Posted on September 6, 2020 at 8:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Here are the literary birthdays to celebrate over the week of September 6, 2020.

Phyllis A. Whitney (September 9, 1903): In addition to her award-winning mysteries for adults (such as The Mystery of the Haunted Pool and The Mystery of the Hidden Hand), Whitney wrote books for younger readers. 

O. Henry (September 11, 1862): O. Henry’s first collection of short stories, Cabbages and Kings, was written while he was in prison; the next collection included his most famous work, “The Gift of the Magi.”

D.H. Lawrence (September 11, 1885): Lawrence’s now critically acclaimed The Rainbow was initially banned for obscenity, as was Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

H.L. Mencken (September 12, 1880): Mencken was a highly influential critic and satirist early in his career, and though he lost prominence in those areas by the 1940s, at that point his The American Language had earned him the reputation of the leading authority on American English.

Birthdays sourced from Calendar of Literary Facts; biographical information sourced from Encyclopedia Britannica. Did we miss someone? Email and let us know!

Categories: Today in Books

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