“December is a bewitching month.”
– Joseph Coelho, A Year of Nature Poems
December is the last month of the year. To be honest, it holds a special place in my heart. This is not only because of Christmas but also because December is my birthday month. Naturally, being an avid reader, I have always been fascinated by the authors born in this month. Actually, you would be surprised to know the sheer number of literary geniuses who are either a Sagittarian or a Capricorn.
This December, as we celebrate the end of yet another year, let us remember some of the greatest literary stalwarts born in December.
Author: Jane Austen
Date of Birth: December 16, 1775
Favorite Work: Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors of all time. Naturally, I was heartened to know that she was a fellow Sagittarian. Born on December 16, 1775, in an English upper-middle-class family, Jane Austen took the literary world by storm. Even though she wrote at a time when very few women could make their mark, Austen was able to carve out an undeniable presence. All six of her novels are considered classics today. From Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma to Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey, all her works have been adapted to films and series countless times.
Author: Gustave Flaubert
Date of Birth: December 12, 1821
Favorite Work: Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert was a renowned French novelist who was famously called the “martyr of style” by Walter Peter. Born on December 12, 1821, Gustave Flaubert instantly gained fame after penning his first novel, Madame Bovary. He was a stickler of perfection who devoted all his time to achieving the perfect style and aesthetics. Flaubert steered clear of clichés and strived to recreate reality through his writing. He is the one who established modern realist narration of stories. It is no wonder that he influenced a number of famous writers like Guy de Maupassant, Edmond de Goncourt, Alphonse Daudet, Emile Zola, J.M. Coetzee, and Franz Kafka.
Author: Joseph Conrad
Date of Birth: December 3, 1857
Favorite Work: Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad was born as Jozef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowskiin Poland on December 3, 1857. You will be astonished to know that Conrad only learned to speak English after reaching the age of twenty. Yet, he went on to be one of the greatest writers in the English language. The short story writer and novelist was known for injecting a non-British sensibility into English Literature. Conrad’s work explored themes of isolation, colonialism, and imperialism. He masterfully shed light on the human psyche. His protagonists have an anti-hero vibe making them all the more intriguing. Conrad heavily drew from his life experiences, especially from his time in the merchant navies. Joseph Conrad’s work was celebrated throughout his lifetime. His works are considered important even today. He has influenced a number of later authors like T.S. Eliot, Ernest Hemmingway, Philip Roth, Salman Rushdie, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Faulkner, among many others. Heart of Darkness, The Secret Agent, Lord Jim, Chance, The Inheritors, and Chance.
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Date of Birth: December 30, 1865
Favorite Work: The Jungle Book
Who hasn’t heard of The Jungle Book? Disney adapted the book two times. Once in 1967 and then in 2016. Most of us grew up either watching or reading The Jungle Book. Rudyard Kipling is the author of this famous work. Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an insanely talented novelist, poet, and short story writer who was born in Bombay, British India on December 30, 1865. His childhood in India greatly inspired his work. From The Jungle Book and Kim to Just So Stories, The Man Who Would be King, and Mandalay, all have an undeniable Indian influence. He had a unique writing style that easily captivates readers to this day. It is no wonder that he is considered to be an innovator in the art of short stories. Rudyard Kipling won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907, making him the first English language writer to win and also the youngest winner in the history of the award to this day. Joseph Rudyard Kipling was a prolific author whose works continue to influence us even today.
Author: Hector Hugh Munro
Date of Birth: December 18, 1870
Favorite Work: The Interlopers
Born on December 18, 1870, Hector Hugh Munro is popularly known by his pen name Saki which he took from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat. H.H. Munro was born to Scottish parents in British Burma, then a part of British India. Later, he lived in Switzerland, England, and Poland, among a number of other countries. Influenced by Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll, and Rudyard Kipling, Saki was a brilliant short story writer. He masterfully satirized Edwardian society and culture in his witty, mischievous, and at times, macabre short stories. Apart from his many short stories, Hector Hugh Munro also penned a full-length play with Charles Maude named The Watched Pot, two one-act plays, a historical study called The Rise of the Russian Empire, a short novel called The Unbearable Bassington, a fantasy named When William Came, and a serial called The Westminster Alice. Saki was a prolific author who inspired a number of talented writers like A.A. Milne, Noel Coward, and P.G. Wodehouse.
Conclusion
December marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere and the start of summer in the southern hemisphere. It is indeed the month of joy and giving. As Christmas is celebrated in this month, December is considered the holiday month universally. People gather with their friends and relatives to enjoy the magical milieu of December. In this month, the spirit of holidays infects our spirits. It is the perfect month to curl up with a book at the end of the day.
It is no wonder that some of the greatest personas in the world of literature were born in December. In this list, we only talk about five of the many literary stalwarts born in December in or before the 19th century.
Do comment and let me know who your favorite December-born author is.
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The cold is the best weather to read. There’s actually a tradition in Iceland that involves giving and receiving new books for Christmas. Isn’t that lovely?
Absolutely, reading in cold weather can be incredibly cozy and immersive. I find it fascinating how different cultures have their own unique traditions surrounding books and literature. The Icelandic tradition of exchanging new books for Christmas sounds absolutely lovely. It’s a beautiful way to encourage reading and sharing stories during the holiday season, fostering a sense of warmth and connection through the power of literature.