Anna Akhmatova
1889-1966
Russian Writer
Recognized at her death as the greatest woman poet in Russian literature.
Her mostly short poems express an intensely feminine aspect of frustated tragic love. Her first husband got shot by the secret police, her son got arrested and another husband died in prison.
Muzzled by the state she secretly composed a long poem, Requiem,
dedicated to Stalin's victims. Denounced by the Soviet authorities as 'alien to the Soviet
people' she was rehabilitated in 1959 and her collected verses were published in 1965.
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Biography
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Sofonisba Anguissola
1529-1625
Italian Artist
Sofonisba Anguissola was the eldest of six daughters who all exelled at painting, music and writing.
She became one of history's most remarkable artists and her portraits earned the praise
of Michelangelo. In old age she advised the Flemish painter Van Dyck.
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Biography
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Annie Besant
1847-1933
British Reformer
Born near Madras, India. In 1907 Annie Besant became the leader of the
Theosophical Society (a Hindu-oriented doctrine of tolerance).
She also founded the Indian Home Rule League to promote Indian independence.
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Biography
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Emily Bronte
1818-48
English Novelist
Emily Bronte is the best known member of a great literary family - three sisters and a brother -
who is remembered for her towering novel 'Wuthering Heights'.
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Biography
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Elizabeth Browning
1806-61
English Poet
Elizabeth Browning's repudation rests mainly upon her 'Sonnets from the Portuguese',
love poems that are gentle yet passionately sincere.
She gave the sonnet,
long considered a masculine form, a woman's interpretation. She spent
the last 15 years of her life in Italy and died in Florence.
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Biography