LITERARY ESSENTIALS

Reading any of these 10 classic American authors will enrich your life

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America is the cradle of some of the most captivating literary voices in history. With twelve Nobel Prize laureates in literature, there is certainly a long tradition of candid voices, unafraid to explore the deepest aspects of the human condition.

Whether you're a seasoned bookworm or just starting your literary journey, here are 10 American authors you simply can't miss.

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Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Clemens, is considered by many to be the true father of American literature. Born in Missouri, he translated his life experiences into a rich body of work full of stories from the American South, tackling themes of racism and freedom with unparalleled wit and insight. Twain's honest humor and keen observations make his works timeless and universal.

If you don’t know where to start, his classic novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," is an indispensable entry point into his literary world.

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One of the most important figures in American poetry, Emily Dickinson’s innovative writing style and lyrical depth inspired countless generations of writers and readers. Despite living an eccentric and reclusive life - at times even reluctant to leave her own bedroom - Dickinson's work explores the universal themes of nature, death, and the human soul with exceptional brilliance.

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Today, F. Scott Fitzgerald is best known for capturing the essence of the Jazz Age in his masterpiece, "The Great Gatsby", but he was a prolific and successful writer in his time. Despite being an outsider for most of his life, he was an insightful observer of society, and many of his novels and short stories explore the most pressing issues of the Roaring Twenties, and the realities behind the American Dream.

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Born in Monroeville, Alabama, Harper Lee was a sharp writer who focused on the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of justice. Her most famous novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is considered a seminal work in American literature. Inspired by her observations of family and neighbors during her childhood, Lee tackled themes of racial injustice and moral growth in the Deep South. She received numerous accolades for her literary work, including a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007.

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Ernest Hemingway's concise yet powerful writing style revolutionized modern literature. From the battlefields of World War I in "A Farewell to Arms" to the bullfights of Spain in "The Sun Also Rises," Hemingway's novels are informed by his own tumultuous life experience as well as imbued with themes of masculinity, love, and existentialism. From his short stories to his complex novels, Hemingway’s spare prose continues to be relevant today.

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Sylvia Plath's confessional poetry delves into the depths of the human psyche with raw intensity and honesty. Her only novel, the semi-autobiographical "The Bell Jar" explores issues of mental health, existential despair, and women’s roles in society from the perspective of a young undergraduate student arriving in New York City in the 50s. A life marked by tragedy, Plath was awarded a Pulitzer Prize posthumously in 1982 for her collected poetry, and her poignant prose continues to captivate readers to this day.

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The quintessential American poet, Walt Whitman’s titanic poetic oeuvre, mostly collected in "Leaves of Grass," celebrates from every angle the diversity and vitality of America. Through free verse and beautifully crafted imagery, Whitman captures in his verses the spirit of democracy and freedom. His influence on American poetry is immeasurable, inspiring generations of poets and laying the groundwork for a national narrative.

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Best known for the timeless classic "Little Women," Alcott's portrayal of strong, independent female characters challenged the societal norms of her time and continues to inspire readers of all ages. Her vivid storytelling and universal themes of love, sacrifice, and personal growth make her an essential read for anyone seeking heartwarming tales of courage and camaraderie amidst the hardships of life.

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Focusing on the struggles of the American working class during the Great Depression, Steinbeck’s work explores themes of poverty, injustice, and the pursuit of the American Dream. His most famous novels, "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men," offer windows into the lives of those who built America with their blood, sweat and tears.

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Pulitzer Prize winner and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison is recognized as a trailblazer in her generation, unafraid to delve into the complexities of the lives of African Americans in the United States with powerfully honest prose. "Beloved," one of her most popular novels, is a haunting tale of slavery's legacy during the Reconstruction era. Her exploration of the questions of identity and the human condition resonates deeply with readers worldwide.

Do you have a unique skill?

11 unusual skills that became very handy in historic circumstances

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A peculiar skill is something that many of us have. It can be a special ability to recognize lookalikes, make pets fall asleep quickly, or guess names, among a million other things. However, some people manage to make a career out of their unusual skills, and this has happened over and over again throughout history. Take a look at the following 11 examples. Did you know any of these?

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Although it requires a good measure of specific knowledge, being a barber does not seem like a spectacularly complicated job these days. But, back in Medieval times, before the advent of modern medicine, barbers often performed minor surgical procedures, such as bloodletting and tooth extraction.

This odd combination of haircutting and basic surgery was a peculiar skill set that eventually evolved into separate professions.

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It may sound like the job for a food critic, but it really wasn’t. In ancient and medieval times, rulers and wealthy individuals employed food tasters to protect themselves from poisoning.

This very dangerous job required a keen sense of taste and the ability to detect subtle signs of toxins in food and drink.

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Catching rats was such a valued skill in past times that it was even a specific royal appointment in Great Britain, where the rat catcher was responsible for keeping the royal palaces and grounds free of rats.

It required specialized knowledge of rat behavior and effective trapping methods.

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These days, anybody can create a decent portrait using her or his smartphone, but back when photography wasn’t yet invented, limners created miniature portraits, often on ivory or vellum. As one can imagine, these tiny works of art required exceptional skill and attention to detail.

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In a time when communication was mostly carried out by people on their own two legs, horses, or ships, being able to establish successful communication at the speed of a flying bird was nothing short of a miracle.

Pigeon trainers were highly sought after and required due to their ability to train these humble birds to fly to particular places with tiny messages attached to them, and then go back.

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In the days of sailing ships, sailors used flags to communicate. Knowing how to interpret and send flag signals was crucial for coordinating naval maneuvers, and very few people knew how to perform these tasks correctly.

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While its scientific basis is obviously debated, dowsing (using a forked stick or other instrument to locate underground water or minerals) has been a skill used in various cultures for centuries.

Those who were believed to have this ability were often sought after in communities where water was scarce.

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Unbreakable code has always been a much-appreciated commodity during wartime. During WWII, Marine Corps leadership selected 29 Navajo men, the Navajo Code Talkers, who created a code based on the complex, unwritten Navajo language.

This system allowed the Code Talkers to translate three lines of English in 20 seconds, not 30 minutes as was common with existing code-breaking machines.

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Just like code talkers were a necessity, so were code breakers. Also during WWII, British mathematician Alan Turing cracked the "Enigma" code, which was a type of enciphering machine used by the German armed forces to send messages securely.

Codebreaking was a highly complex ability, involving a large set of skills ranging from mathematics to linguistics, mastered by very few individuals.

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Aside from the occasional title cards, silent films were a visual, rather than a verbal expression. But, as you must have seen, silent film actresses and actors did move their lips in those movies, even if you could not hear them.

Lip reading became a useful ability in those days, allowing filmgoers to understand what the performers were actually saying during the film. While most of the time, the uttered words had some relation to the scene itself, sometimes, actresses and actors said very different things, to the surprise of lip readers.

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During the mid-20th century, complex mathematical calculations were performed by hand to be used in astronomy, engineering, ballistics, and other developing fields. Many of these "human computers" who were able to perform incredibly complex calculations were women, like Katherine G. Johnson, Mary W. Jackson, or Dorothy Vaughan, to name a few.