Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881):

  • Important works: “Crime and Punishment,” “The Idiot,” “The Brothers Karamazov,” and “Notes from Underground.”
  • Professional events: Dostoevsky was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and journalist. He was known for his psychological insight and exploration of the human condition.
  • Personal events: Dostoevsky was arrested and sentenced to death for his involvement in a political group. His sentence was commuted to hard labor in Siberia.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Dostoevsky’s works continue to be studied and adapted for film and stage. His exploration of morality, faith, and the human psyche has influenced generations of authors and thinkers.

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875):

  • Important works: “The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “The Snow Queen.”
  • Professional events: Andersen was a Danish author and poet, known worldwide for his fairy tales. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, meeting other authors and artists.
  • Personal events: Born into a poor family, Andersen worked as a shoemaker’s apprentice before pursuing his writing career. He was unlucky in love and remained unmarried.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Andersen’s fairy tales have been adapted into numerous films, plays, and ballets. His themes of transformation, perseverance, and the power of love continue to resonate with audiences today.

Franz Kafka (1883-1924):

  • Important works: “The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial,” and “The Castle.”
  • Professional events: Kafka was a German-speaking Bohemian Jewish novelist and short-story writer, known for his surreal and existentialist works.
  • Personal events: Kafka worked as an insurance officer, a job he disliked. He struggled with health issues and died young.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Kafka’s works have had a significant impact on literature and popular culture. His themes of alienation, bureaucracy, and the absurd continue to be explored in contemporary art and literature.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832):

  • Important works: “Faust,” “The Sorrows of Young Werther,” and “Elective Affinities.”
  • Professional events: Goethe was a German writer, artist, and statesman. He is considered one of the greatest figures in Western literature.
  • Personal events: Goethe had a complex love life and was involved in a long-term relationship with Christiane Vulpius.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Goethe’s works continue to be studied and performed. His influence can be seen in various fields, including literature, philosophy, and science.

Homer (8th century BC):

  • Important works: “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.”
  • Professional events: Homer was an ancient Greek poet, traditionally believed to be the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
  • Personal events: Little is known about Homer’s life. He is considered a legendary figure.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Homer’s works are foundational texts in Western literature. They continue to be studied, translated, and adapted.

Sophocles (496/495 BC – winter 406/405 BC):

  • Important works: “Oedipus Rex,” “Antigone,” and “Oedipus at Colonus.”
  • Professional events: Sophocles was an ancient Greek playwright, one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens.
  • Personal events: Sophocles served as a general and a priest. He won many dramatic competitions.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Sophocles’ works continue to be performed and studied. They have had a significant impact on Western drama.

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910):

  • Important works: “War and Peace,” “Anna Karenina,” and “The Death of Ivan Ilyich.”
  • Professional events: Tolstoy was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and social reformer. He is considered one of the greatest authors in literature.
  • Personal events: Tolstoy was a nobleman who married and had thirteen children. Later in life, he underwent a spiritual crisis and became a moral and religious thinker.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Tolstoy’s works continue to be studied and adapted. His exploration of morality, war, and human relationships has influenced generations of authors and thinkers.

Tristan Tzara (1896-1963):

  • Important works: “The First Heavenly Adventure of Monsieur Antipyrine,” “Seven Dada Manifestos,” and “Approximate Man.”
  • Professional events: Tzara was a Romanian and French avant-garde poet, essayist, and playwright. He was one of the founders of the Dada movement.
  • Personal events: Tzara was born in Romania but moved to Paris in 1916. He was involved in various artistic movements throughout his life.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Tzara’s works and the Dada movement have had a significant impact on modern art and literature. His rejection of reason and logic in favor of nonsense and irrationality continues to influence contemporary art.

Ovid (43 BC – 17/18 AD):

  • Important works: “Metamorphoses,” “Ars Amatoria,” and “Heroides.”
  • Professional events: Ovid was a Roman poet who is best known as a master of the elegiac couplet and as a wit of epigrams.
  • Personal events: Ovid was born into a wealthy family and was educated in Rome. He was exiled by Emperor Augustus in 8 AD, possibly for writing about scandalous subjects.
  • Influence in today’s art and society: Ovid’s works have had a significant impact on Western literature. His “Metamorphoses” has been a source of inspiration for numerous artists, including painters, sculptors, and composers. His exploration of love, mythology, and transformation continues to be studied and adapted.

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