Tobias Smollett (baptized March 19, 1721, Cardross, Dumbartonshire, Scot.—died Sept. 17, 1771, near Livorno, Tuscany [Italy]) was a Scottish satirical novelist, best known for his picaresque novels The Adventures of Roderick Random (1748) and The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (1751) and his epistolary novel The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1771). (Britannica, 2024)

François Rabelais (born c. 1483–94, Seuilly, near Chinon, France—died probably April 9, 1553, Paris) was known to his contemporaries as an eminent physician and humanist. Today, he is remembered as the French writer responsible for the comic masterpiece Gargantua and Pantagruel, which François Rabelais (born c. 1483–94, Seuilly, near Chinon, France—died probably April 9, 1553, Paris) was known to his contemporaries as an eminent physician and humanist. Today, he is remembered as the French writer responsible for the comic masterpiece Gargantua and Pantagruel, which was published between 1532 and 1564. His creative exuberance, colorful and wide-ranging vocabulary, and literary variety have gained him a lasting place in the history of 16th-century French literature.was published between 1532 and 1564. His creative exuberance, colorful and wide-ranging vocabulary, and literary variety have gained him a lasting place in the history of 16th-century French literature.

Jules Verne (born February 8, 1828, Nantes, France—died March 24, 1905, Amiens) was a prolific French author whose writings laid much of the foundation of modern science fiction.

"Brian Flynn, English author and an accountant in government service, a lecturer in elocution and speech, an amateur actor. He wrote about 50 novels, mostly for the library market. His serial character is Anthony Bathurst." - fantasticfiction.com

Edgar Rice Burroughs (born September 1, 1875, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died March 19, 1950, Encino, California) was an American novelist whose Tarzan stories created a folk hero known around the world.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (born July 3, 1860, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.—died August 17, 1935, Pasadena, California) was an American feminist, lecturer, writer, and publisher who was a leading theorist of the women’s movement in the United States.

Charlotte Brontë (born April 21, 1816, Thornton, Yorkshire, England—died March 31, 1855, Haworth, Yorkshire) was an English novelist noted for Jane Eyre (1847), a strong narrative of a woman in conflict with her natural desires and social condition. The novel gave new truthfulness to Victorian fiction. She later wrote Shirley (1849) and Villette (1853).

Charles Dickens is one of the most renowned authors of the 19th century, and he is celebrated for his contributions to English literature. His works are characterized by vivid characters, social critique, and captivating storytelling.

Franz Kafka was a German-speaking Jewish writer born in Prague (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now the Czech Republic). Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century literature, Kafka’s works explore themes of alienation, existential dread, and the absurdity of modern life. Despite writing some of the most profound works of modern literature, Kafka lived a relatively obscure and troubled life. He worked as a lawyer and insurance officer, writing in his spare time. Kafka was plagued by health problems, including tuberculosis, which ultimately claimed his life at the age of 40.

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (born September 29, 1810, Chelsea, London, England—died November 12, 1865, near Alton, Hampshire) was an English novelist, short-story writer, and the first biographer of Charlotte Brontë. (Britannica, 2024)