2015 Event Harper Lee will release her second novel, 'Go Set a Watchman,' after 55 years; Lee wrote this novel first, presenting Scout as an adult, but editors convinced Lee to write instead about Scout as a child, resulting in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' 2009 Death Frank McCourt, author, teacher, wrote Pulitzer-Prize winning book, 'Angela's Ashes', a memoir of his impoverished life in Ireland, dies at age 78 in Manhattan, New York 2009 Death Hugh Leonard, writer, winner, Jacob's Award, for 'Wuthering Heights', wrote Sunday Independent column 'The Curmudgeon', dies at age 82 2008 Death Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn, writer, won Nobel Prize, 1970, wrote 'The Gulag Archipelago', exiled in 1974, dies at 89 2007 Death Louis W. Ballard, Native American composer, author, artist, wrote 'Incident at Wounded Knee', dies of cancer in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at age 75 2006 Death John M. Ford, author, science fiction and fantasy, poet, game designer, wrote, 'The Final Reflection', 'How Much Just for the Planet?', dies of natural causes, at age 49 2006 Death Otto Zykan, composer, pianist, student, Vienna Music Academy, wrote operas 'Kunst kommt von Gonnen', 'Auszahlreim', dies in Sachsendorf, Austria 2006 Death Karin Struck, author, wrote women's literature, politically liberal, openly opposes abortion, converted to Catholicism, 1996 dies 2004 Death Gary Webb, investigative journalist, wrote articles for 'San Jose Mercury News' about Nicaraguan cocaine smugglers linked to CIA-backed Contras, dies from two gunshot wounds to the head, judged a suicide 2004 Death Gibson Kente, wrote about life in South African black townships, known as Father of Black Theater in South Africa, dies 2003 Death Adam Osborne, author, computer designer, book and software publisher, founded and wrote memoir about Osborne Computer Corporation 2002 Death Mickey Newbury, singer, member, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, wrote songs for Acuff-Rose Music, dies 2002 Death Mildred Wirt Benson, journalist/writer, wrote many early Nancy Drew books, dies at 96 2002 Death Barry Took, comedian, writer, television presenter on BBC program Points of View and BBC Radio 4 program The News Quiz, wrote comedy with Mary Feldman 2001 Death Anthony Storr, English author and psychiatrist, wrote 'Art of Psychotherapy' and 'Human Aggression', dies 1999 Death Lionel Bart, composer, songwriter, wrote pop music, musicals, created book, music and lyrics for Oliver!, dies at 68 1997 Death Brendan Gill, writer, film critic, author, wrote film critiques for Film Comment, wrote articles for The New Yorker, and a book about his time at The New Yorker magazine, dies at 83 1997 Death G. Harry Stine, writer, Also wrote as Lee Correy, dies at 69 1997 Death Leon Edel, biographer, literary critic, wrote biography of Henry James, won Pulitzer Prize, dies at 89 1997 Death Jeffrey Bernard, journalist, wrote column, 'Low Life', for The Spectator magazine, dies in Soho, England, after refusing dialysis treatment 1997 Death Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator, influential theorist of critical pedagogy, educator, author, studied philosophy, phe, nomenology, psychology of language, embraced a non-orthodox form of liberation theology, wrote 'Pedagogy of the Oppressed', dies from heart failure 1997 Death Michael Dorris, writer, scholar, first unmarried man to adopt child, Raynold Abel, wrote about Reynold in 'The Broken Cord', commits suicide in Concord, New Hampshire, at age 52 1997 Death Jurek Becker, writer, film author, German Democratic Republic dissident, survived ghetto in Lodz, wrote 'Jacob the Liar', dies in Sieseby, Germany 1997 Death Bohumil Hrabal, Czechoslovakian writer, storyteller, wrote hyper-realist texts, studied at Charles Univerisity in Prague, known for novels titled Closely Watched Trains and I Served the King of England, dies at 82 1997 Death Osvaldo Soriano, writer, journalist, staff writer for La Opinion, wrote, 'Triste, solitarity y final', or, Sad, lonely and final', dies at 54 1997 Death Richard Berry, musician, singer, songwriter, wrote, 'Louie Louie', sold copyright in 1959, song has since been recorded over 1,000 times, dies at 61 1996 Death Mohamed Amin, cameraman, photojournalist, known for photos of Ethiopian famine, fall of Idi Amin, wrote, 'Journey Through Pakistan', dies at 53 1996 Death Ray Coleman, born in Britain, journalist, author, wrote biographies of The Beatles while editor-in-chief, Melody Maker, music magazine, dies at 59 1996 Death Og Mandino, author, professional salesman, inspirational, best-selling author, wrote, 'The Greatest Salesman in the World', books have sold over 50 million copies in 25 different languages, president of Success Unlimited magazine 1996 Death Rio Reiser, born Ralph Christian Mobius, musician, singer, political activist, member of ton Steine Scherben, a famous rock group, wrote Rachhaussong supporting the squatter scene, dies at 46 1996 Death Claude Mauriac, writer, journalist, author, personal secretary to Charles de Gaulle1944 - 1949, co-scripted his father's novel titled Therese Desqueyroux, wrote study of Marcel Proust, dies at 81 1995 Death Rachid Mimouni, author, teacher at Ecole superieure du commerce, Algiers, wrote 'La Malediction', dies of hepatitis in Paris, France, at age 49 1995 Death Paul Monette, writer, wrote, 'Becoming a Man', wrote about gay relationships, taught writing, Milton Academy, dies of AIDS in Los Angeles, California at 49 1994 Death Denis Pitts, film-maker, journalist, novelist, wrote, 'This City is Ours', 'The Predator', dies at 64 1994 Death Karel Kryl, folk singer, songwriter, guitarist, wrote protest songs critical of the Communist regime, dies at 49 1993 Death Daniel Jones, Daniel Jenkyn Jones, Welsh composer, friend of Dylan Thomas, wrote 12 numbered symphonies, chamber music, made Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1968 1992 Death Vernon Howard, spiritual teacher, speaker, philosopher, author, wrote humor books, children's books, spoke and wrote about self-development, self-awareness, spiritual, psychological growth, dies 1991 Death Leonard C Odell, wrote 7,000 Burma Shave poems, dies at 83 1989 Death Hermann Burger, writer, essayist, novelist, poet, wrote 'Tractatus logico-suicidalis' 1988, advocating suicide, dies of suicide, from overdose of sleeping pills, in Brunegg, Switzerland 1986 Death Sydney J. Harris, journalist, wrote, syndicated column, 'Strictly Personal', wrote for Chicago Daily News, Chicago Sun-Times, political positions placed him on the list of Nixon political opponents, wrote, 'The Authentic Person: Dealing with Dilemma', dies in Chicago, Illinois 1986 Death Paul Tournier, author, physician, famous Christian physician, pioneer of person-centered psychotherapy, wrote 'Medecine de la Personne', advocating we are more than our body, we are spiritual beings, dies from carcinoma, Troinex, Switzerland 1984 Death Rosser Reeves, advertising executive, television advertising pioneer, wrote, 'Reality in Advertising', created ads for Dwight Eisenhower's Presidential campaign, owned a 138.7 carat