Women have always been good storytellers, but this was, most of the times, restricted only to their family. Early in the 19th century, men were on the forefront in the field of literature and dominated the scenario. Women, on the other hand, were the muses who inspired the men for their artistic creations rather than creating something themselves. However, as situations changed and women started getting education, women took to the pen and made themselves figures of inspiration for not only other women but men as well.
1. Jane Austen (1175-1817)
Jane Austen is one of the world’s bestselling writers even today. Jane Austen specialized in romantic fiction set in the Victorian Era. Most of Austen’s work give a deep insight in to the conditions prevalent in those times including some problems she faced herself. She was a dedicated author who wrote all her life till her untimely death at the age of 41. Many critics have considered Jane Austen as one of the finest painters of life and have even ranked her as an equal to Shakespeare. Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816) are some of Austen’s bestselling works.
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2. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)
Virginia Woolf is another name synonymous to English literature. Exposed to literary culture from a very young age, Virginia nurtured the influences from her family and went on to write award-winning novels such as Mrs Dalloway (1925), To the Lighthouse (1927) and Orlando (1928). Virginia Woolf’s tragic end due to depression and her suicide by the act of drowning was grieved by many who loved literature.
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Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
3. Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
One of the best writers in suspense fiction, especially with murder, mystery, crime and thriller as the theme, is Agatha Christie. It is said that after Shakespeare, it is Agatha Christie’s books that are most widely read. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926), Peril at End House (1932), Murder on the Orient Express (1934), The ABC Murders (1935), And Then There Were None (1939) are some of her bestselling novels.
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4. Margaret Atwood (1939)
Margaret Atwood is another inspirational writer in our list. Atwood’s poetry is as acclaimed as her prose and other written work. She is also a literary critic par excellence. Life Before Man (1979), The Handmaid's Tale (1986), Cat's Eye (1988), The Robber Bride (1993) and Alias Grace (1996) are some of her much recognized pieces of work. Apart from this, she has written a lot for magazines and different publications.
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5. J.K. Rowling (1965)
Joanne Rowling is probably best known as J. K. Rowling. She is the famous creator of the Harry Potter series and is counted as one of the richest and most influential women of all times. Her rags to riches story is quite well known and is a source of inspiration for many. J. K. Rowling features on this list because Harry Potter’s story is not just a commercial creation but has roots that go deep in to the mythology of various cultures all over the world, which most children would have been ignorant to, had the story not been so good.
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Sjhill
Women authors have made a higher mark than men in terms of writing. Unlike most men, who cannot transfer the emotions from themselves on to the paper, women have achieved that rather better than men as a result of good storytelling skills. This helps them to share a bond with millions of other women across the globe, who share the same emotions and sentiment and this knows no boundaries and no cultures. Women writers have been revered and here are five inspirational and most widely read women authors of all times.
