Famous Authors Who Died In August | Writers We lost in Month of August

Today, we’ve made a list of the most prolific writers we lost in the month of August over the years. These authors where successful in their life span and given many awesome books that we still enjoy reading. One thing that is common in these famous authors who died in august is their passion and love for writing.

Hans Christian Andersen (Born: 2 April 1805 – Died: 4 August 1875)

Anderson was a Danish author of fairy tales. However, he has also widely written plays, travelogues, poetry and fiction novels. Some of his best known fairy tales are ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘The Ugly Duckling’, ‘Thumbelina’ and ‘The Princess and the Pea’. His travel sketches, which he documented in works like ‘In Sweden’ and his travelogues include ‘A Poet’s Bazaar’, ‘In Spain’ and ‘A Visit to Portugal’.

Toni Morrison (Born: 18 February 1931 – Died: 5 August 2019)

Toni Morrison is the widely acclaimed American writer, essayist, novelist, editor and recipient of the Nobel and the Pulitzer Prize. Her novels such as ‘The Bluest Eye’, ‘The Song of Solomon’ and ‘Sula’ are widely popular and appear in the syllabus of esteemed universities. Morrison’s childhood, tainted by poverty and racism, which becomes evident in her books. Her works have defined literature.

Edith Wharton (Born: 24 January 1862 – Died: 11 August 1937)

We lost the wonderful author of ‘The Age of Innocence’ in August of 1937. The American novelist was the first female to win a Pulitzer Prize for the aforementioned book. She started writing from a very young age, often retelling stories written on pages of a notebook to her family. She was a passionate traveler, something that is often reflected in her books.

H G Wells (Born: 21 September 1866 – Died: 13 August 1946)

H G Wells was a prolific English writer, famous for his works of science fiction, satire and social commentary. From ‘The War of the Worlds’ to ‘The Invisible Man’, his books have stood the test of time. He was also a skilled painter, a fact that not many know about him. His books are highly intelligent and replete with wonderful romances.

Truman Capote (Born: 30 September 1924 – Died: 25 August 1984)

Capote is the wonderful author od true crime books, including ‘In Cold Blood’. He is also famous for his fiction such as novellas (‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s). His childhood was troubled, with a parental divorce, an absent mother and multiple migrations. He was a strong, truthful and resolute author. Veracity flows through every line of his work. His books have seen several iconic adaptations, and documentaries chronicle his life as well.

Shirley Ann Grau (Born: 8 July 1929 – Died: 3 August 2020)

Grau is the American author of ‘The Keepers of the House’, ‘The Black Prince’ and more, and also a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. He novels usually take place in historical Alabama, and explore the themes of race, gender, abortion, feminism, women’s rights, death, destruction and more. She passed away at the age of 91 due to complications from having a stroke. Her books endure the test of time, and are still incorporated in textbooks and read by literature lovers all around the world.

Ian Fleming (Born: 28 May 1908 – Died: 12 August 1964)

Fleming was a British author and iconic creator of James Bond. Indeed, his most famous works include the spy novels of James Bond, his debut being ‘Casino Royale’. His style of writing is broadly divided into two periods – the first includes books replete with character arcs, plot development and more. The second focuses more on imagery and setting. He worked hard to make thrillers a part of literature, seeing that the literature community often ignored them.

Mary Norton (Born: 10 December 1903 – Died: 29 August 1992)

Norton is perhaps the best known writer of children’s books, most of which are now classics. She won the Carnegie Medal from the Library Association in 1952 for her contribution to children’s literature. ‘The Borrowers series’, ‘The Magic Bed Knob’, ‘Bed-Knobs and Broomsticks’, ‘Are All the Giants Dead?’ are some of her most popular children’s fantasy books.

Helen Gurley Brown (Born: 18 February 1922 – Died: 13 August 2012)

Helen is the American novelist of ‘Sex and the Single Girl’. She was also the editor at Cosmopolitan, where she spent a large part of her life advocating for women’s rights, especially sexual. Her other works include ‘Sex and the Office’, Having It All’ and the memor ‘I’m Wild Again’.

Also Read: Best Authors Who Ever Lived