Busse Library provides this website as a resource for students and faculty researching literature's major authors. Based upon the book, The Literary 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Novelists, Playwrights, and Poets of All Time by Daniel S. Burt (New York: Facts on File, 2001), the project offers full listings by ranking and through a name index.
Specialized pages offer women writers, American authors, United Kingdom authors, and world authors grouped by continent. Developed solely for this website, additional project resources include significant authors in children's literature and a compilation of other "top 100" literature projects.
Each author's entry includes online biographical research and landmarks, scholarly resources, major works online, and Busse Library offerings for the novelist, dramatist, or poet.
This project, and its inspiration, develop from a tradition to select the world's most important authors who made a lasting contribution to literature and to compile a selection of history's most significant published texts in fiction and nonfiction.
Authors That Changed Children's Literature: Notables
- Louisa May Alcott
- Hans Christian Andersen
- L. Frank Baum
- Judy Blume
- Jean de Brunhoff
- Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Lewis Carroll
- Beverly Cleary
- Roald Dahl
- Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene
- Brothers Grimm
- Madeleine L'Engle
- C.S. Lewis
- A.A. Milne
- Scott O'Dell
- Beatrix Potter
- H.A. and Margret Rey
- Dr. Seuss
- E.B. White
- Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Margery Williams [Bianco]
Louisa May Alcott -- Little Women
- Little Women: Project Gutenberg
- The Little Women Text: Hypermedia Project, University of Virginia -- full novel online
- Louisa May Alcott: Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography -- detailed portrait
- Louisa May Alcott: Portrait -- from University of Virginia
- Orchard House (Concord, MA) -- Alcott's home while writing novel
Hans Christian Andersen -- Fairy Tales and Stories
- Hans Christian Andersen: Books and Writers -- biography
- Hans Christian Andersen Childhood Home: Odense, Denmark
- Hans Christian Andersen Research Center: University of Southern Denmark (Odense) -- texts and scholarly materials
- The Tales of Hans Christian -- meta-directory offering multiple language versions of all tales
L. Frank Baum -- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- L. Frank Baum: Books and Writers -- biography
- L. Frank Baum: The Wizard of Oz: Project Gutenberg -- full text online, as well as Mother Goose in Prose, and American Fairy Tales
- L. Frank Baum: Royal Historian of Oz -- author chronology
- "Oz: L. Frank Baum's Theosophical Utopia." By David B. Parker, Kansas State University, Kenesaw. c1996. -- scholarly study of work
- "The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism." By Henry M. Littlefield. -- classic study of novel
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Project Gutenberg -- hypertext, formatted version
Judy Blume -- Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret
- The Connection: Judy Blume -- NPR interview about author's career, awards, and censorship (audio online)
- Educational Paperback Association's Top 100 Authors: Judy Blume -- detailed author profile
- "Judy Blume for President: Meet the Woman Who Invented American Adolescence." By Ellen Barry. Boston Phoenix (May 26, 1998)
- Judy Blume's Home Base: Official Site -- offers biography, interviews, and other resources
- National Book Foundation: 2004 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters: Judy Blume
Jean de Brunhoff -- The Story of Babar
- "B is for Babar." The Connection, NPR (Oct.22, 2003) -- interview with Laurent de Brunhoff (audio online)
- Jean de Brunhoff. Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 2001. Bartleby.com -- brief profile
- Laurent de Brunhoff: Artnet.com -- chronology with exhibitions, publishing history, and biographical profile
- Meet Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff -- biography and family photos
- "The Royal Family." By Alison Lurie. New York Review of Books 51.20 (Dec. 16, 2004) -- study of Babar series and its appeal
Frances Hodgson Burnett -- The Secret Garden
- Biography: Frances Hodgson Burnett -- offers detailed profile, publishing history, and bibliography
- Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett. Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 2001. Bartleby.com -- brief author profile
- Project Gutenberg: Frances Hodgson Burnett: The Secret Garden -- full,online text, as well as Little Lord Fauntleroy and the The Lost Prince
