What a wonderful way to find and/or rediscover the greats. I'm ashamed to say I didn't know everyone, so I have to vet reading––especially the late 20th-century writers. The hard part will be finding the best translations, though I trust the reviewers here at Goodreads will show me the way. ( )

A wonderful book on prominent authors down the ages, often illustrated with striking portraits, and a good synopsis of their work. One wishes it covered more authors, but what they have done is superb.
I discovered Anton Chekhov was a practicing doctor as well as an author and playwright. "Medicine is my lawful wife", he once said, "and literature is my mistress.
How George Orwell wrote other books than 'Animal Farm' and 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', eg 'The Road to Wigan Pier' and 'Coming Up for Air'. To gather first-hand experience of working-class life he dressed and lived the part in London and Paris then relaying the experience in 'Down and Out in Paris and London'.
A problem in reading about all these authors, my ‘want to read list’ is longer than ever.

Magnificent ( )