General Knowledge About 19th Century Literature Still Relevant Today

Many classic novels are as popular today as when they were first written. Libraries are filled with these timeless stories that still capture the hearts and minds of the reader, taking them back to a simpler time.  Immersing yourself in a good book can be as exciting and emotionally moving as watching a good movie. In fact, many movies are based on these great works, bringing the classic tales to all generations. General knowledge websites have all sorts of interesting facts about 19th century literature to remind us of the classic writers of our time.

Who is James Fenimore Cooper? If you’ve seen The Last of the Mohicans, you already know his work.  This movie was based on his novel which was published in 1826. This was considered his masterpiece and was one of several historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales.  Most of his works revolved around politics, which resulted in criticism in the press, so much so that he sued a publication for libel which he subsequently won. Cooper was considered one of the most popular authors of his time, which gained him admiration throughout the world. The Ways of the Hour was the last novel he completed before his death in 1851.

When speaking of 19th century authors, it would be remiss to not mention John Esten Cooke. Who is John Esten Cooke?  Cooke was a prominent Virginian who often wrote his novels based on life in his home state.  His most famous work, The Virginia Comedians, was written in 1854 and was a romance based during the American Revolution. Many compared his writing style to that of James Fenimore Cooper and Sir Walter Scott. Although he started out with a career in law, he would always be pulled by his desire to write. His literary accomplishments allowed him to leave his law practice and devote all of his time to his writing. It is during this time that he wrote Virginia, a sequel to the now famous The Virginia Comedians.

Who can forget the classic tales of the now famous works Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Adventures of Tom Sawyer?  A number of movies have been made to bring these age old stories of youth to each generation. The overalls, straw hat and fishing poles are etched in our minds. Written by Mark Twain, these books quickly became classics and he was considered the greatest humorist of his time.  Many are not aware that Mark Twain was a pen name. In fact he tried out several pen names before settling on Mark Twain. Who is Mark Twain? Samuel Langhorne Clemens was the real man behind the persona, with his now famous thick mustache and satirical demeanor.  Twain’s last work was his own autobiography, written with his normal wit; it did not necessarily flow in chronological order. Some have re-arranged the book so that it flows in a more traditional biographical style.  The first volume of his autobiography is due to be published in November of 2010. This is 100 years after his death per his request.

You can learn about many of the classic and lesser known writers by browsing through a database of questions and answers which most general knowledge websites have.

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