Emily Jane Brontë

Emily Brontë (1818-1848) was born on 30 July 1818 in the rectory at Thornton in Yorkshire to the Reverend Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell Brontë, the 5th of their six children and the only daughter to be given a middle name. Unfortunately her mother died when she was only 3 years old and shortly after

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889), was born on this day in 1844, in Stratford, Essex, he was an English poet and Jesuit priest. He is considered to be one of the greatest poets of the Victorian era, however, because his style was so radically different from that of his contemporaries, his best poems were not accepted

George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was born in Dublin on July 26th, his education was irregular, due to his dislike of any organised training. He moved to London as a young man (1876), where he established himself as a leading music and theatre critic and became a prominent member of the Fabian Society, for which he

Robert Graves

On this day, July 24, 1895, poet Robert Graves (1895-1985) was born in Wimbledon, near London. One of ten children, Robert was influenced by his mother’s puritanical beliefs and his father’s love of Celtic poetry and myth. As a young man, he was more interested in boxing and mountain climbing than studying, although poetry later

María Sabina Magdalena García

María Sabina Magdalena García (1894 – 1985), was born on this day 22 July in 1894 she was known as the “priestess of mushrooms,” and was probably the most famous Mexican healer to have ever lived and a great poet. Her history and reputation led her to serve as a bridge between the mystical and

William Makepeace Thackeray

On July 18 1811, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) Victorian novelist and illustrator was born in India where both parents worked for the East India Company. His father died when he was only 4years old and he was sent back to England by his mother who remained in India. He is known for his satirical works,

Ginger Rodgers

Ginger Rodgers (née Virginia Katherine McMath) was born on this day July 16th 1911, in Independence, Missouri, and raised in Kansas City, Rogers and her family moved to Fort Worth, Texas when she was nine years old. Winning a 1925 Charleston dance contest launched a successful vaudeville career, she gained recognition as a Broadway actress

John Clare

John Clare was born in Northamptonshire, England. on this day, July 13 1793 (1793-1864), into a poor family, his father being a farm labourer. He himself became a farm labourer while still a child, leaving school at 12 years. In his early adult life, Clare became a pot-boy in the Blue Bell pub, he was

Pablo Neruda

Chilean poet and Nobel Prize winner, Pablo Neruda was born on this day, 12 July 1904 (1904-1973). Born Ricardo Eliezer Neftali Reyes y Basoalto, Neruda gave himself this writing name under which he would become famous while still in his early teens. In 1921 he left southern Chile for Santiago to attend school, he intended

Roald Dahl – Quote

Dahl was born in 1916 in Cardiff, Wales to Norwegian immigrant parents, he served in the RAF during the Second World as a fighter pilot and subsequently, an intelligence officer. He rose to prominence as a writer in the 1940s with works for children and for adults, and he became one of the world’s best-selling