The Calendar of Literary Facts contains more than 6,500 events in literary history.
April 17 Literary Facts
John Ford is born
Explore: 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, John Ford
Henry Vaughan is born
Explore: Henry Vaughan, Interpreting Themes in Henry Vaughan's "The Retreat"
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz dies
Benjamin Franklin dies
Explore: Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, Why is Benjamin Franklin referred to as a renaissance man?
C. P. Cavafy is born
Explore: Ithaka, C. P. Cavafy, Can you explain "Ithaka" stanza by stanza?
Orestes Brownson dies
Explore: Orestes Brownson
William Hope Hodgson dies
Cynthia Ozick is born
Explore: The Shawl, Cynthia Ozick
Basil Bunting dies
Explore: Basil Bunting, Briggflatts
Bessie Head dies
Explore: Snapshots of a Wedding, Life, Bessie Head, When Rain Clouds Gather
Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin receive the Pulitzer Prize in biography for American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Explore: American Prometheus
David M. Oshinsky receives the Pulitzer Prize in history for Polio: An American Story
Claudia Emerson receives the Pulitzer Prize in poetry for Late Wife
Explore: Claudia Emerson
Geraldine Brooks receives the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for March
Explore: March, Geraldine Brooks, In March, what is the depiction of March's idealism throughout the story?
Gabriel García Márquez dies.
Explore: Gabriel García Márquez