Israel Zangwill was a British writer and humorist who dedicated his life to causes of the oppressed, from women’s suffrage to Jewish emancipation.

January 17 is the birthday of one of the most famous man in American History, Benjamin Franklin ( 17 January, 1706 – 17 April, 1790). I read Benjamin Franklin’s Biography by Walter Isaacson a few years ago and it is, to this day, a favorite of mine. Many people know that Mr. Franklin was a printer, but here are a few interesting facts about his printing career and love of books & libraries.

Franklin Pierce Adams (15 November, 1881 – 23 March, 1960) was a writer and columnist as well as a radio personality, who wrote under the nom de plume: F.P.A.

Jonas Lauritz Idemil Lie is considered to be one of the Four Greats of Norwegian literature of the 19th Century. Mr Lie was a writer, a poet, novelist.

Roald Dahl, the adored children’s author wrote 19 children’s books including James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Sir Benjamin Disraeli was a man of many interests but today he is known most as a statesman but he was a prolific author as well.

American author Shirley Jackson (14 December, 1916 -8 August, 1965) born on this day. She is best known for her excellent short story The Lottery.

Pulitzer prize winning American author Willa Cather (7 December, 1873 – 24, April, 1947) s associated with the pioneer spirit, she lived most of her life in NYC

Today marks the burning down of the historic Globe Theatre in London, 1613. The theatre was built by Lord Chamberlain’s Men, part of which was, of course, William Shakespeare.

Author Suzanne Collins (website) said she got the idea for The Hunger Games while surfing channels and seeing people competing on a reality show and footage of the invasion of Iraq. The two blurred and an idea was formed.