Wilkie Collins was another well - known author. His novel 'The Moonstone' is considered one of the first and finest detective novels in the English language. It had complex characters and a twisting plot that was characteristic of 19th century detective fiction.
Edgar Allan Poe is also an important figure. His works like 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' had a great influence on the development of detective fiction. He introduced many elements that later became staples in the genre.
Edgar Allan Poe is also a significant figure. He wrote early detective - like stories with elements of mystery and psychological exploration, such as 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue'.
Jules Verne is a very famous one. He wrote 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea' and 'Around the World in Eighty Days'. Another is H.G. Wells, known for 'The Time Machine' and 'The War of the Worlds'.
John Milton was a famous author. His work 'Paradise Lost' is a well - known piece of 17th century fiction. It is an epic poem that tells the story of the fall of man from a Christian perspective.
Charles Dickens is very famous. He wrote many well - known works like 'Oliver Twist' and 'A Tale of Two Cities'. Another is Jane Austen, known for her novels such as 'Sense and Sensibility' and 'Emma'. Thomas Hardy is also important with his works like 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' and 'Jude the Obscure'.
Ernest Hemingway is a very famous author of 20th century fiction books. His works like 'The Old Man and the Sea' are known for their simple yet powerful prose. Another is Virginia Woolf, with her stream - of - consciousness writing in books such as 'Mrs. Dalloway'. And James Joyce, who wrote 'Finnegans Wake' and other complex and influential works.
One of the prominent authors was Voltaire. His works sometimes contained elements of mystery and detective - like investigations within their complex plots. Another was Henry Fielding. His novels had elements that could be considered early forms of detective fiction, with characters trying to solve various problems and mysteries.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is also famous. His Sherlock Holmes series is iconic. Holmes' brilliant deductive reasoning became a model for many detective characters in later works.
One well - known author is Mary Shelley. She created 'Frankenstein', a story that has had a profound impact on the genre of fantasy and horror. Her exploration of the creation of life and its consequences was revolutionary for the 19th century. Robert Louis Stevenson is also notable. His 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' is a classic that delves into the duality of human nature. Additionally, Charles Dickens in some of his works, like 'A Christmas Carol', incorporated elements of the supernatural which can be considered part of the fantasy genre of the time.
F. Scott Fitzgerald is a well - known author. His 'The Great Gatsby' is a classic of early 20th century fiction, exploring themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream. Another is Virginia Woolf. She was a key figure in modernist literature with works like 'Mrs. Dalloway' that used innovative narrative techniques. And then there's Joseph Conrad, whose works such as 'Heart of Darkness' were known for their complex exploration of human nature and colonialism.
Dashiell Hammett was a significant author in 20th century crime fiction. His books, for instance, 'The Maltese Falcon', introduced a new style of tough detective. Then there's Dorothy L. Sayers, who created the detective Lord Peter Wimsey. Her works combined mystery with elements of social commentary and often had elaborate plots.