Star Ruby, dies 1982 Death Roy Webb, composer, arranger for over 200 films, Academy Award nominee, wrote fight song 'Roar, Lion, Roar', dies at 94 1979 Death Nicolas Born, writer, wrote, 'Die Falschung', 'Die erdabgewandte Seite der Gerschichte', dies at 41 in Luchow-Dannenberg 1979 Death Ludwig Renn, writer, fought in World War I on the Western Front, wrote, 'Krieg', member, Communist Party of Germany, dies at 90 1977 Death Tibor Dery, writer, wrote satire on Hungarian communist regime, primary work, 'The Unfinished Sentence', dies at 82 1977 Death Claire Goll, journalist, writer, poet, wrote 'Poemes d'amour', 'Poemes de la jalousie', dies at 86 in Paris, France 1977 Death William E. Vaughan, pseudonym Burton Hills, columnist, author, wrote for Kansas City Star newspaper 1946 - 1977, published articles in Better Homes and Gardens, Reader's Digest, often quoted and best-remembered for writing style employing folksy aphorisms, died age 61 from lung cancer 1976 Death Eugen Roth, songwriter, humorous poet, wrote, 'Ein Mensch' or 'Humans', won Munich art prize for literature, 1952, dies at 81 in Munich, Germany 1975 Death Maxwell Maltz, cosmetic surgeon, author, self-help pioneer, invented Psycho-Cybernetics, system to improve one's self-image, lead a better life, wrote, 'Psycho-Cybernetics', believes positive self-view key to achieving goals, dies 1975 Death Ivo Andric, writer, novelist, awarded Nobel Prize for Literature, wrote 'Bosnian Chronicle', 'The Bridge on the Drina', dies in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, at age 82 1975 Birthday Danica McKellar, born in LaJolla, California, actress, author, mathematician, appeared on 'The Wonder Years' television show, wrote, 'Math Doesn't Suck' and 'Kiss My Math' 1973 Death Brigitte Reimann, born in Burg bei Madgeburg, East Berlin, writer, wrote 'Franziska Linkerhand' published posthumously, dies of cancer in East Berlin, at age 39 1972 Death Daisy Ashford, English witer, wrote 'The Young Sisters', dies 1969 Death Harry Emerson Fosdick, Baptist clergyman, studied at Colgate University, opposed racism, injustice, supported appeasement of Hitler, claimed democracies caused the rise of fascism, wrote "A Guide to Understanding the Bible', died in Bronxville, New York 1969 Death B. Traven, wrote, 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre', dies at 87 1969 Birthday Patton Oswalt, born in Portsmouth, Virginia, comedian, employs observational comedy, black comedy, surreal humor in his acts, wrote for MADtv, played Spence Olchin on 'The King of Queens' television show, voice of Remy in 'Ratatouille' 1967 Death Oskar Maria Graf, pseudonym Oskar Graf-Berg, writer, president, wrote autobiographical, socialist-anarchist novels, dies at 72 in New York 1967 Birthday Michael Easton, born in Long Beach, California, actor, appeared on television shows, Ally McBeal and The Practice, poet, author, wrote Soul Stealer 1965 Birthday Nicholas Sparks, born in Omaha, Nebraska, bestselling author, writer, novelist, wrote, 'A Walk to Remember', author of novels including, 'Nights in Rodanthe', 'The Last Song', 'The Notebook' 1963 Event Ringo admits he wrote a song "Don't Pass Me By" 1962 Birthday Mark Haddon, born in Northampton, England, novelist, poet, wrote, 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time', written from perspective of boy with Asperger syndrome 1960 Birthday Neil Gaiman, born in Portchester, Hampshire, author, science fiction, wrote, 'Good Omens', 'The Sandman' comic book series 1960 Death Ernest Holmes, author, teacher, spiritualist, founded Religious Science movement, considered 'Science of Mind', part of New Thought movement, wrote metaphysical books, including 'The Science of Mind', founded 'Science of Mind' magazine, dies 1958 Birthday Nikki Sixx, born in San Jose, California, musician, songwriter, member, Motley Crue, plays hard rock, heavy metal genres, wrote, most successful album 'Dr. Feelgood' 1958 Birthday Jello Biafra, born in Boulder, Colorado, born Eric Reed Boucher, musician, politician, anarchist, leading figure of the Green Party, wrote music for 'Dead Kennedy's' 1958 Birthday Sandy Lyle, born in Shrewsbury, professional golfer, represented Scotland, won The Open Championship at Sandwich, 1985, wrote book 'To The Fairway Born' 1958 Birthday Werner Schwab, born in Austria, writer, playwright, visual artist, studied sculpture at Vienna's Akademie der bildenden Kunste in 1990, wrote sixteen plays, produced eight, controversial works in the Austrian Black comedy tradition 1957 Death Leo Perutz, writer, wrote 11 novels, mathematician, emigrated to Palestine during Nazi Anschluss, 1938, dies in Bad Ischi, Austria 1957 Birthday Richard Powers, born in Evanston, Illinois, author, wrote novel, 'The Time of Our Singing', 'Plowing the Dark', 'The Echo Maker', 'Generosity: An Enhancement' 1957 Birthday John M. Ford, born in East Chicago, Indiana, author, science fiction and fantasy, poet, game designer, wrote, 'The Final Reflection', 'How Much Just for the Planet?' 1956 Birthday Mark Handley, born in Hollywood, California, writer, screenwriter, playwright, married, lived in log cabin with his wife to live in isolation, wrote play Idioglossia, which became the film, Nell, starring Jodie Foster, 1994, directed by Michael Apted 1956 Birthday Lynda Barry, born in Richland Center, Wisconsin, cartoonist, author, known for comic strip, 'Ernie Pook's Comeek', wrote 'The Good Times are Killing Me', 'What It Is' 1955 Birthday Steve Forbert, born in Meridian, Mississippi, singer, songwriter, wrote 1980 hit 'Romeo's Tune', compared to Bob Dylan 1955 Birthday Gary Webb, born in America, investigative journalist, wrote articles for 'San Jose Mercury News' about Nicaraguan cocaine smugglers linked to CIA-backed Contras 1955 Birthday Caleb Carr, born in Manhattan, New York City, author, military historian, wrote, 'The Italian Secretary', 'Casing the Promised Land', 'The Alienist' 1955 Birthday Patrick McCabe, born in Clones, Ireland, novelist, wrote 'Butcher Boy', 'Breakfast on Pluto', both adapted into films by Neil Jordan 1955 Birthday Michael Pollan, born in Long Island, New York, professor of journalism, U of C, Berkeley, author, columnist, activist, wrote, 'The Omnivore's Dilemma', 'The Botany of Desire', 'In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto' 1954 Birthday Sandra Cisneros, born in Chicago, Illinois, author, wrote, 'The House on Mango Street', 'Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories', a figure in Chicana literature 1954 Birthday Alex Cox, born in Bebington, Mereyside, England, screenwriter, film director, independent film producer, actor, author, directed film 'Repo Man', wrote book '10,000 Ways to Die' 1954 Birthday Louise Erdrich, born in Little Falls, Minnesota, author, short story writer, wrote, 'Love Medicine, 'The Plague of Doves' 1954 Birthday Anne Lamott, born in San Fransisco, California, author and activist, wrote 'Grace: Thoughts on Faith' and 'Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith' 1953 Birthday Alan Moore, born in Northampton, England, author, wrote comic book series, 'Watchmen', 'From Hell' and 'V for Vendetta', wrote