What English writers do you know? Did you know the name of the one whose work is considered the first great work of English literature? And whose pen name was male but in reality this writer was a woman? Keep on reading and you'll discover this and even more!
Jane Austen (1775-1817)
Jane Austen is indisputably one of the greatest English writers, some say that the greatest after Shakespear.
She was born in Hampshire, England. At that time, the right role for a woman was a role of a mother. Most women, even if they were extremely talented at writing, couldn't get any fame, because the world of writing belonged only to men. Nevertheless, Austen was able to overcome all obstacles, and published in total 6 novels (although, anonymously):
Sense and sensibility; Mansfield Park; Emma; Pride and Projudice; Northanger Abbey; Persuasion.
Jane died quite young - at the og of 41. It is believed that she'd been suffering from an illness called Addison's disease. She was buried in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England.
2. Geoffrey Chaucer (about 1343-1400)
Scholars believe that Chaucer was born in London, but the exact place and year of his birth are unknown.
In 1357, Geoffrey became a public servant to Countess Elizabeth of Ulster. In 1359, he went off to fight in the Hundred Year's War in France, where he was captured for ransom. But thanks to his royal connections, King Edward III helped him and he was free again. Then, throughout the 1360s, Chaucer was traveling on diplomatic missions to the neighbouring countries.
It's difficult to put the exact dates of many of Chaucer's works. The Cunterbury Tales is by far his best known one. It is made up of 24 stories about some pilgrims to their way to Canterbury. All the characters are different from each other and each of them has their own story. However, this work was never finished, but it became so popular that is still read by literature lovers. Chaucer's major works also include: The Book of the Duchess; The House of Fame; Parliament of Foules, etc.
3. Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
Charles Dickens was born in Portsmonth, on the southern coast of England. His childhood was fairly tragic. When his father was imprisoned for not paying the debts, Charles left school and started working. As a child, he often felt abandoned and betrayed by the adults. When his father came back home, Charles was able to continue his education, but in some time he had to get back to work. He began reporting at the law courts of London. A few years later he received his first success - in 1836 Dickens published his first book "Sketches by Boz". His works became very popular.
Despite his unfortunate childhood, he became a famous novelist, journalist, illustrator and editor. Dicken's famous works are: Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations. He published in total 15 novels.
Charles Dickens died at the age of 58, and was buried in Poet's Corner at Westminster Palace.
4. George Eliot (1819-1880)
She was born in Warwickshire, England and her real name was Mary Ann Evans. She is remembered for writing classic books (like Middlemarch and Silas Marner).
Eliot's appearance was a source of discussion during her lifetime, and even today's readers sometimes get surprised by her look. She even joked about it in the letters to her friends. But nevertheless, she never felt the lack of men's attention. She spent many years of her life with a married man, George Lewes. They lived together until his death in 1878. Then, she got married to a man who was much younger than her.
Why did she take a male pen name? As we've already mentioned in the story of Jane Austen, during that era it was difficult for women to do what they liked to. Only men were welcomed in the world of writers. So, Mary Ann decided to take a male name in order not to get criticized for being a woman-writer.
Her major works are: Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Daniel Deronda, Romola, etc.
George Eliot died in 1880 at the age of 61. She had been ill with kidney disease and was buried in Highgate Cemetery, Highgate, London, in the area reserved for societal outcasts, religious dissenters and agnostics because of her denial of the Christian faith and her adulterous affair with Lewes.
indisputably [ɪnˈdɪspjuːtəblɪ] - бесспорно
some say that - некоторые говорят, что
to be talented at - быть талантливым в ч-л
to overcome all obstacles [ˈɒbstəkl]- преодолеть все препятствия
anonymously [əˈnɒnɪməslɪ] - анонимно
to be buried [ˈberɪd] - быть похороненным
scholars - учёные
a public servant - госслужащийм, должностное лицо
Countess [ˈkaʊntɪs] - графиня, княгиня
to be captured for ransom [ˈrænsəm] - быть захваченным с целью получения выкупа
by far - однозначно, безусловно
pilgrims - странники, паломники
imprisoned - заключенный в тюрьму
to pay the debts [dets] - расплатиться с долгами
betrayed [bɪˈtreɪd] - преданный
the law courts - суд
unfortunate - несчастный
to feel the lack of - чувствовать недостаток
a pen name - литературный псевдоним
societal [səˈsaɪətl] outcasts - общественные изгои
religious dissenters [dɪˈsentə] - религиозные раскольники, инокомыслящие
agnostics - агностики, скептики
adulterous affair - прелюбодейная связь, роман с супружеской неверностью
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