Popular and forgotten authors & journalists who made their reputation from their words rather then their faces. Read more >>
Journalism has been defined as "writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation." An author, however, has freer rein - often weaving a story, truth based or not, with the intent to inform and/or entertain. In the past, a journalist was expected to tell the truth, based on facts, and newspapers were the primary outlet of their efforts. Authors wrote books or plays or poems, creating new worlds that showed us more, through their words, about the world around us or times and places from their imaginations.
Historically, writing has been a pathway to fame for many. In his day, Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) was England's most popular writer. He began with serialized stories in newspapers and dabbled in political journalism, moving on to write novels based on the world around him. Journalism has had it's rewards as well. Nelly Bly (the pen name of Elizabeth Cochran Seaman, 1864 - 1922) pioneered investigative journalism. She was a celebrated figure of her own time. George Sand (the pen name of author Amantine Lucile Dupin, 1804 - 1876 - women weren't allowed to publish in her time so she chose a man's name) was a celebrated French novelist. And who can forget Mark Twain (pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835 -1910) who made us laugh and think? Often, journalists and authors have been more well-known than actors, musicians, or singers.
Discover photos of authors and journalists you may or may have not known from the past. Many are still being read today, centuries later. << Read less
A photo of author Jack Kerouac whose most notable book is On the Road (1957).
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A photo of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
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This photo of Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby) was taken in the 1960's. She was born Pauline Esther Phillips (her twin was "Ann Landers") in 1918 in Iowa and began her "Dear Abby" column in 1956 at the age of 37 in San Francisco California.
A strong woman, she called the San Francisco Chronicle and told them that she could write a better advice column than they were running at the time. She was right - they hired her and she wrote her column for decades, eventually being syndicated in hundreds of newspapers.
She died on January 16, 2013 at the age of 94 of Alzheimers but I certainly remember beginning every day when I was a child by first reading "Dear Abby" in my parents' newspaper.
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Image of the 1902 Nobel Laureate in literature Christian Mommsen. Christian Mommsen (1817-1903) lived in Germany and is attributed as being one of the greatest living masters of the art of historical writing.
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A photo of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain), circa 1900
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A photo of Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1811 - 1896.
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A portrait of Walt Whitman in 1887. Whitman was born in 1819 and died in 1902. You can see other pictures of him on AncientFaces but this photo reminds me of Santa Claus!
Walt Whitman was a famous American poet and journalist, perhaps best known for his poetry collection "Leaves of Grass."
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, George C. Cox
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Portrait of Lewis Carroll at age 23. While best known for writing Alice in Wonderland, Lewis held numerous roles including author, photographer, illustrator, poet, mathematician and teacher.
While not a self-portrait by today's standards, this is considered a self portrait of himself which first appeared in the 1898 biography 'The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll'.
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A photo of William Saroyan
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A photo of Henrik Johan Ibsen
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A photo of Daphne Du Maurier
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A photo of Kahlil Gibran
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A photo of John Vredenburgh Van Pelt
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A photo of Ernest Miller Hemingway
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A photo of Haim Ginott
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A photo of Joyce Brothers
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A photo of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
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A photo of Erasmus Wilson
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A photo of a Punch Magazine cartoon for New Years Day, 1919.
Following the end of WW1 in November 1918, Punch Magazine shows that the task for 1919 was repairing global alliances.
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A photo of Cincinnatus Heine "Joaquin" Miller
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A photo of Walter Cade III's sister Toni Cade Bambara.
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A photo of Samuel "Mark Twain" Langhorne Clemens
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A photo of writer Neil Simon. Born in The Bronx in 1927, he was a playwright, author, and screenwriter. Beginning with writing for early comedy tv shows, he went on to be a prolific and succesful comedy writer for stage, movies, and television. From "Come Blow Your Horn" to "Barefoot in the Park" to "The Odd Couple" - and numerous others - his style entertained generations.
Growing up during the Depression in an emotionally unstable household, Simon turned to movies (and comedy) for relief during his childhood. He said that this inspired him to turn to writing comedy as an adult.
He was born to Jewish parents and had one brother who was 8 years older. He was married 5 times (to 4 women) and had 3 children. And he left us with a wonderful body of work.
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A photo of Earl Wilson, author and columnist
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A photo of Sheilah Graham's great love: F. Scott Fitzgerald
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A photo of Elizabeth "Nellie Bly" Jane (Cochran) Seaman
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A photo of Cornelia Otis Skinner
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A photo of Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams Iii
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A photo of Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams Iii
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A photo of Ivan T. Sanderson
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A photo of Ivan T. Sanderson
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A photo of Sarah Petrusky who was a brilliant poet.
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A photo of Samuel Marx author
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A photo of Moss Hart standing and George Kaufman sitting, playwrights.
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A photo of Moss Hart on right and George Kaufman on left - FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
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Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) artist, poet and writer was born 'Khalil Gibran' in Bsharri, Lebanon to Khalil Gibran and Kamila Rahmeh. The family emigrated to America in 1895. Gibran is chiefly known for his inspirational book 'The Prophet' first published in 1923. He died in New York City 1931 aged 48.
Written next to Gibran's grave in Lebanon are the words "I am alive like you, and I am standing beside you. Close your eyes and look around, you will see me in front of you."
Photographer - F. Holland Day
Norwood, Massachusetts 1896
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A photo of Elizabeth "Nellie Bly" Jane (Cochran) Seaman
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A photo of Elizabeth "Nellie Bly" Jane (Cochran) Seaman
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A photo of Elizabeth "Nellie Bly" Jane (Cochran) Seaman
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A photo of ILKA CHASE, BEST SELLING AUTHOR.
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A photo of Henry Fairfield Osborn, Jr who wanted to be known as Fairfield Osborn and NOT Jr.
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A photo of Fairfield Osborn's book - OUR PLUNDERED PLANET
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A photo of Albert Payson Terhune
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A photo of Albert Payson Terhune and his Sunnybank Collies.
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A photo of Albert Payson Terhune.
Terhune and Nellie Bly [Elizabeth Seaman] both worked for Arthur Brisbane!
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A photo of Albert Payson Terhune
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