D
DAHL, ROALD
Novelist and children's writer
DARWIN, CHARLES ROBERT
Naturalist and writer, Married his cousin Emma Wedgwood (1808-1896) in 1839. They had 10 children
DAVIES, WILLIAM HENRY
Poet, who spent many years tramping Britain & America. Lost his
right foot jumping a freight train. A Civil List pension was granted him
in 1911. Married Helen Payne in 1923
DE LA MARE, WALTER JOHN
Poet & Novelist. Huguenot descent. Married Constance Ingpen in 1899
DEFOE, DANIEL
Novelist, Journalist, Pamphleteer & Political Agent. Travelled as a
merchant and probable spy round Britain & Europe before becoming a
writer. Produced maybe 500 books
DEIGHTON, LEN
Novelist, Cookery writer & artist. Creator of Harry Palmer
DICK, PHILIP KENDRED
Science Fiction Novelist. Committed suicide
DICTIONARIES, BOOKS ON
DICTIONARY
The word dictionarius was used as early as 1225 for a list of Latin
words, but was not generally in use in its modern sense until the 16thC
DISNEY, WALT (WALTER ELIAS)
Animator. His first film was "Alice in Wonderland" in 1923
DISRAELI, BENJAMIN, 1ST EARL OF BEACONSFIELD
British Prime Minister 1868 & 1874-80. Politician and novelist.
Italian-Jewish parents. Married Mary Anne Wyndham Lewis in 1839
DOHERTY, PAUL C
Novelist of medieval crime books
DOMESDAY BOOK
Compiled in 1086, it was mainly a valuation of land and a register of who owned it.
DONNE, JOHN
Metaphysical poet and preacher. In 1601 entered parliament as MP for Brackley and married Ann More the same year
DOUGLAS, GEORGE NORMAN
Novelist & Travel writer. Made his home on the isle of Capri in the Mediterranean. Committed suicide.
DOYLE, RICHARD
Writer and book illustrator. Wrote and designed for Punch. Designed its cover. Son of John Doyle, who trained him
DRYDEN, JOHN
Poet and Dramatist. Married Lady Elizabeth Howard in 1663. Hostile to
revolution of 1688 and thereafter mainly translated classics. Made Poet
Laureate in 1668 (to 1688) for his adherence to the Stewart restoration.
The family home from the 1550s was Canons Ashby, Daventry. Buried in
Westminster Abbey
DU MAURIER, DAME DAPHNE
Novelist. 2nd daughter of Sir Gerald Du Maurier (actor) &
grandaughter of George Du Maurier. Married Lieut-Gen Sir Frederick
Browning in 1932
DUKES
DULAC, EDMUND
Book illustrator. Settled in London from 1906, becoming a naturalized subject in 1912
DUMAS, ALEXANDRE
Novelist. Wrote over 277 works
DUNSANY, LORD (EDWARD JOHN MORETON DRAX PLUNKETT), 18TH BARON
Dramatist, Chess Champion, Sportsman, Soldier, Adventurer and fiction
writer. Married Beatrice Child Villiers in 1904. Lived a privileged life
devoted to pleasurable pursuits, ie hunting, cricket, travel and sport,
inheriting the Lord title from his father in 1899
DURRELL, LAWRENCE
Novelist & Poet. Lived in France