novel, 'Voice of Fire' 1953 Birthday Paul Krugman, born in New York, economist, liberal, political columnist, author, op-ed columnist for 'The New York Times', wrote, 'The Conscience of a Liberal' 1953 Birthday Debbie Steinbach, born in Fullerton, California, professional golfer, author, instructor, twelve-year LPGA Tour veteran, founder of Venus Golf, wrote, 'Venus on the Fairway', has provided over 5,000 individual golf lessons 1953 Birthday Joe Bob Briggs, born in Dallas, Texas, actor, film critic, wrote for 'Texas Monthly' and 'Dallas Times Herald' 1953 Birthday Lucinda Williams, born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, singer, songwriter, wrote Grammy-Award-winning song, 'Passionate Kisses', recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter, successful album, 'Car Wheels on a Gravel Road', combined country, blues, rock, Americana genres 1952 Birthday Gloria Jean Watkins, born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, born Gloria Jean Watkins, author, feminist, focus on race, class, gender, wrote, 'Ain't I a Woman? : Black Women and Feminism' 1952 Birthday Alexei Sayle, born in Anfield, England, actor, comedian, author, films include, 'Gorky Park', 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade', wrote, 'Mister Roberts' 1952 Birthday Marianne Williamson, born in Houston, Texas, spiritual activist, author, speaker, lecturer, wrote, 'A Course in Miracles', a program about choosing love over fear, 'A Return to Love', breakthrough success attributed to appearance on Oprah Winfrey 1952 Birthday Andy Fraser, born in Paddington, West London, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, played bass for Free, composed "All Right Now", wrote hits for Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker 1952 Birthday Amy Tan, born in Oakland, California, author, wrote, 'The Bonesetter's Daughter', 'Saving Fish From Drowning', novel, 'The Joy Luck Club', became successful film 1951 Birthday Stephen Bishop, born in San Diego, California, singer, songwriter, guitarist, wrote Academy Award-nominated song, 'Separate Lives' 1951 Birthday Dean Pitchford, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, prolific songwriter, screenwriter, director, actor, novelist, Oscar, Golden Globe award-winner, wrote with composers Alan Menken, Rupert Holmes, collaborated on songs for movie, Fame, wrote screenplay for movie, 'Footloose' 1950 Birthday Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, author, wrote 165 romance novels, Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame inductee, sold over 280 million books 1950 Birthday Robyn Davidson, born in Miles, Australia, author, travel writer, wrote 'Tracks' 1950 Birthday Glyn Ford, born in Gloucester, England, politician, author, Labor Party, member of Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party, Member of European Parliament for South West England, expert on Asia, wrote, 'North Korea on the Brink: Struggle for Survival' 1950 Birthday Rio Reiser, born in Berlin, Germany, born Ralph Christian Mobius, musician, singer, political activist, member of ton Steine Scherben, a famous rock group, wrote Rachhaussong supporting the squatter scene 1949 Birthday Mike Batt, born in Southampton, England, singer, composer, arranger, producer, helped created ecologically sensitive fictional creatures, The Wombles, wrote hit 'Bright Eyes' 1948 Birthday Bruce Vilanch, born in New York City, New York, comedy writer, appeared regularly with Whoopi Goldberg on Hollywood Squares, appeared in Bosom Buddies, Law & Order, wrote for show Billy Crystal, Academy Awards host 1948 Death Alfred Kerr, nickname, Culture Pope, writer, essayist, wrote, 'Die Harfe', dies at 80 1948 Birthday Diane Ackerman, born in Waukegan, Illinois, American poet, author and naturalist, wrote 'Wife of Light' and 'A Natural History of Love' 1948 Birthday Shakti Gawain, author, personal development expert, environmentalist, wrote series of successful books, including 'Creative Visualization' and 'Creating True Prosperity', books have sold over 10 million copies, co-founder, New World Library Publishing Company 1948 Death Charles Fillmore, born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, mystic, co-founder, Unity, a New Thought movement church, created metaphysical interpretations of the Bible, promoted idea that God is good, God is available, God is in you, wrote, 'The Twelve Powers of Man', dies 1947 Birthday Dave Barry, born in Armonk, New York, humorist, author, Pulitzer-prize winner for Commentary 1988, wrote columns for the Miami Herald, books include 'Big Trouble', 'Dave Barry Turns 40', Dave Barry's Greatest Hits', 'Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys', style capitalizes on absurdities 1947 Birthday Karin Struck, born in Germany, author, wrote women's literature, politically liberal, openly opposes abortion, converted to Catholicism, 1996 1947 Birthday John C. Maxwell, born in Garden City, Michigan, evangelical Christian, author, pastor, speaker, leadership expert, wrote over 50 books on leadership, sold over 13 million copies including 'Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow' 1946 Birthday Dan Millman, born in America, author, wrote, published 14 self-help books focusing on human potential, wrote 'The Life You Were Born to Live' 1945 Birthday Rachid Mimouni, born in Boudouaou, Algeria, author, teacher at Ecole superieure du commerce, Algiers, wrote 'La Malediction' 1945 Birthday Paul Monette, born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, writer, wrote, 'Becoming a Man', wrote about gay relationships, taught writing, Milton Academy 1945 Birthday Jose Feliciano, born in Lares, Puerto Rico, singer, blind due to congenital glaucoma, guitarist, composer, wrote international hits 1945 Birthday Barry Schrader, born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, composer, electro-acoustic genre, wrote, 'Introducton to Electro-Acoustic Music' 1945 Death Bruno Frank, born in Stuttgart, Germany, writer, dramatist, novelist, wrote 'Trenchk', 'The Days of the King', dies at 58 in Beverly Hills, California 1945 Birthday Ole Buck, born in Copenhagen, Denmark, composer, pianist, wrote Calligraphy for soprano and chamber orchestra at the age of 20 1945 Birthday Michael Dorris, born in Louisville, Kentucky, writer, scholar, first unmarried man to adopt child, Raynold Abel, wrote about Reynold in 'The Broken Cord' 1945 Birthday Clarissa Pinkola Estes, born in Indiana, writer, psychologist, certified Jungian psychoanalyst, poet, author, wrote bestseller, 'Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype' 1944 Birthday Jonathan King, born in London, England, Kenneth George King, singer, songwriter, pop music producer, wrote song 'Everyone's Gone to the Moon', successful writer, producer for other musical artists 1944 Birthday Albert Hammond, born in London, England, rocker, musician, songwriter, producer, collaborated with Mike Hazelwood on The Air That I Breathe for the Hollies, wrote hits for Tina Turner 1944 Birthday Karel Kryl, born in Kromenz, Czechoslovakia, folk singer, songwriter, guitarist, wrote protest songs critical of the