Matthew Prior, poet and satirist, b. 1664. Borrowing ideas and outright plagiarism is nothing new. Dr. Samuel Johnson on Prior: “He never made any effort of invention: his greater pieces are only tissues of common thoughts; and his smaller, which consist of light images or single conceits, are not always his own. I have traced him among the French epigrammatists, and have been informed that he poached for prey among obscure authors.” From Lives of the Poets by Samuel Johnson.
Elizabeth Hamilton, b. 1758. Scots author of several books including Letters on the Elementary Principles of Education, a treatise on the desirability of advanced education for women who are entrusted with the early education of the next generation. Published in 1818, you can read it here.
Ernest Hemingway, b. 1899. I asked this question last year, and I ask again: Hemingway fans, why? What is it about Mr. Hemingway’s spare prose that inspires, resonates, causes you to say, “Wow, that’s a good book!”? Which of Hemingway’s novels do you like the most? Why? I’ve read four of Hemingway’s novels, a long time ago, and I must say that I mostly remember a lot of very drunk characters and something rather poignant about The Sun Also Rises.
Hemingway website
If you’re really a glutton, you can go here for my further thoughts on Hemingway.
Robin Williams, b. 1952. Great comedian. The movie Dead Poets Society makes my list of 105 Best Movies Ever.
I’m not a Hemingway fan, but I have read a lot of his books. The only thing that appeals to me is the spareness (can I say that?) of his writing style.
Funny you mention it, ’cause I just started reading The Sun Also Rises last weekend. A few short stories aside, I haven’t read any Hemingway since The Old Man and the Sea in high school (some 14 years ago), and I figured it was about time.
I’m about 100 pages in and liking it so far. But it’s got artist-types in it, sitting around talking about books, smoking cigars, and boxing. Later there will be bullfights. So it’s a me kinda book. 😉