From the American poet Walt Whitman to the Russian master of the short story Anton Chekhov, this volume brings together some of the best-loved writers of the 19th century. It covers novelists, poets, playwrights, critics, and writers, like Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde, who excelled in multiple forms. An in-depth biography of each writer offers a look at their personal life and the historical circumstances surrounding the creation of their greatest works. Readers will be inspired by the lives of the writers and their commitment to their craft.