Well, Wilkie Collins was a key figure. His novels had a great influence on the sensation novel genre. His works like 'The Woman in White' were not only popular but also set a standard for the genre in terms of plot construction and character development. Mary Elizabeth Braddon was another significant author. Her books, especially 'Lady Audley's Secret', were known for their exploration of female characters in a rather unconventional way for the time. Ellen Wood also made her mark with her sensation novels, which were also quite popular among the reading public of the 19th century.
Agatha Christie is a well - known 20th - century British novelist. She is famous for her detective novels like "Murder on the Embankment". Graham Greene is also significant. His works often explored moral and political themes. And Iris Murdoch, with her complex and philosophical novels, was also a prominent 20th - century British author.
J.R.R. Tolkien is a well - known author of 20th - century adventure novels. His 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy is an epic adventure that has influenced generations. Another is Jack London, who wrote 'The Call of the Wild' and other adventure - filled stories. Jules Verne, though more associated with the 19th century, also had works that continued to be popular in the 20th century, like 'Around the World in Eighty Days'.
Richard Wright is well - known. His 'Native Son' is a classic. Zora Neale Hurston is also famous for works like 'Their Eyes Were Watching God'. And of course, Toni Morrison. Her novels like 'Beloved' have won many awards and are widely studied. Ralph Ellison with 'Invisible Man' is another great author. His work delved deep into the African American experience in a complex and thought - provoking way.
Aldous Huxley is a prominent figure. His 'Brave New World' is a very well - known 20th century science fiction novel. Frank Herbert, the author of 'Dune', also stands out. The world he created in 'Dune' is vast and complex. And H.G. Wells, who wrote 'The War of the Worlds' and 'The Time Machine', was a pioneer in the field of science fiction in the 20th century.
Jonathan Swift is a well - known author of the 18th - century. He wrote 'Gulliver's Travels' which is highly regarded. Henry Fielding is also famous for 'Tom Jones'. And Daniel Defoe with his 'Robinson Crusoe' is a well - known name in 18th - century fiction.
Jane Austen is a well - known author of 19th - century fiction. Her works like 'Pride and Prejudice' are beloved for their sharp social commentary and engaging characters. Charles Dickens is also very famous. His books, such as 'Great Expectations', give detailed pictures of the lives of different classes in Victorian England.
Kate Chopin. Her short stories often focused on the lives of women in Louisiana. She was not afraid to touch on topics such as female sexuality and independence, which was quite revolutionary for the 19th century. For example, in 'The Story of an Hour', she explored a woman's complex feelings about her husband's supposed death and her new - found freedom.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper' which is a famous feminist short story.
Donna Tartt is an important author. Her novel 'The Goldfinch' is a best - selling and critically acclaimed work. It tells a complex story of art, loss, and redemption. And then there's Kazuo Ishiguro, whose novels such as 'Never Let Me Go' are known for their exploration of moral and ethical issues in a unique, often dystopian, setting.
Daniel Defoe was a famous one. He wrote 'Robinson Crusoe'. Another well - known author was Jonathan Swift, who created 'Gulliver's Travels'.