SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL

ENGLISH WRITERS OF ALL TIME

Statistics can sometimes be complicated,

but most of the time they arouse our
curiosity. According to figures, more than
700 million people across the world speak
English, either as their first or second
language. But who made this language
famous all over the world? Come with us
on an interesting trip among the writers
who have had an important role in
spreading the uniqueness of English
literature.

1
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
‘Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day?’

Starting with Shakespeare is like starting with the

ABC. However, quoting Shakespeare in this list is
necessary, essential and something we owe to
human-kind! The importance of his work is
evident in the fact that around 3,000 words he
created are still used in contemporary English
today. Shakespeare was alternative, with a
bohemian style, but also a brilliant businessman
and sometimes an actor for his own shows.
Othello, The Tempest, Midsummer Night’s Dream
and The Merchant of Venice are some of the 37
plays he wrote during his lifetime. If we also
consider the 154 sonnets he created, it is easily
understood why he is considered to be one of
the most prolific and powerful writers of all the
time.

2
JANE AUSTEN
‘The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not
pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid’

The novelty and power of the messages Jane Austen

wrote still stand true and have done since the end of
the 18th century. Her most popular book Pride and
Prejudice discovers the passionate and eclectic
Elizabeth Bennet, probably her most known character,
showing Austen’s vision of the world of women. She
was a pioneer of English literature due to her brand-
new writing style, with quick and catchy dialogues
that transport the readers straight into the characters’
minds. The filmography is also rich and always
updated. Anne Hathaway (Becoming Jane, 2007),
Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, 1995) and
Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice, 2005), are some
of the actresses who have recently played these
powerful characters; appealing to more people and
making them aware of the importance of Jane Austen
and her writing.

3
OSCAR WILDE
‘I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the
best’

Describing Oscar Wilde could be as difficult as learning

a new language in three days. Challenging, complicated
and extravagant, his life has been this and even more.
Someone once said that the weight of his personality
has overshadowed the importance of his works.
However, this can easily be a superficial judgement of
Oscar Wilde’s life. Of course, plenty of anecdotes and
curiosities are included in his biographies. If you’re
heading up to Reading, you can take a tour of the jail
where he was imprisoned for homosexuality (during
this period he wrote De Profundis). Or for those who are
passionate about Wilde, the tour in Paris at his tomb
has become a tourists’ pilgrimage for those who want
to pay their respects. For a deeper look at Wilde’s idea
of beauty, and art, and how these are connected with
materialistic earthly life, make sure you read The Picture
of Dorian Grey.

4
GEORGE ORWELL
‘All animals are equal, but some are more equal than
others’

According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘dystopic’ is something

‘typical of, or featuring an imaginary place or state in which
everything is extremely bad or unpleasant.’ If your literary taste
is politically oriented, you should have read George Orwell’s
works. In 1984, Animal Farm was published, providing the
English writer with a chance to describe these kinds of
conditions; an example of dystopian literature, but also
satirical and critical of the political assets of this time. The life
of Eric Arthur Blair – Orwell’s real name – has been an
adventurous one: son of a civil servant in India, he joined the
Indian Civil Police in Burma in 1922, to get back to Europe
where — as he described in Down and Out in London and Paris
– he lived in deprivation and poverty. Moreover, Orwell joined
the Spanish Civil War in 1936. These events are examples of a
lifelong fight to have his ideas and beliefs heard, making him
an inspiring figure for everyone around the world.

5
ROALD DAHL
‘Grown-ups are quirky creatures, full of quirks and secrets’

The 19th century author Roald Dahl is well known for his
incredible children’s stories. We’re sure you will
recognise the names of his much-loved works, including
The Gremlins, Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory, but if you didn’t, take a jump into the fantastic
world of Roald Dahl and feel like a child once again!
Widely praised for his originality and creativity,
nonetheless Dahl has also been described as irreverent
as well, since his young characters are often
disrespectful and rebellious towards grown-ups. Dahl
had an adventurous life, working in Africa for the Shell
Petroleum Company and taking part in World War II as
a pilot for the Royal Air Force — although he was forced
to leave after a serious accident. His works are now
iconic and this is also with thanks to the collaboration
with illustrator Quentin Blake, who helped make Dahl’s
work a fabulous mix of written and visual creativity.

6
J. K. ROWLING
‘No story lives unless someone wants to listen’

Although this literature journey is ending, we could not

complete the list without J.K. Rowling and the
undoubted impact her books have had. Do we need to
quote her best-known character? Everybody across the
world knows of Harry Potter and all his adventures;
Rowling filled the 90s and new millennium generations
with a magical new world about the young wizard and
his friends. The massive effects this saga has had is what
makes this author remarkable. Apart from the prizes and
global fame she has gained from the Harry Potter saga,
J.K. Rowling has been an active character even beyond
the lines of her books. At the beginning of her career,
she was with Amnesty International, readily involved in
the Human Rights debate and philanthropy of the time.
If you want to discover her new works after Potter, read
the The Cuckoo’s Calling or The Silkworm, written under
the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith.