Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Author Study
During this lesson, students will learn more about their favorite authors by researching them on the Internet and presenting to the class, school, and community. Students will see that authors are real people thereby developing an...
Washington State University
Washington State University: American Authors: Theodore Dreiser (1871 1945)
This site has a picture, biographical information, and links on Theodore Dreiser. A good place to find links to full-texts of his work.
University of Pennsylvania
Dreiser Web Source: Biography of Theodore Dreiser
This is a detailed biography on American author Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945). Read about his immigrant family, his difficult childhood, and the development of his writing career.
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Daniel Defoe
This site gives a thorough biography of Defoe. It includes quotes from his writing and information about his most important works.
Other
A Brief Biography of Isikawa Jun
Included in this biography is an explanation of the political influences which affected Jun's writing, as well as some discussion of how he influenced other Japanese writers like Abe.
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts: The Big Read: Wolff: Old School
Guide to Tobias Wolff's Old School, with historical information, author biographies, discussion questions, and a ten-lesson unit of study including activities, writing exercises, project ideas, and essay topics. A radio show, with...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: An Author Study: Christopher Paul Curtis
This five-day lesson will introduce the learners to the author of the novel as the beginning of a unit. The students will conduct research to obtain biographical information about the author and read/analyze summaries and critiques of...
Bibliomania
Bibliomania: James Russell Lowell Biography
This Bibliomania site provides a biography of James Russell Lowell (1819-1891). Discusses his ancestry, education, and work as a poet, essayist, and satirist. Describes Lowell's role in the Abolitionist movement. Includes suggestions for...
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Junichiro Tanizaki
This brief biography summarizes several of Tanizaki's more important works and a list of many of his writings.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Modernist Portraits: Ernest Hemingway
Drawing on the monstrosities of World War I, Ernest Hemingway presents male characters persevering through many difficult circumstances in his works, as highlighted in this biography. See "Ernest Hemingway Activities" for more resources.
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Maya Angelou
Poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar, Maya Angelou is a world-famous author. She is best known for her unique and pioneering autobiographical writing style.
City University of New York
Cuny: Dorothy Parker Rothschild
This biography of 20th century poet Dorothy Parker discusses the many tragedies that impacted her life and the wit that made her writing famous.
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Marcus Aurelius
Biography of Marcus Aurelius from the perspective of his writing career, rather than his work as an emperor. Uses his own words from "The Meditations" to provide insight into his character.
Other
Jane Austen Society of North America: About Jane Austen
A brief biography of British author, Jane Austen, with hyperlinks to her works and a chronology of her writing.
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts: The Big Read: Jeffers: Poetry
Guide to the poetry of Robinson Jeffers, including historical information, biographies, discussion questions, and lesson plans. Each one of ten lesson plans has discussion activities, writing exercises, vocabulary, and homework...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Poetry of Liberation: Lorna Dee Cervantes
Lorna Dee Cervantes is presented in this brief biography, drawing attention to political and social messages which are camouflaged by vivid use of nature in her writings. See "Lorna Dee Cervantes Activities" for related materials.
The Book Report
Teen reads.com: Lois Duncan Interview
Duncan talks about her writing in an interview with a young writer.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: The Search for Identity: David Mamet
Playwright David Mamet is featured for his brilliant use of language in his writings believing that our words and the manner they are spoken depict our identity. See "David Mamet Activities" for extra resources.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: The Tech: Article on Alex Haley
This Washington Post article from The Tech on Alex Haley offers a personal glimpse into Haley's life as a writer and how his writing connected him to his family.
Other
Seven Gothic Tales
This page offers some biographical information and gives a brief summary for each of Karen Blixen's Seven Gothic Tales.
Other
Athabasca University: Centre for Language and Literature: Rohinton Mistry
A biography on Indian-Canadian author, Rohinton Mistry, author of novels "Such a Long Journey" and "A Fine Balance." Read about the author's education, his storytelling, received honours, and writing style.
University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo: Lucille Clifton
This site from the University at Buffalo gives a page devoted to Clifton that offers an excerpt of her writing, a short biography & bibliography. Also includes photos of the author.
Other
The Diana Wynne Jones Homepage
Photos, biographical information, a list of all of Diana Wynne Jones' books, and a lengthy article by the author about the difference between writing for children and writing for adults.
NSTATE
Netstate: Michigan, Edna Ferber
A brief biography is included here, along with an early photo of Ferber (1885-1968 CE). Focuses primarily on her writing career.