Frederick Douglass was one. He was well - known for his autobiographical works which also had elements of short - story - like narratives. His writings were very powerful in depicting the life of a slave. Another was Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. She wrote short stories that often dealt with the issues of race, gender, and the struggle for equality among African Americans.
Charles W. Chesnutt was a prominent 19th - century African American short story writer. He used his stories to explore the complex racial relations in the post - Civil War South. His works often had a touch of realism. Harriet E. Wilson also made her mark. Her short stories provided insights into the life of a free African American woman in the 19th century, facing discrimination and hardships.
Paul Laurence Dunbar was a great one. He wrote short stories that combined elements of African American dialect and the standard English. His stories were rich in portraying the African American experience, from the joys in the community to the struggles against racism. Also, Sutton E. Griggs, whose short stories focused on the social and political issues that African Americans faced in the 19th century, like racial inequality and the need for empowerment.
Washington Irving was one of the well - known writers. His works, like 'Rip Van Winkle', are iconic 18th - century American short stories. Irving was good at creating vivid characters and settings that were both fantastical and rooted in American landscapes.
One of the most prominent is H.P. Lovecraft. His short stories introduced the concept of cosmic horror. Then there's Shirley Jackson. Her works often had a unique take on human nature in horror. And of course, Edgar Allan Poe, though he was from an earlier part of the 19th century, his influence carried on into the 20th century for horror short stories.
Edgar Allan Poe was a prominent one. His short stories were known for their dark and mysterious themes. Stories like 'The Tell - Tale Heart' were full of psychological horror and suspense.
Charles Dickens was a very prominent writer. His works like 'Oliver Twist' and 'Great Expectations' are well - known. Jane Austen was also important, with her novels exploring love and social status among the upper - middle class. Thomas Hardy was another significant figure, known for his works set in the rural areas and his exploration of fate and social change.
There were many other significant writers too. Tobias Smollett wrote novels that were often humorous and satirical, like 'The Adventures of Roderick Random'. These writers together shaped the 18th - century type of novel. Their works influenced not only the literary trends of their own time but also had a long - lasting impact on the development of the novel as a genre in subsequent centuries.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the prominent figures. Although he is more known for his non - fictional works, his 'The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin' had elements that influenced American novel - writing. Another was Charles Brockden Brown. His works were some of the earliest examples of American Gothic novels. He explored themes like the human psyche and the dark side of human nature in the context of the young American nation.
Anne Bradstreet was a well - known author. Her works often dealt with family life and her personal experiences as a woman in the colonies. Another was Cotton Mather. He wrote on religious and historical topics, and his works had a great influence on the Puritan community.
Well, Yakov Perelman was a significant figure. He wrote works that made scientific concepts accessible to a wide audience. His books were popular among both adults and children. Another writer was Valery Bryusov. His science fiction works were often experimental in nature, playing with different narrative styles and scientific ideas.
Mark Twain is a very prominent one. His works like 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' are well - known. Another is Nathaniel Hawthorne, known for 'The Scarlet Letter'. And of course, Herman Melville with 'Moby - Dick' is also a significant author of that era.
F. Scott Fitzgerald was a very prominent author. His works, like 'The Great Gatsby', are still widely read today. He captured the essence of the Jazz Age with its glamour and underlying emptiness.