1741 – Nicolas Chamfort (born Sébastien-Roch Nicolas), French writer known for his witty epigrams and aphorisms; he was also secretary to Louis XVI’s sister.
1773 – James Mill, Scottish writer, teacher, historian, economist, translator, theologian, editor, literary critic, essayist, linguist, political theorist, and philosopher who was one of the founders of the Ricardian school of economics; he was the first writer to divide Indian history into three parts: Hindu, Muslim and British, a classification that has been influential in the field of Indian historical studies, though in recent decades it has been seen as being deeply problematic.
1793 – György Czipott, Slovenian author, teacher, priest, and, religious writer
1892 – Lowell Thomas, U.S. writer, broadcaster, and traveler who is best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous.
1897 – Judith Robinson, Canadian author, biographer, investigative journalist, feminist, and social-justice activist whose family and friends knew her as “Brad”; she specialized in social causes, particularly pushing for help for the underprivileged, wounded veterans, and victims of short-sighted bureaucracy.
1901 – Marian Hemar Ukrainian-born Polish poet, journalist, playwright, comedy writer, and songwriter who was born Marian Hescheles and also used the pen names Jan Marianski and Marian Wallenrod.
1902 – Juran Hisao (pen name for Masao Abe), Japanese writer, playwright, translator, novelist, and linguist who was a pioneer in the use of black humor in Japanese fiction; his works range from mystery to humor, in both historical and contemporary settings, and reflect an extensive knowledge of a wide range of subjects.
1903 – Charles Jackson, U.S. author best known for his novel The Lost Weekend; the film adaptation won four Oscars.
1906 – Yoshie Wada, award-winning Japanese novelist, writer, editor, and literary critic.
1909 – Norah Mary Montgomerie, British writer, folklorist, and illustrator who promoted Scottish language, traditional tales, and poetry.
1917 – Leonora Carrington, British and Mexican surrealist artist, writer, and novelist; she was a founding member of the Women’s Liberation Movement in Mexico.
1925 – Helga Deen, German Jewish writer, autobiographer, and diarist whose diary, discovered in 2004, describes her stay in a Dutch prison camp during World War II; she was later moved to another camp, in Poland, where she died in 1943 at the age of 18.
1932 – Vadakkke Koottala Narayanankutty Nair (more commonly known by his pen name V.K.N.), Indian Malayalam novelist, short-story writer, journalist, political commentator, and translator, who was noted for his high-brow satire, multilayered humor, criticism of the social and political order, and ability to twist the meanings of words.
1934 – Lafif Lakhdar (also known as Al-Afif Al-Akhdar or Afif Lakhdar), Tunisian author and journalist who, as a leftist thinker, took part to the debate on secularism in Muslim countries; he also lived in Algeria and France.
1935 – John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo, Nigerian poet, writer, playwright, and teacher who has also published as J.P. Clark and John Pepper Clark.
1939 – Aleksandr Misharin, Russian poet, screenwriter, novelist, and editor.
1944 – Amryl Johnson, Trinidadian writer, travel author, and poet; much of her work concerned the diasporic nature of her life and the hostility she faced after moving to Britain.
1944 – Viveca Lärn, Swedish author, children’s writer, journalist, and translator; some of her books for adults have been adapted into a television series, but she is best known for her children’s books.
1948 – Anna Couani, Australian poet, writer, publisher, and educator whose work often explores the marginalization of women’s lives.
1949 – Brigitte Schwaiger, bestselling Austrian author; her semi-autobiographical first novel Wie kommt das Salz ins Meer? (How does the Salt Get Into the Sea?) was adapted into a German film.
1950 – Luule Viilma, Estonian doctor, parapsychologist, and practitioner of alternative medicine who is best known for her book series Ellujäämise õpetus (Teaching of Survival).
1958 – Graeme Base, Australian author and illustrator of award-winning picture books, best known for Animalia.
1962 – Annejet van der Zijl, Dutch writer, screenwriter, biographer, historian, and journalist.
1966 – Vince Flynn, U.S. author of political thrillers.
1971 – Darrel Bristow-Bovey, award-winning South African travel writer, scriptwriter, author, children’s writer, and columnist.
1975 – Leigh Bardugo, Israeli-born U.S. young-adult and fantasy author, best known for her bestselling “Grishaverse” novels.
1977 – Karin Tidbeck, Swedish author of fantasy and science-fiction stories in both Swedish and English.
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