July 24

Born:

1802 - Alexandre Dumas
French adventure novelist whose famous works include The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.

1857 - Henrik Pontoppidan
Danish realist writer; co-winner of the 1917 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his authentic descriptions of present-day life in Denmark."

1878 - Edward Plunkett
Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany was an Irish author who mostly wrote in the fantasy genre. Many of his novels took place in a land called Pegāna.

1886 - Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
A major figure in modern Japanese literatre, and known for works like Some Prefer Nettles and The Makioka Sisters.

1895 - Robert Graves
English poet, novelist and classical translator and scholar. Most well known for his historical novel I, Claudius, which has been adapted to film, radio and theater.

1900 - Zelda Fitzgerald
Wife of American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, she published one novel of her own, Save Me the Waltz.

1916 - John D. McDonald
American crime and suspense novelist, whose best known works include the Travis McGee series, and The Executioners, which was adapted into the film Cape Fear.

1935 - Aaron Elkins
American author of mysteries featuring forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver.

1936 - Albert Marrin
American historian and prolific author of children's non-fiction books.

1939 - Barry N. Maltzberg
American science fiction author, who also published in other genres under pseudonyms.

1950 - Arliss Ryan
American novelist of historical fiction.

1955 - Brad Watson
American author whose 2002 book The Heaven of Mercury was a finalist for the National Book Award.




Died:
1991 - Isaac Bashevis Singer