Male Authors

John Steinbeck wrote twenty-seven books in his lifetime and he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. Two of his most well-known works are The Grapes of Wrath­ ­and Of Mice and Men. Stanely Kunitz was one of the most famous poets of his time. W. H. Auden is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20^th century and some of his poems, among them Funeral Blues and September 1, 1939 were made into films. Cormac McCarthy wrote the now infamous novel The Road, which explored human nature at its best and worst. John Berryman wrote The Dream Songs, a collection of famous poems. Tom Wolfe was one of the founders of the New Journalism movement that took place in the 1960s. Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl explored the “destructive forces” in the United States such as materialism or conformity.

• John Steinbeck: Biography of John Steinbeck.
• Stanley Kunitz: Detailed biography of Kunitz’s life.
• Auden Society: A compilation of links on Auden.
• John Berryman: A list of links to Berryman’s works.
• Tom Wolfe: Wolfe’s official site.

African-American Writers

Many of the twentieth century’s most influential authors were African-American. Langston Hughes was an immensely talented man whose work was hugely influential during the Harlem Renaissance. Arna Bontemps was also an influential part of the Harlem Renaissance movement although his focus was on poems rather than novels. Peter Hillsman Taylor won a Pulitzer for A Summons to Memphis. James Baldwin was famous for his novels and their exploration of racial and sexual issues taking place in the 20^th century. His most famous novel is Go Tell It on the Mountain. LeRoi Jones has multiple novels to his name, including The System of Dante’s Hell. His play, Dutchman, explored race relations in a unique way.

• Langston Hughes: An illustrated biography of Langston Hughes.
• Arna Bomtemps: A museum devoted to this poet.
• Peter Hillsman Taylor: Summary of Taylor’s life.
• James Baldwin: Briefly discusses Baldwin’s life.
• LeRoi Jones: A brief summary of Jones’s life.

Female Authors

Zora Neale Hurston was considered one of the most prominent female authors ever and she was a huge part of the 20^th century literary world. She was a folklorist whose biggest claim to fame is the now-classic novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Caroline Miller won a Pulitzer with her first published novel, Lamb in His Bosom. Fenise Levertov was a prolific poet who won multiple awards. Ursula K. LeGuin was one of the first famous science fiction novelists. Sylvia Plath is also considered one of the most influential authors because her works explore topics like feminism and mental health. One of the most famous female novelists of the 20^th century is Maya Angelou. Her poems and novels have won numerous awards including Pulitzers. Her most famous work is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which spawned an entire series. Angelou’s poems were amazingly complex in their study of the human spirit, race relations, and other important issues.

• Zora Neale Hurston: Devoted to Hurston’s life and works.
• Caroline Miller: Summary of Miller’s accomplishments.
• Denise Levertov: Archive of most of her works.
• Ursula K. LeGuin: Provides information on LeGuin’s life.  
• Maya Angelou: Maya Angelou’s official website.