Leo Tolstoy - September 9, 1828  

Born Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana, Russia, Leo Tolstoy is one of the most famous authors of all time. He was frequently nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature and even the Nobel Peace Prize. Tolstoy`s literature promoted pacifism as he was a religious and political anarchist. Tolstoy`s political views made the church excommunicate him, but the peasants of Russia praised Tolstoy for his pacifism. His most notable works include: Anna Karenina, War and Peace, and Resurrection. Fun fact: some of Tolstoy`s famous friends included Victor Hugo, Ezra Pound, and Mahatma Gandhi. 

Roald Dahl September 13, 1916 

Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, Roald Dahl grew up in English schools showing a keen talent for authorship. He also drew much of his future inspiration from his educational background, as he sampled Cadbury chocolates at school and stuffed a mouse into a jar of gobstoppers. Dahl moved to Tanzania to work for Shell Oil, and then fought in World War I as a fighter pilot. Dahl published books from 1942-1989, creating a lengthy career and writing titles such as: Matilda, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, James & The Giant Peach, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Dahl also wrote adult themed short stories such as "The Land Lady" and "Man From the South." Most notably, his children's fiction won him success, with unique tales of kids and kind adults fighting against hypocritical and abusive figures. Dahl wrote a few screenplays and had many of his films adapted for the big screen. Overall, Dahl was a well rounded 20th century author. 

Agatha Christie September 15, 1890 

The world's best-selling author of all time, Agatha Christie was born in Devon, England to an American father and British mother. From the start, Christie showed extreme wit and intelligence, learning to read by the age of five and playing classical piano at top level. During WWI, she published her first novel, and from then on became a household detective story writer. Famous characters, tropes, and narratives all spawn from her original works.Surviving two wars and two marriages, Christie spent much of her older life writing under a pen name and assisting in theatrical productions. The talented author`s work includes at least 72 titles, her most famous being Murder On the Orient Express. 

Stephen King September 21, 1947

Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine to two young parents who quickly split. King was raised mostly in Maine with his brother and single mother. His love for writing began at an early age, and he published many short stories before graduating high school. King graduated from University of Maine, worked odd jobs after getting an English Degree, and landed a teaching job, all the while furiously working on novels. The prolific author finally made a huge success when Carrie, his fifth novel but first published, hit the shelves in 1973. Since then, King has become a household name, with titles such as Salem`s Lot, Pet Sematary, The Shining, It, Cujo, The Green Mile, and The TommyKnockers just to name a few. Stephen King remains the most film adapted author alive and comes behind famous deceased authors such as Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Charles Dickens. King writes to this day, and he recently published The Institute on September 10, 2019.

D.H. Lawrence - September 11, 1885

Celebrated author and poet, D.H. Lawrence was born into poverty on September 11, 1885 in Nottinghamshire, England.  Lawrence spent much of his early life attempting to get through school, work a job, and enjoy his love of reading and writing. After receiving his teaching certification, Lawrence left for London to work and write. A tumultuous personal life inspired many of his works, however, these works were received as raunchy and obscene. Well traveled and rejected by proper society, Lawrence found himself ill in Italy writing Lady Chatterly`s Lover, a book sent straight to trial and banned on grounds of obscenity in both England and the United States. Lawrence left a legacy not just of scandal, but his work really maintains literary merit. Lawrence explores subjects such as sexuality, mental health, industrialization, and modernity.