Communist regime 1944 Birthday Christoph Hein, born in Bad Duben, Germany, writer, prize-winning author, translator, studied philosophy, wrote 1982 novella The Distant Lover 1943 Birthday Neale Donald Walsch, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, author, wrote series of books titled, 'Conversations With God', which include, 'What God Wants', 'Happier than God', 'Friendship with God', ' Communion with God' 1943 Birthday Mohamed Amin, born in Kenya, cameraman, photojournalist, known for photos of Ethiopian famine, fall of Idi Amin, wrote, 'Journey Through Pakistan' 1943 Birthday Osvaldo Soriano, born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, writer, journalist, staff writer for La Opinion, wrote, 'Triste, solitarity y final', or, Sad, lonely and final' 1942 Birthday Gunter Wallraff, born in Burscheid, Germany, writer, undercover journalist, wrote on tabloid journalism, lower working class conditions 1942 Birthday Isabel Allende, born in Lima, Peru, writer, novelist, of Spanish and Portuguese descent, wrote 'The House of Spirits', 'City of the Beasts' 1942 Birthday Hermann Burger, born in Burg, Switzerland, writer, essayist, novelist, poet, wrote 'Tractatus logico-suicidalis' 1988, advocating suicide 1942 Birthday Ama Ata Aidoo, born in Saltpond, Ghana, Ghanaian author and playwright, wrote 'The Dilemma of a Ghost' 1942 Birthday John Irving, born in New Hampshire, short-story writer, wrote World According to Garp 1942 Birthday Petr Kotik, born in Prague, Czech Republic, composer, flutist, minimalist style, founder, S.E.M. ensemble, wrote opera, 'Many Many Women' 1941 Birthday Imants Kalnins, born in Riga, Latvia, composer, wrote six symphonies, first composer of intellectual rock music, Latvia's most important composer 1941 Birthday George Will, born in Champaign, Illinois, journalist, author, wrote, editor, National Review magazine 1972 - 1978, awarded Pulitzer Prize for Commentary 1941 Birthday Ivana Loudova, born in Chlumec nad Cidlinou, Czech Republic, composer, wrote chamber, orchestral, children's choral works, including 'Little Christmas Cantata' 1940 Death Florence Scovel Shinn, artist, book illustrator, metaphysical writer, wrote, 'The Game of Life and how to Play it", 1925, writings follow thought principles of Emma Curtis Hopkins, Myrtle Fillmore, Phineas Quimby, Charles Fillmore, dies 1940 Death W. H. Davies, Wales, poet, writer, related to actor, Sir Henry Irving, cared for by paternal grandparents, wrote, 'The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp', dies 1940 Birthday Jackie Trent, born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England, singer, actress, songwriter, wrote famous theme tune for TV soap, 'Neighbours' 1940 Birthday Mickey Newbury, born in Houston, Texas, singer, member, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, wrote songs for Acuff-Rose Music 1939 Birthday Bob James, born in Marshall, Missouri, rocker, smooth jazz, fusion, arranger, producer, wrote "Nautilus" and "Take Me To Mardi Gras", two of the most sampled songs in hip hop history 1939 Birthday Tom Johnson, born in Greely, Colorado, composer, minimalist style, new music critic for the Village Voice, wrote music based on tiling, involving mathematical and logical processes 1939 Birthday Phillip Ramey, born in Elmhurst, Illinois, pianist, composer, associated with Aaron Copeland, wrote, 'Irving Fine: An American Composer in His Time' 1939 Birthday Ken Blanchard, born in Orange, New Jersey, author, professional speaker, management expert, co-wrote, 'The One Minute Manager' with Spencer Johnson, sold over 13 million copies in 37 languages, wrote more than 30 successful books 1939 Birthday Volker Braun, born in Dresden, German, writer, poet, playwright, wrote 'Das ungezwungne Leben Kasts' or 'The Unrestrained Life of Kast' 1939 Birthday John McCabe, born in Huyton, England, composer, pianist, wrote thirteen symphonies by age 11, composed Notturni ed Alba in 1970, ballets, string quartets, piano music, known for his concerti 1939 Birthday Seamus Heaney, born in Ireland, poet, writer, poetry professor at the University of Oxford, Nobel Prize in Literature recipient, wrote play The Cure at Troy, Seeing Things, The Spirit Level, Beowulf: A New Translation 1939 Birthday Adam Osborne, born in Thailand, author, computer designer, book and software publisher, founded and wrote memoir about Osborne Computer Corporation 1938 Birthday David Borden, born in Boston, Massachusetts, composer, minimalist music, jazz pianist, founded Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company, the world's first synthesizer ensemble, wrote vocal, chamber ensemble, music, style similar to Phillip Glass, Terry Riley 1937 Birthday Nicolas Born, born in Duisburg, Germany, writer, wrote, 'Die Falschung', 'Die erdabgewandte Seite der Gerschichte' 1937 Birthday Edwin Roxburgh, born in England, composer, principal oboist, Sadler's Wells Opera, wrote, Manuhin Music Guide 1937 Birthday Jurek Becker, born in Lodz, Poland, writer, film author, German Democratic Republic dissident, survived ghetto in Lodz, wrote 'Jacob the Liar' 1937 Birthday Ray Coleman, born in Britain, journalist, author, wrote biographies of The Beatles while editor-in-chief, Melody Maker, music magazine 1937 Birthday Jimmy Jones, born in Birmingham, Alabama, African-American rocker, singer, songwriter, performed with doo-wop group The Berliners, wrote 'Handy Man' recorded by the Sparks of Rhythm 1937 Birthday Paul Bailey, born in England, novelist, George Orewell prize-winner, lecturer at North Dakota State University, writer in residence, Kingston University, wrote At The Jerusalem, radio and television plays, and non-fiction books 1936 Birthday Wolf Biermann, born in Hamburg, Germany, singer, songwriter, former East German dissident, wrote folk music, political ballads, studied political economics at Humboldt University of Berlin 1936 Birthday Lars Gustafsson, born in Vasteras, Sweden, professor, University of Texas at Austin, author, wrote 'The Death of a Beekeeper' 1936 Birthday Ian Hacking, born in Vancouver, British Columbia, analytic philosopher, wrote, 'The Emergence of Probability', brings historical approach to the philosophy of science, won Canda's Killam Prize for the Humanities in 2002 1935 Birthday Lubos Fiser, born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, composer, wrote soundtracks, chamber music, studied at AMU, Prague Conservatory 1935 Birthday Michael Holroyd, born in London, England, author, biographer, wrote biographies of George Bernard Shaw, Augustus John 1935 Birthday Charles Shere, born in Berkeley, California, composer, music critic, Music Director for radio KPFA, Berkeley, wrote book, 'How I Saw Duchamp' 1935 Death Charles Shere, composer, music critic, Music Director for radio KPFA, Berkeley, wrote book, 'How I Saw Duchamp', dies 1935 Birthday Otto Zykan, born in Vienna, Austria, composer, pianist, student, Vienna Music Academy, wrote operas 'Kunst kommt von Gonnen', 'Auszahlreim' 1935 Birthday Richard Berry, born in Extension, Louisiana, musician, singer, songwriter, wrote, 'Louie Louie', sold copyright in 1959, song has since been recorded over 1,000 times 1935 Birthday Peter Bichsel, born in Lucerne, Switzerland, writer, journalist, wrote 'And Really Frau Blum Would Very Much Like to Meet the Milkman', member of the Gruppe Olten, a club of Swiss writers 1935 Birthday Hubert Fichte, born in Germany, writer, columnist for magazine konkret, novelist, influenced by Marcel Proust, Hans henny Jahnn, Jean Genet, wrote novel Die Geschichte der Empfindlichkeit, translated as the history of sensibility 1935 Birthday Tony Campolo, born in America, pastor, speaker, author, promotes evangelical reform, leader, 'Red Letter Christian' movement, focusing on Christ's teachings, wrote, 'A Reasonable Faith', known for famous sermon, 'It's Friday, But Sunday's Coming!' 