12 December The literary calendar
On this day in English literature
Discover the writers who share this date, their stories, and where to read them.
Born on this day 06
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Erasmus Darwin1731 · Elston Hall English physician (1731-1802) -
Anna Seward1747 · Eyam English Romantic poet (1742-1809) -
Bessie Marchant1862 · Petham British writer for girls (1862-1941) -
John Osborne1929 · London English playwright (1929-1994) -
Helen Dunmore1952 · Beverley British novelist (1952–2017) -
Sophie Kinsella1969 · Roehampton British writer (1969–2025)
Thought for the day
The water which has been refused to the cry of the weary and dying is unholy, though it had been blessed by every saint in heaven; and the water which is found in the vessel of mercy is holy, though it had been defiled with corpses.
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Quote from Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Photo credits
- Erasmus Darwin: Joseph Wright of Derby, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- Anna Seward: Tilly Kettle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- Bessie Marchant: unknown but 1941, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- John Osborne: Reginald gray, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- Helen Dunmore: Phil, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- Sophie Kinsella: Elena Torre from Viareggio, Italia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- John Scott: John Hall, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- Robert Browning: Herbert Rose Barraud / Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- Edward Bradley: Edward Bradley (1827–1889), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- Frances Chesterton: Alfred Priest (1874–1929), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
- John le Carré: Krimidoedel, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized