully considered the poem "Beowulf", named after its main character - a brave young man who defended his country from the devastating attacks of a dragon. The poem was written in the early 13th century and is a beautifully preserved example of ancient Anglo-Saxon literature. More than 10% of the text (which, by the way, is 3182 lines) is written in Old English.

English poets are literary figures who wrote works regardless of their nationality, faith and place of residence. In Russian schools and higher educational institutions they study only a short course in English poetry. Russian schoolchildren know very well who William Shakespeare is, but they are unlikely to know the names of Joseph Addison, Matthew Arnold, Robert Browning.

The founder of English literature in general is considered to be the author of The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer, who lived in the 14th century. His major work, written in Middle English, remained unfinished. The Canterbury Tales is a collection of short stories written in poetic and prose form (22 in total). The entire narration is told on behalf of pilgrims heading to Canterbury to venerate the relics of the martyr Thomas Becket (in Russian translations the saint usually appears as Thomas of Canterbury).

Medieval authors are recognizable by the style of presentation of their works all over the world. Thus, the style of the famous Shakespeare cannot be confused with the style of other authors, despite the numerous translations of his works into foreign languages. Many of the issues raised by William Shakespeare, who lived in the 16th century, in his tragedies and comedies, remain relevant today. Based on Shakespeare's poems, a huge number of performances have been staged and many films have been made in many countries, which indicates the recognition of the author throughout the world.

Many Russian readers know the name. This English romantic poet became famous under the name of Lord Byron. Byron's works are known to Russians thanks to their numerous translations. The most famous literary masterpieces of Lord Byron are considered to be “The Corsair”, “Cain”, “Lara”.

Many English poets of the 16th and 19th centuries wrote their works in the vein of romanticism. For example, he passed away in 1821 and brought a considerable number of romantic innovations to the country’s poetry. His works are filled with grace literary description all the joys of life, the beauty of the world. Keats' most famous works are "Ode to a Greek Vase" and "Endemion".

Among the creators of literary art, English female poets occupy a special place: Elizabeth Browning, Jean Ingelow, Sarah Coleridge, Emily Brontë. The latter, by the way, is best known to Russian admirers of foreign poetic art as the author of Wuthering Heights and many works written in poetic form.

Moving away from the romantic style, their works are mainly written in the spirit of naturalism. In our country, the most famous English poets of the 20th century are Harry Graham, author of Poetic Economy, Keith Wright, author of Sergeant Smith's Parrot and others. Their creative research has left a mark not only on the pages of printed publications and e-books, but also in the souls of many admirers of their talent. Modern English poets and their predecessors undoubtedly left a rich cultural heritage for future generations, both citizens of their country and foreigners.