- The Secret Garden. Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia -- full novel online
Lewis Carroll -- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland -- dynamic, full text with animation and music
- Alice's Adventures Under Ground. -- prelude to Wonderland text
- The Carrollian. Official Journal of the Lewis Carroll Society (UK) -- view index and TOCs online
- Charles Ludwig Dodgson: Photographer -- images of Alice Liddell, who inspired the tales
- Lewis Carroll. By Derek Hudson. (1954) -- full study of author
- Lewis Carroll: Overview: The Victorian Web -- scholarly resource
- Lewis Carroll Society of North America (LCSNA)
- Lewis Carroll Society (UK)
- Looking for Lewis Carroll: Association for New Lewis Carroll Studies -- focus on re-analysis of Carroll myth
Beverly Cleary -- Beezus and Ramona
- "Beverly Cleary's Childhood Memories Make Great Childhood Stories." By Barbara Smith. Third Floor Publishing, Literature Study -- analysis of novels
- Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden for Children: Multnomah County Library (Portland, OR)
- Educational Paperback Association's Top 100 Authors: Beverly Cleary -- detailed author profile
- "I Can See Cleary Now." Interview by Miriam Drennan. BookPage (1999)
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): 2003 Medal of Arts Recipient: Beverly Cleary
- The World of Beverly Cleary -- official website with biography, publishing history, and other resources
Roald Dahl -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Eleanor Cameron VS. Roald Dahl: Virtual Exhibit: Horn Book Magazine -- 1972 launch of racism charges against Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the author's reply
- Gypsy House, Great Missenden, Surrey -- Dahl home and site of imaginative garden
- Roald Dahl: Books and Writers -- biography
- RoaldDahl.com: Official Roald Dahl Website
- Roald Dahl Fans.com -- offers extensive biography, timeline, house photos, and more
Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene
- "Edward Stratemeyer: Author and Literary Agent, 1876-1906." By James D. Keeline. -- extensive biography on the creator of the Hardy and Drew series
- Hardy-Boys.com: Forging Ahead in Hardy Boys History -- full, original publishing history and current series details
- The Hardy Boys Canon --original volumes from 1927 to 1979
Nancy Drew Mysteries series -- by Keene - Beyond Nancy Drew: Girls' Literature in the Sally Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture: Duke University Libraries -- critical study and bibliography of girls' fiction
- "The Ghost of Nancy Drew." By Geoffrey S. Lapin. Books at Iowa 50 (April 1989) -- reveals Mildred Wirt Benton (University of Iowa grad) as series' first author
- Nancy Drew: MysteryNet -- biography and publishing histories designed for children and adults
- The New Yorker (11/08/2004) -- details on publishing machine of Drew and Hardy tales
- Nancy Drew Sleuth Unofficial Website -- history and other resources
The Hardy Boys series -- by Dixon
Brothers Grimm -- Grimm Fairy Tales
- Fairy Tales of the Grimm Brothers: Virginia Commonwealth University -- offers German/English versions, dictionary, and glossary
- The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales. Compiled and Translated by D.L. Ashliman, c1998-2004 -- full collection
- Grimm Brothers Home Page. Compiled by D.L. Ashliman. University of Pittsburg -- gateway to resources, including chronology and scholarly texts
- http://www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/ -- original, dark tales in interactive format
- Wilhelm (and Jakob) Grimm: Books and Writers -- biography
Madeleine L'Engle -- A Wrinkle in Time
- Acceptance Speech Upon Receiving the Margaret Edwards Award: Madeleine L'Engle: Gifts of Speech -- lifetime achievement award for young adult literature
- "The Expanding Universe." Newbery Acceptance Speech, August 1963
- Madeleine L'Engle.com -- author's official website
- Madeline L'Engle: Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame -- brief biography
- "Madeleine L'Engle: An Epic in Time." By Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda. St. Anthony Messenger (June 2000) -- study of author's religious faith
C.S. Lewis -- The Chronicles of Narnia
- C.S. Lewis: Books and Writers -- biography
- C.S. Lewis Foundation
- Celebrate 50 Years of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: HarperCollins -- gateway to series' history
- Chronology of C.S. Lewis
- Educational Paperback Association's Top100 Authors: C.S. Lewis -- detailed biography
- Into the Wardrobe: A C.S. Lewis Site. By John Visser -- thorough resource on author and all his writings
- Welcome to Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia -- in-depth studies of novels and characters
