This week, we remember, remember the 5th of November. But more specifically, we take a look at where the famous poem may originally have come from. First in Latin, In Quintum Novembris was written by a 17-year-old John Milton in Cambridge in 1626.

This week we are observing the birthday of Sylvia Plath (October 27, 1932 – February 11, 1963), the American poet and novelist. In her tragically short life, she wrote several volumes of poetry and short stories. The Bell Jar was her only published novel.

This week we’re celebrating the birthday of English author, Philip Pullman (born 19 October 1946). After reading English at Oxford, Pullman became a teacher before concentrating on writing, mainly children’s and young adult novels and short stories.

This week, we’re observing the birthday of Marina Lewycka, born on 12 October 1946. Lewycka is of Ukrainian origin, born in Germany during World War II in a refugee camp in Kiel, and moved to England when she was a year old.

“National Poetry Day is the annual mass celebration on the first Thursday of October that encourages everyone to make, experience and share poetry with family and friends. Each year we come together because voices, words and stories help to bridge understanding in our community.”

On this day, September 30, 1868, the first volume of Little Women was published. The book became Louisa May Alcott’s first bestseller.

This week, we’re observing the birthday of English poet Stevie Smith. Born Florence Margaret Smith in Hull (20 September 1902 – 7 March 1971), it wasn’t until she was 19 that she acquired the nickname ‘Stevie’. While out riding on a London common, one of her friends compared her to jockey Steve Donoghue and the name stuck.

This week, in 1916, Roald Dahl was born (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990). Well known for his fantastical and funny children’s stories, his foray into writing came late…

Last week, back in 1886, English war poet Siegfried Sassoon was born (8 September 1886 – 1 September 1967) in Matfield, Kent. Growing up, he had the life of a typical country gentleman…

This week marks the birthday of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851). Shelley’s enduring gothic classic Frankenstein is considered the very first sci-fi novel.

This week in 1893, Dorothy “Dottie” Parker (August 22, 1893 – June 7, 1967) was born. Parker was an American poet, writer, critic, and satirist based in New York who sold her first poem to Vanity Fair in 1914…

This week marks the birthday of former Poet Laureate, Edward James (Ted) Hughes (17 August 1930 – 28 October 1998). His first animal poem, The Thought Fox, although a metaphor for poetic inspiration, is thought to be based on the memories of the rural South Yorkshire landscape he grew up in.