Literary Facts - October 30

1751: Richard Brinsley Sheridan is born. (Explore: School for Scandal, The Rivals, Richard Brinsley Sheridan)

1857: Gertrude Atherton is born

1871: Paul Valéry is born. (Explore: Paul Valéry, The Poetry of Valéry, An Evening with Mr. Teste)

1886: Zoë Akins is born. (Explore: Zoë Akins, The Old Maid)

1930: Timothy Findley is born. (Explore: Timothy Findley, The Piano Man's Daughter, Pilgrim)

1937: Rudolfo Anaya is born. (Explore: Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya, Iliana of the Pleasure Dreams)

1938: Orson Welles’s Halloween Eve radio broadcast describing in realistic fashion a Martian invasion of the Earth, based upon H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds, terrifies many radio listeners throughout the United States. (Explore: The War of the Worlds, H. G. Wells, Orson Welles)

1956: Pío Baroja dies. (Explore: The Tree of Knowledge, Caesar or Nothing, Pío Baroja)

1975: Michael Cristofer’s drama The Shadow Box is first performed. (Explore: The Shadow Box, Michael Cristofer)