A.A. Milne -- Winnie the Pooh
- A.A. Milne: Books and Writers -- biography
- Biography of Alan Alexander Milne: Pooh Corner.com
- National Portrait Gallery (UK): A.A. Milne -- 33 portraits and photos to view
- The Page at Pooh Corner. By James Milne
- Winnie the Pooh: Official Website: Disney
Scott O'Dell -- Island of the Blue Dolphins
- Educational Paperback Association: Top 100 Authors: Scott O'Dell -- detailed biography
- Explore The Island of the Blue Dolphins-- thematic journey for readers
- Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
- ScottO'Dell.com -- author's official website
- Scott O'Dell Papers: USM de Grummond Collection, University of Southern Mississippi -- leading research center in children's literature
Beatrix Potter -- The Tale of Peter Rabbit
- Beatrix Potter Gallery: Cumbria, UK
- [Helen] Beatrix Potter: Books and Writers -- biography
- Hill Top: The Home of Beatrix Potter -- estate and garden near Sawrey, Ambleside, England
- Women Children's Book Illustrators: Beatrix Potter -- detailed study of her life and work
- The World of Peter Rabbit -- official site for tales
H.A. and Margret Rey -- Curious George
- Curious George -- official publisher site with biography and series history
- H.A. Rey and Margret Ray Collection: de Grummond Collection: University of Southern Mississippi -- leading research center
Dr. Seuss {Theodore Geisel} -- The Cat in the Hat
- The Advertising Artwork of Dr. Seuss
- Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Dr. Seuss: NPR: Talk of the Nation (2/10/2004)
- Dr. Seuss: Biography: National Education Association (NEA)
- Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden at the Springfield Museums: Springfield, MA
- Dr. Seuss Went to War: A Catalog of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss. Mandeville Special Collections Library, University of California, San Diego
- The Political Dr. Seuss: Independent Lens: PBS
- Present at the Creation: How the Grinch Stole Christmas: NPR -- background on the classic film and its creators
- Seussville -- official publisher website
- Who's Who & What's What in the Books of Dr. Seuss. Compiled by Edward Connery Latham, Dartmouth College -- 157 page guide to Seuss characters from all works
E.B. White -- Charlotte's Web
- "The Art of the Essay: No.1: Interview with E.B. White." Paris Review.Interviewer: Frank H. Crowther, 48 (1969).
- E.B. White -- official publisher site
- E.B. White: Books and Writers -- biography
- New York Times Books: Life and Times: E.B. White -- rare audio, reviews, and essays by White (free registration required)
- E.B. White Read Aloud Award: Association of Booksellers for Children
- "Personal History: Andy." By Roger Angell. The New Yorker (02/14/2005) -- author's stepson recounts White's life and career
Laura Ingalls Wilder -- Little House on the Prairie series
- Come Home to Little House: Laura Ingalls Wilder -- official publisher's website
- Laura Ingalls Wilder: American National Biography -- detailed author profile
- Laura Ingalls Wilder -- detailed biography from Gale Group
- Laura Ingalls Wilder at the Hoover Library-Museum (West Branch, IA) -- collection and exhibit descriptions
- Laura Ingalls Wilder: Frontier Girl -- extensive study of Laura's history and her novels
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum: Mansfield, Missouri
- The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal: American Library Association -- for substantial and lasting contribution to children's literature
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum: Burr Oak, Iowa
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society: De Smet, South Dakota
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum: Walnut Grove, Minnesota
Margery Williams [Bianco] -- The Velveteen Rabbit
- Margery Williams Bianco: American National Biography -- detailed author profile
- The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real. Celebration of Women Writers, University of Pennsylvania -- complete, original text and illustrations
"Top 100" Lists of Children's Books
- 100 Best Books for Children: TeachersFirst.com
- 100 Best Children's Books of the 20th Century: Cattermole: 20th Century Children's Books
- 100 Classic New England Children's Books: Yankee Magazine
- 100 Favorite Children's Books: New York Public Library
- "100 Years: 100 Books: Highspots of Collectible Children's Books, 1863-1966." By Helen Younger. Firsts Magazine. (13.2), c1999-2004.
- Educational Paperback Association (EPA): Top 100 Authors, Grades K-4
- Kids Top 100 Books: National Education Association (NEA)
- Teacher's Top 100 Books for Children: National Education Association (NEA)