The Calendar of Literary Facts contains more than 6,500 events in literary history.
1939 Literary Facts
Lionel Trilling publishes Matthew Arnold, a critical study
Raymond Chandler introduces tough-guy detective Philip Marlowe in the novel The Big Sleep
Mark Van Doren publishes his Collected Poems, 1922-1928
James Joyce publishes Finnegans Wake
Thomas Wolfe’s novel The Web and the Rock is published
Christopher Smart’s Rejoice in the Lamb is published
Henry Miller publishes Tropic of Capricorn
H. P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider, and Others is published
Juan Carlos Onetti publishes El pozo
John Steinbeck publishes The Grapes of Wrath
Robert E. Sherwood’s Abe Lincoln in Illinois is produced
Carl Sandburg publishes Abraham Lincoln: The War Years
William Saroyan publishes The Time of Your Life
Carl Sandburg receives the Pulitzer Prize in history for Abraham Lincoln: The War Years
World War II is fought in Europe and the Western Pacific, pitting the Allies against the Axis Powers
Poland and Britain sign a treaty of mutual assistance
The Soviets and Finland fight the “Winter War,” with Finland ceding territory to the Russians
German forces occupy Bohemia and annex Memel
Italian forces invade Albania
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings receives the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for The Yearling
John Gould Fletcher receives the Pulitzer Prize in poetry for Selected Poems
Frans Eemil Sillanpää receives the Nobel Prize for Literature
Charles Alexander Eastman dies
Explore: Charles Alexander Eastman
David French is born
William Butler Yeats dies
Explore: The Lake Isle of Innisfree, William Butler Yeats, Sailing to Byzantium, The Second Coming, Symbolism and Themes in "The Second Coming" by Yeats
Lillian Hellman’s drama The Little Foxes is produced
Explore: The Little Foxes, Lillian Hellman
Luther Standing Bear dies
Explore: Luther Standing Bear
Robert Nye is born
Explore: Robert Nye
Toni Cade Bambara is born
Explore: Blues Ain't No Mockingbird, The Salt Eaters, Toni Cade Bambara
Patrick Lane is born
Explore: Patrick Lane
Israel Horovitz is born
Alan Ayckbourn is born
Explore: A Chorus of Disapproval, Absurd Person Singular, Alan Ayckbourn
Seamus Heaney is born
Explore: A Drink of Water, Seamus Heaney, Casualty, Digging
Peter Beagle is born
Explore: Julie's Unicorn, Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros, A Fine and Private Place, Peter S. Beagle
Jason Miller is born
Explore: That Championship Season, Jason Miller
Ted Kooser is born
Explore: The Constellation Orion, At the Cancer Clinic, Ted Kooser, What is the theme of "Selecting a Reader" by Ted Kooser?
Amos Oz is born
Explore: A Perfect Peace, Amos Oz
W. D. Valgardson is born
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is born
Margaret Drabble is born
Explore: The Radiant Way, Margaret Drabble
Barbara Chase-Riboud is born
José Emilio Pacheco is born
Ford Madox Ford dies
Robert James Waller is born
Explore: The Bridges of Madison County
Ed Sanders is born
Germany and the Soviet Union form an alliance, signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop-brokered “Non-aggression Pact”
Sidney Howard dies
Dennis Lee is born
German and Russian armed forces advance into Poland, beginning World War II in Europe
Breyten Breytenbach is born
Explore: Breyten Breytenbach
Carl Dennis is born
Explore: The God Who Loves You, Carl Dennis
Marie-Claire Blais is born
Clive James is born
Explore: Cultural Amnesia
Zane Grey dies
Explore: Riders of the Purple Sage
Paula Gunn Allen is born
Explore: Paula Gunn Allen
Ayi Kwei Armah is born
Explore: The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born, Two Thousand Seasons, Ayi Kwei Armah
Terrence McNally is born
Explore: Master Class, Terrence McNally
Auberon Waugh is born
Explore: Auberon Waugh
Margaret Atwood is born
Explore: The Handmaid's Tale, The Edible Woman, Margaret Atwood
Shelagh Delaney is born
Explore: A Taste of Honey, Shelagh Delaney