1935 Birthday Bent Lorentzen, born in Stenvad, Denmark, prolific composer, dramatist, wrote 18 operas to date, compared to Richard Vagner 1935 Birthday Richard Brautigan, born in Tacoma, Washington, writer, novelist, wrote Trout Fishing in America, known for black comedy, parody, satire, and Zen Buddhism 1934 Birthday Lionel Bart, born in Stepney, England, composer, songwriter, wrote pop music, musicals, created book, music and lyrics for Oliver! 1934 Birthday Uwe Johnson, born in Pomerania, Poland, writer, scholar, editor, wrote fiction, won International Publishers' Formentor Prize 1934 Birthday Adolf Muschg, born in Zollikon, canton of Zurich, writer, German language and literature professor, wrote provocative works, including If Auschwitz is in Switzerland 1934 Birthday David Halberstam, born in New York City, journalist, author, Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote about the Vietnam War 1933 Birthday Eric Salzman, born in America, author, composer, record producer, music critic, wrote for the New York Times, New York Herald Tribune 1933 Birthday Brigitte Reimann, born in Burg bei Madgeburg, East Berlin, writer, wrote 'Franziska Linkerhand' published posthumously 1933 Birthday John Bradshaw, born in Houston, Texas, educator, speaker, author, popularized dysfunctional family, wrote 'Homecoming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child' 1933 Death Henry Van Dyke, clergyman, educator, author, wrote poetry, hymns, essays, co-wrote first Presbyterian printed liturgy, 'The Common Book of Worship of 1906', served as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, dies 1933 Death Wilson Mizner, playwright, entrepreneur, raconteur, wrote, 'The Deep Purple', 'The Greyhound', opium addict, boxing manager, hotel manager, managed restaurant The Brown Derby, with brother, Addison Mizner, dies 1932 Birthday Igor Stuhec, born in Slovenia, composer, studied under Hanns Jelinek at Vienna Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, wrote orchestral works applying textural techniques, and two operas 1932 Birthday Jaan Raats, born in Tartu, Estonia, composer, composed Estonian language films, wrote 'Aeg elada aeg armastada' 1932 Birthday Gibson Kente, born in South Africa, wrote about life in South African black townships, known as Father of Black Theater in South Africa 1932 Birthday Jeffrey Bernard, born in London, England, journalist, wrote column, 'Low Life', for The Spectator magazine 1932 Death Hugo Kaun, music teacher, conductor, composer, wrote Romantic style operas, symphonies, organ, piano works, dies at 69 in Berlin, Germany 1931 Birthday Hikaru Hayashi, born in Tokyo, Japan, composer, conductor, pianist, wrote more than 30 operas, over 100 film scores, authored more than 20 books 1931 Birthday Louis W. Ballard, born in Cherokee, Quapaw, Native American composer, author, artist, wrote 'Incident at Wounded Knee' 1931 Birthday Leslie Thomas, born in Newport, Wales, author, published 'In My Wildest Dreams', recounting childhood in South Wales, in early life, wrote columns for London Evening News newspaper 1931 Birthday Tom Wolfe, Richmond Virginia, journalist and author, wrote The Right Stuff 1931 Birthday Ib Norholm, born in Soborg, Copenhagen, Danish organist, composer, won Carl Nielsen Prize, 1971, wrote opera, 'The Young Park' 1930 Birthday Frank McCourt, born in Brooklyn, New York, author, teacher, wrote Pulitzer-Prize winning book, 'Angela's Ashes', a memoir of his impoverished life in Ireland 1930 Birthday Eino Tamberg, born in Estonia, composer, neoclassical Estonian music, teacher, Estonian Academy of Music, wrote ballet, 'Johanna tentate' 1930 Birthday Amelia Rosselli, born in Paris, France, poet, of Italian origin, daughter of political activist Carlo Rosselli, worked in Italy as a poet and literary translator, wrote prose in English, French and Italian, major work, 'Spazi metrici' 1930 Death Alois Jirasek, writer, taught secondary school, wrote plays, historical novels, including, 'Against Everyone', dies in Prague, Czechoslovakia 1930 Birthday Gerry Davis, born in England, science-fiction writer, wrote British television soap operas Coronation Street and United!, script editor for Doctor Who 1930 Birthday Liz Anderson, born in Roseau, Minnesota, country music singer, songwriter, Grammy Award nominee, wrote hits for Merle Haggard 1930 Birthday Denis Pitts, film-maker, journalist, novelist, wrote, 'This City is Ours', 'The Predator' 1929 Death Arno Holz, poet, dramatist, freelance writer, wrote book of poetry 'Phantaesus', dies at 66 1929 Birthday Tristan Jones, born in Liverpool, England, sailor, author, Welsh story teller, wrote about sailing in books and articles 1929 Birthday John Naisbitt, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, author, public speaker, futures studies, wrote, 'Megatrends', 1982, sold over 9 million copies in 57 countries, special assistant to Lyndon B. Johnson 1928 Birthday Barry Took, born in Muswell Hill, North London, England, comedian, writer, television presenter on BBC program Points of View and BBC Radio 4 program The News Quiz, wrote comedy with Mary Feldman 1927 Birthday Dieter Noll, born in Riesa, Germany, writer, wrote two-volume novel Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt, over two million copies sold, volume one used as East German school curriculum 1927 Death Ole Olsen, composer, organist, teacher, wrote opera 'Stig Hvide', wrote Symphony in G major, dies at 77 in Oslo, Norway 1927 Birthday Tom Bosley, Chicago, actor, Howard-Happy Days, Murder She Wrote 1927 Birthday Boris Porena, born in Rome, Italy, Italian composer, didactical expert, studied under Goffredo Petrassi, influenced by neoclassical poetics, wrote texts about music including Musica-Societa which includes social and political analysis 1927 Birthday Robert Orben, magician, comedy writer, author, specializes in observational comedy, wrote, 'Encyclopedia of Patter', 'Speaker's Handbook of Humor', speechwriter for Vice President Gerald R. Ford, became Director, White House Speechwriting Department 1926 Death Rainer Maria Rilke, poet, wrote, 'The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge', 'Letters to a Young Poet', dies at 51 1926 Birthday Hugh Leonard, born in Dublin, Ireland, writer, winner, Jacob's Award, for 'Wuthering Heights', wrote Sunday Independent column 'The Curmudgeon' 1926 Birthday Betsy Jolas, born in Paris, France, composer, studied at the