One major author was Wilkie Collins. His works, like 'The Moonstone', were quite influential. Another is of course Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock Holmes stories.
There were several important authors. Wilkie Collins was a pioneer with his complex and engaging crime plots. His use of multiple narrators in 'The Moonstone' was innovative. Arthur Conan Doyle is perhaps the most well - known with his Sherlock Holmes series. Doyle created a character that became an icon of detective fiction. And then there was Edgar Allan Poe, though he was American, his works influenced 19th century England crime fiction as well.
Major authors include Wilkie Collins. His 'The Moonstone' is considered one of the first detective novels in English. It had elements like the detective - like figure and a mystery to be solved. Arthur Conan Doyle is another key figure. His Sherlock Holmes stories not only entertained but also set a standard for how detective characters should be portrayed. There were also others who contributed to the growth of 19th century England crime fiction genre, like Charles Dickens who sometimes incorporated crime elements in his works.
The influence is quite significant. In 19th century England crime fiction, the use of mystery and suspense was developed in a way that modern detective stories still rely on. Writers back then were among the first to create the idea of a criminal mastermind that the detective has to outwit. This concept has been carried forward. Also, the settings in those old fictions, often the dark and gloomy streets of London, have inspired the creation of atmospheric settings in modern detective tales.
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.
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.
Charles Dickens is very famous. He wrote 'Oliver Twist', 'A Tale of Two Cities' and many other great works. His novels often focused on the poor and the social problems of the time.
Daniel Defoe was a very famous one. He wrote 'Robinson Crusoe' which is a well - known adventure story. Another is Henry Fielding, who created works like 'Tom Jones' which is famous for its vivid characters and complex plot.
One of the well - known authors is Samuel Richardson. His 'Pamela' was quite popular. It told a story about a maid's relationship with her master.
In the 19th century, Nathaniel Hawthorne was a major author. His short stories, like 'Young Goodman Brown', explored themes of sin and guilt in Puritan society. Another important figure was Washington Irving. His 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' is a well - known short story with elements of the supernatural. In the 20th century, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote some remarkable short stories. His works often depicted the Jazz Age and the disillusionment of the American Dream.
Isaac Asimov is another great 20th - century science fiction author. He is famous for his 'Foundation' series. Asimov's writing was characterized by his in - depth exploration of scientific ideas, such as robotics and the future of humanity. His stories often had complex plots and well - developed characters.
Well, in 20th century crime fiction, realism was a big thing. Writers were more likely to depict real - life crime situations. For example, the rise of hard - boiled detective stories in the United States showed the gritty reality of crime in urban areas. The use of psychological elements also increased, delving into the motives of the criminals, which made the stories more engaging.
One characteristic is the complex and often morally ambiguous characters. For example, in some works, the detective might have his own vices. Another is the detailed settings, like the fog - filled streets of London in Sherlock Holmes stories, which added to the moody atmosphere. Also, there was a focus on solving puzzles and mysteries through logical deduction, a concept that was quite new at that time.