June 11 Writer Birthdays

1851 – Mary Augusta Ward (née Arnold), Australian-born British novelist who wrote as Mrs. Humphry Ward.

1877 – Renée Vivien (born Pauline Mary Tarn), British Symbolist poet who wrote in the French language.

1899 – Yasunari Kawabata, Nobel Prize-winning Japanese novelist, best known for Snow Country.

1910 – Jacques Cousteau, French oceanographer, filmmaker, author, and conservationist.

1925 – William Styron, American author; winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

1932 – Athol Fugard, South African playwright and novelist, known for his opposition to apartheid.

1933 – Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman), popular American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, singer-songwriter, and author.

1939 – Christina Crawford, American writer and actress, daughter of Joan Crawford, and author of the book Mommie Dearest, which chronicled their abusive relationship.

1943 – Iain Sinclair, Welsh/British writer and filmmaker.

1944 – Marjorie B. Garber, American professor who has authored a variety of books, most notably about William Shakespeare and popular culture.

1945 – Robert Munsch, American-born Canadian children’s author.

1947 – Bill Findlay, Scottish playwright and translator.

1947 – Israel Sham (also known as Jöran Jermas and Adam Ermash), a Siberian-born Swedish/Israeli writer and journalist who comments on Arab/Israeli relations and Jewish culture.

1955 – Duncan Steel, British/Australian scientist and author of popular works on science.

1960 – Mehmet Oz, American/Turkish surgeon, television personality, and author.