Conservatoire national superieur de Musique, wrote vocal music, works recorded on EMI, Erato, performed by London Sinfonietta 1926 Birthday Anatol Vieru, born in Romania, composer, music theoretician, studied with Aram Khachaturian, wrote symphonies, string quartets, concertos, chamber music, leading Romanian composer of the 20th century 1926 Birthday Richard DeVos, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, World War II veteran, businessman, author, billionaire, co-founder Amway - now Alticor, owner Orlando Magic, wrote 'Hope from My Heart: Ten Lessons For Life' 1925 Birthday Art Buchwald, born in New York City, wrote political satire and commentary, had column in The Washington Post 1925 Birthday Angela Lansbury, born in London, England, actress, Jessica-Murder She Wrote 1924 Birthday Klaus Huber, born in Bern, Switzerland, composer, wrote music for chamber ensembles orchestra, choirs, soloists, politically conscious composer, received Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, 2009 1924 Birthday Jose Donoso, born in Chile, writer, born Jose Donoso Yanez, part of Latin American literary boom, Magical Realism literary movement, wrote Coronacion, El lugar sin limites (The Place Without Limits) 1924 Birthday Lloyd Alexander, born in Pennsylvania, American author, wrote children's fantasy novels, 'Cricket' magazine creator 1923 Birthday Og Mandino, born in Italy, author, professional salesman, inspirational, best-selling author, wrote, 'The Greatest Salesman in the World', books have sold over 50 million copies in 25 different languages, president of Success Unlimited magazine 1923 Birthday William Windom, New York City, actor, Farmer's Daughter, Murder She Wrote 1923 Birthday Tom Blackburn, born in Raton, New Mexico, writer, author, screenwriter, lyricist, worked for Walt Disney's story department, wrote lyrics to The Ballad of Davy Crockett 1923 Birthday Henryk Czyz, born in Grudziadz, Poland, composer, wrote contemporary music, performed in Europe, America and South America 1923 Birthday Samuel Selvon, born in Trinidad, author, writer-in-residence, University of Calgary, Canada, wrote 'The Lonely Londoners', focusing on West Indians' immigration to Britain, cultural differences 1923 Birthday Norman Mailer, born in New Jersey, American novelist, poet, playwright, film director, wrote 40 books and 11 novels 1923 Birthday Eva Zeller, born in Germany, poet, writer, novelist, wrote Lampenfieber, Hauptfrau, Fliehkraft, Auf dem Wasser gehen 1922 Birthday Kurt Vonnegut, born in Indiana, novelist, essayist, satirist, wrote 'Slaughterhouse Five' 1922 Birthday Sadao Bekku, born in Tokyo, Japan, composer, classical music, wrote symphonies, film scores, sonata for flute, choral works, art songs, piano concerto, opera titled Prince Arima 1921 Birthday Paulo Freire, born in Recife, Brazil, Brazilian educator, influential theorist of critical pedagogy, educator, author, studied philosophy, phenomenology, psychology of language, embraced a non-orthodox form of liberation theology, wrote 'Pedagogy of the Oppressed' 1921 Birthday Ernest Gold, born in Vienna, Austria, Ernst Gold, composer, wrote nearly 100 film and television scores, including It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, On the Beach, four Academy-Award nominations, three Golden Globe nominations 1921 Birthday Kan Ishii, born in Tokyo, Japan, composer, famous for Symphonia Ainu, inspired by national primitivism, wrote orchestral and vocal music for film and stage, including music for science-fiction film Gorath 1921 Birthday Mary Douglas, born in San Remo, Italy, British anthropologist, wrote about symbolism, human culture 1921 Birthday Alfred Reed, born in New York, New York, composer, wrote over 200 works for orchestra, chorus, concert band, chamber ensemble, wind ensemble, guest conductor, performing in Europe, Asia, Latin America, North America 1920 Birthday Vaino Linna, born in Urjala, Finland, author, wrote Finnish books, Under the North Star translated into English by Richard Impola 1920 Birthday Anthony Storr, born in London, England, English author and psychiatrist, wrote 'Art of Psychotherapy' and 'Human Aggression' 1920 Birthday Alex Comfort, born in England, physician, poet, novelist, anarchist, pacifist, wrote "The Joy of Sex", a scholarly approach to sexual behavior 1919 Birthday Richard Mason, born near Manchester, England, author, learned Japanese in World War II, interrogated prisoners of war, wrote 'The Wind Cannot Read', 'The Fever Tree', 'The World of Suzie Wong' 1919 Death Amelia Barr, writer, novelist, wrote for religious periodicals, novels include 'The Lone House', 'Shela Vedder', dies 1918 Birthday Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, born in Kislovodsk, Russia, Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn, writer, won Nobel Prize, 1970, wrote 'The Gulag Archipelago', exiled in 1974 1918 Birthday Vernon Howard, born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, spiritual teacher, speaker, philosopher, author, wrote humor books, children's books, spoke and wrote about self-development, self-awareness, spiritual, psychological growth 1917 Birthday Arthur C. Clarke, born in Somerset, England, science fiction author, inventor, wrote '2001: A Space Odyssey' 1917 Death Oswald Chambers, Scottish Protestant Christian minister, teacher, author, wrote, 'My Utmost for His Highest', established local society dedicated to his favorite poet, Robert Browning, dies from a ruptured appendix 1917 Birthday Sydney J. Harris, born in London, England, journalist, wrote, syndicated column, 'Strictly Personal', wrote for Chicago Daily News, Chicago Sun-Times, political positions placed him on the list of Nixon political opponents, wrote, 'The Authentic Person: Dealing with Dilemma' 1917 Birthday Els Aarne, born in Ukraine, Estonian composer, pianist, composed chamber music for violoncello and double bass, wrote two symphonies, studied with composer Heino Eller 1917 Birthday Jane Bowles, born in New York, New York, writer, playwright, wrote 'Two Serious Ladies', 'In The Summer House', works admired by Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, John Ashbery 1916 Birthday Unica Zurn, born in Berlin, Germany, author, painter, wrote anagram poems and held automatic drawing exhibitions 1915 Birthday William E. Vaughan, born in St. Louis, Missouri, pseudonym Burton Hills, columnist, author, wrote for Kansas City Star newspaper 1946 - 1977, published articles in Better Homes and Gardens, Reader's Digest, often quoted and best-remembered for writing style employing folksy aphorisms 1915 Birthday William Goyen, born in Trinity, Texas, writer, storyteller, married actress Doris Roberts, wrote The House of Breath, The Fair Sister, Wonderful Plant 1915 Birthday Ray Evans, born in New York, lyricist, composer, Oscar-winner, worked with Jay Livingston, wrote "Mona Lisa" 1914 Death Ivan Zajc, conductor, composer, opened doors for 20th century achievements in Croatian music, wrote opera, La Tirolese, 1855, dies at 82 in Zagreb, Croatia 1914 Birthday Brendan Gill, born in Hartford, Connecticut, writer, film critic, author, wrote film critiques for Film Comment, wrote articles for The New Yorker, and a book about his time at The New Yorker magazine 1914 Birthday Claude Mauriac, born in France, writer, journalist, author, personal secretary to Charles de Gaulle1944 - 1949, co-scripted his father's novel titled Therese Desqueyroux, wrote study of Marcel Proust 1914 Birthday Bohumil Hrabal, born in Brno-Zidenice, Moravia, Czechoslovakian writer, storyteller, wrote hyper-realist texts, studied at Charles Univerisity in Prague, known for novels titled Closely Watched Trains and I Served the King of England 1913 Birthday Jo Sinclair, born in Brooklyn, New York, pen name Jo Sinlair, writer, novelist, focused on race relations and the struggle of immigrant families, wrote Sing at My Wake, Anna Teller 1913 Birthday Gyula David, born in Hungary, composer, violinist, conductor, studied at the Liszt academy, conducted for the National Theatre 1945 - 1949, wrote folk song music and 12 tone serial music 1913 Birthday Mary Durack, born in Adelaide, Australia, poet, author, historian, wrote Kings in Grass Castles and Keep Him My Country 1912 Birthday Jura Soyfer, born in Kharkov, Ukraine, writer, political journalist, imprisoned at Dachau concentration camp, wrote the Dachau song with composer Herbert Zipper 1912 Birthday Daniel Jones, born in Pembroke, Wales, Daniel Jenkyn Jones, Welsh composer, friend of Dylan Thomas, wrote 12 numbered symphonies, chamber music, made Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1968 1912 Birthday Louis Boon, born in Aalst, Belgium, born Lodewijk Paul Aalbrecht Boon, writer, journalist, novelist, wrote historical novels, modernist work Vergeten straat 1912 Death Georg Heym, poet, writer, wrote, 'Der ewige Tag', poetry considered early Expressionist style, dies at 24 from falling through the ice, trying to save a friend 1912 Death Felix Dahn, writer, wrote 'Prehistory of the Germanic and Roman Peoples', dies at 77 1910 Birthday Rosser Reeves, born in Danville, Virginia, advertising executive, television advertising pioneer, wrote, 'Reality in Advertising', created ads for Dwight Eisenhower's Presidential campaign, owned a 138.7 carat Star Ruby 1909 Birthday Bukka White, born in Houston, Mississippi, Booker T. Washington White, gave cousin B.B. King his first guitar, celebrated as National steel guitarist, wrote "Parchman Farm Blues" 1909 Birthday Hilde Domin, born in Cologne, Germany, lyric poet, writer, German-language poet, wrote Das zweite Paradies (The Second Paradise), volume of prose 1909 Birthday Arnold Shaw, born in America, composer, songwriter, music business executive for Leeds Music Corporation, later MCA, wrote book on Harry Belafonte, series on 20th century American music 1907 Birthday Leon Edel, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, biographer, literary critic, wrote biography of Henry James, won Pulitzer Prize, wrote on James Joyce, taught literature at Sir George Williams University, now Concordia University 1907 Birthday Gene Gutche, born in Berlin, Germany, Romeo Maximillian Eugene Ludwig Gutsche, composer, studied business, economics, piano with Ferruccio Busoni, wrote neo-Romantic work, experimented with polytonality, microtones, serialism 1907 Birthday Mascha Kaleko, born in Chrzanow, Austria, now Poland, writer, German language poet, first book 'Lyrisches Stenogrammheft' was burned in Nazi book burnings, wrote advertising copy while living in New York 1906 Birthday Belle Stewart, born near Bloirgowrie, Scotland, Scottish traditional singer, led life of a Scottish Traveler, daughter Sheila Stewart wrote her biography 'Queen Amang the Heather; the Life of Belle Stewart' 1901 Birthday Stefan Lorant, born in Budapest, Hungary, writer, Hungarian-American filmmaker, photojournalist, made fourteen films in Vienna and Berlin, opposed to Adolph Hitler, imprisoned, wrote memoir 'I was Hitler's Prisoner' 1900 Birthday Hans Haug, born in Switzerland, composer, primitivist style, wrote solo guitar piece, Preludio, Tiento et Toccata 1899 Birthday Maxwell Maltz, born in America, cosmetic surgeon, author, self-help pioneer, invented Psycho-Cybernetics, system to improve one's self-image, lead a better life, wrote, 'Psycho-Cybernetics', believes positive self-view key to achieving goals 1898 Birthday Paul Tournier, born in Geneva, Switzerland, author, physician, famous Christian physician, pioneer of person-centered psychotherapy, wrote 'Medecine de la Personne', advocating we are more than our body, we are spiritual beings 1895 Birthday Eugen Roth, born in Munich, Germany, songwriter, humorous poet, wrote, 'Ein Mensch' or 'Humans', won Munich art prize for literature, 1952 1894 Birthday Tibor Dery, born in Budapest, Hungary, writer, wrote satire on Hungarian communist regime, primary work, 'The Unfinished Sentence' 1894 Birthday Oskar Maria Graf, born in Berg, Germany, pseudonym Oskar Graf-Berg, writer, president, wrote autobiographical, socialist-anarchist novels 1892 Birthday Ivo Andric, born in Dolac, Bosnia, writer, novelist, awarded Nobel Prize for Literature, wrote 'Bosnian Chronicle', 'The Bridge on the Drina' 1892 Birthday Ernst van Raalte, lawyer, Seen, heard... wrote 1890 Birthday Claire Goll, born in Nuremberg, Germany, journalist, writer, poet, wrote 'Poemes d'amour', 'Poemes de la jalousie' 1890 Birthday B. Traven, born in Chicago, writer, wrote, 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre' 1889 Death Charles Mackay, poet, writer, journalist, songwriter, wrote for the Morning Chronicle, Illustrated London News, wrote book 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds', 1841, wrote popular song 'Cheer, Boys, Cheer', dies 1889 Birthday Ludwig Renn, born in Dresden, Germany, writer, fought in World War I on the Western Front, wrote, 'Krieg', member, Communist Party of Germany 1888 Birthday Roy Webb, born in New York City, New York, composer, arranger for over 200 films, Academy Award nominee, wrote fight song 'Roar, Lion, Roar' 1887 Birthday Georg Heym, born in Hirschberg, Germany, poet, writer, wrote, 'Der ewige Tag', poetry considered early Expressionist style 1887 Birthday Bruno Frank, born in Stuttgart, Germany, writer, dramatist, novelist, wrote 'Trenchk', 'The Days of the King' 1887 Birthday Ernest Holmes, born in Lincoln, Maine, author, teacher, spiritualist, founded Religious Science movement, considered 'Science of Mind', part of New Thought movement, wrote metaphysical books, including 'The Science of Mind', founded 'Science of Mind' magazine 1882 Birthday Leo Perutz, born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, writer, wrote 11 novels, mathematician, emigrated to Palestine during Nazi Anschluss, 1938 1881 Birthday Daisy Ashford, born in Petersham, England, English witer, wrote 'The Young Sisters' 1880 Death John Goss, composer, organist, wrote hymn 'Praise my Soul, the King of Heaven', dies at 79 1878 Birthday Harry Emerson Fosdick, born in Buffalo, New York, Baptist clergyman, studied at Colgate University, opposed racism, injustice, supported appeasement of Hitler, claimed democracies caused the rise of fascism, wrote "A Guide to Understanding the Bible' 1876 Birthday Wilson Mizner, born in Benicia, California, playwright, entrepreneur, raconteur, wrote, 'The Deep Purple', 'The Greyhound', opium addict, boxing manager, hotel manager, managed restaurant The Brown Derby, with brother, Addison Mizner 1875 Birthday Rainer Maria Rilke, born in Prague, Austria-Hungary, poet, wrote, 'The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge', 'Letters to a Young Poet' 1874 Birthday Oswald Chambers born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Scottish Protestant Christian minister, teacher, author, wrote, 'My Utmost for His Highest', established local society dedicated to his favorite poet, Robert Browning 1871 Birthday Florence Scovel Shinn, born in New Jersey, artist, book illustrator, metaphysical writer, wrote, 'The Game of Life and how to Play it", 1925, writings follow thought principles of Emma Curtis Hopkins, Myrtle Fillmore, Phineas Quimby, Charles Fillmore 1871 Birthday W. H. Davies, born in Newport, Monmouthsire, Wales, poet, writer, related to actor, Sir Henry Irving, cared for by paternal grandparents, wrote, 'The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp' 1867 Birthday Alfred Kerr, born in Breslau, Silesia, nickname, Culture Pope, writer, essayist, wrote, 'Die Harfe' 1863 Death Frederick William Faber, theologian, wrote 'Faith of Our Fathers', 'My God, how wonderful thou art', 'Oh, gift of gifts', founded religious community in Cotton Hall, Birmingham, dies 1863 Birthday Arno Holz, born in Germany, poet, dramatist, freelance writer, wrote book of poetry 'Phantaesus' 1863 Birthday Hugo Kaun, born in Berlin, Germany, music teacher, conductor, composer, wrote Romantic style operas, symphonies, organ, piano works 1854 Birthday Charles Fillmore, born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, mystic, co-founder, Unity, a New Thought movement church, created metaphysical interpretations of the Bible, promoted idea that God is good, God is available, God is in you, wrote, 'The Twelve Powers of Man' 1852 Birthday Henry Van Dyke, clergyman, educator, author, wrote poetry, hymns, essays, co-wrote first Presbyterian printed liturgy, 'The Common Book of Worship of 1906', served as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxembourg 1851 Birthday Alois Jirasek, born in Czechoslovakia, writer, taught secondary school, wrote plays, historical novels, including, 'Against Everyone' 1850 Birthday Ole Olsen, born in Hammerfest, Norway, composer, organist, teacher, wrote opera 'Stig Hvide', wrote Symphony in G major 1834 Birthday Felix Dahn, born in Hamburg, Germany, writer, wrote 'Prehistory of the Germanic and Roman Peoples' 1832 Birthday Ivan Zajc, born in Rijeka, Croatia, conductor, composer, opened doors for 20th century achievements in Croatian music, wrote opera, La Tirolese, 1855 1831 Birthday Amelia Barr, born in Ulverston, England, writer, novelist, wrote for religious periodicals, novels include 'The Lone House', 'Shela Vedder' 1826 Death Johann Peter Hebel, writer, teacher, most widely read German poet, author, wrote in Alemanic dialect, dies in Schwetzingen, Germany, at age 66 1825 Death Jean Paul, born Johann Paul Friedrich Richter, Romantic, wrote 'Quintus Fixlein', 'Schmelzles Reise', dies at 62, in Bayreuth, Germany 1825 Death Amos Bull, composer, wrote book of hymns 'The Responsary', used in New England churches, dies at 81 1814 Birthday Frederick William Faber, born in Calverley, England, theologian, wrote 'Faith of Our Fathers', 'My God, how wonderful thou art', 'Oh, gift of gifts', founded religious community in Cotton Hall, Birmingham 1814 Birthday Charles Mackay, born in Perth, Scotland, poet, writer, journalist, songwriter, wrote for the Morning Chronicle, Illustrated London News, wrote book 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds', 1841, wrote popular song 'Cheer, Boys, Cheer' 1810 Death Johann Gottfried Seume, writer, lyric poet, wrote 'Mein Sommer in Jahr' 1805, 'Spaziergang nach Syrakus' 1803, dies at 47 1801 Death Novalis, philosopher of early German Romanticism, author, wrote 'Pollen, Faith and Love', 'Hymns to the Night', dies from tuberculosis in the Germany, at age 28 1800 Birthday John Goss, born in Fareham, England, composer, organist, wrote hymn 'Praise my Soul, the King of Heaven' 1794 Death Nicolas de Chamfort, known for aphorisms and witty epigrams, wrote successful comedy, 'La Jeune Indienne', commits suicide at 53 1777 Birthday Henry Doeff, colonialist, wrote Dutch-Japanese dictionary 1776 Event Thomas Paine published his 1st "American Crisis" essay, in which he wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls" 1772 Birthday Novalis, born in Oberwiederstedt, Germany, philosopher of early German Romanticism, author, wrote 'Pollen, Faith and Love', 'Hymns to the Night' 1765 Event Stamp Act Congress met in New York, wrote declaration of rights and liberties 1763 Birthday Jean Paul, born in Wunsiedel, Germany, born Johann Paul Friedrich Richter, Romantic, wrote 'Quintus Fixlein', 'Schmelzles Reise' 1763 Birthday Johann Gottfried Seume, born in Poserna, Germany, writer, lyric poet, wrote 'Mein Sommer in Jahr' 1805, 'Spaziergang nach Syrakus' 1803 1760 Birthday Johann Peter Hebel, born in Basel, Switzerland, writer, teacher, most widely read German poet, author, wrote in Alemanic dialect 1744 Birthday Amos Bull, composer, wrote book of hymns 'The Responsary', used in New England churches 1741 Birthday Nicolas de Chamfort, born in Clermont-Ferrand, France, known for aphorisms and witty epigrams, wrote successful comedy, 'La Jeune Indienne' 1731 Death Mary Astell, English writer and feminist, wrote 'Some Reflections upon Marriage', dies soon after having breast cancer 1719 Birthday John Hawkins, born in England, wrote 1st history of music 1697 Birthday Gerhard Tersteegen, German evangelist/poet, wrote in blood 1697 Death John Aubrey, English writer, wrote 'Brief Lives', died of apoplexy 1666 Birthday Mary Astell, born in Newcastle, England, English writer and feminist, wrote 'Some Reflections upon Marriage' 1660 Birthday Hubert Gautier, engineer, wrote 1st book on bridge building 1658 Death Baltasar Gracian, Spanish Baroque prose writer, wrote 'El heroe' or 'The Hero', 'El politico', or 'The Politician', 'El discreto', 'The Discreet One', exiled for 'Criticon', or 'Faultfinder' 1626 Birthday John Aubrey, born in Percy, England, English writer, wrote 'Brief Lives' 1601 Birthday Baltasar Gracian, born in Belmonte, Aragon, Spain, Spanish Baroque prose writer, wrote 'El heroe' or 'The Hero', 'El politico', or 'The Politician', 'El discreto', 'The Discreet One', exiled for 'Criticon', or 'Faultfinder' 1273 Death Rumi, Mawlana, Mawlawi, poet, theologian, wrote, the six books of the Masnavi, influenced Persian literature, dies 1207 Birthday Rumi, born in Balkh, Khorasan, now Afghanistan, Mawlana, Mawlawi, poet, theologian, wrote, the six books of the Masnavi, influenced Persian literature 1131 Death Omar Khayyam, poet, mathematician, physicist, astronomer, wrote, Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra, dies 1048 Birthday Omar Khayyam, born in Nayshapur, Iran, poet, mathematician, physicist, astronomer, wrote, Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra
