Raymond Chandler (1888 - 1959)

Novelist, Screenwriter. He is considered by many to be a founder, along with Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain and other Black Mask writers, of the hard-boiled school of detective fiction. The character in his novels, Philip Marlowe, along with Hammett’s Sam Spade, is considered by some to be synonymous with “private detective,” both having been […]

Whittaker Chambers (1901 - 1961)

Journalist, Author, Soviet Agent. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he studied at Columbia University, and gained a modest reputation as a writer. Translated several works, notably “Bambi”, into English. He was an active American Communist (1925 to 1929, 1931 to 1938), writing for the Daily Worker and editing the New Masses. Along the way he became […]

Ephraim Chambers (1970 - 1740)

Encyclopaedist. Founder of ‘Chamber’s Cyclopaedia’, which is still published. Dr. Johnson claimed his style was based on Chambers’. His epitiaph (written by himself) is ‘multis pervulgatus, paucis notus; qui vitam inter lucem et umbram, nec eruditus, nec idiota, literis deditus, transegit’. (bio by: David Conway)

Dulce Chacón (1954 - 2003)

Spanish Writer. Dulce Chacón is remembered for her books “La Voz Dormida,” “Querrán Ponerle Nombre,” “Las Palabras de la Piedra,” “Contra el Desprestigio de la Altura,” “Algún Amor que no Mate” and “Cielos de Barro.” Politically active, she was member of “Woman Against the War” and “Culture Against the War.” (bio by: José L Bernabé […]

Rosa Chacel (1898 - 1994)

Author. She lived Spain during Spanish Civil War fleeing from fascism. Among her books are “Memorias de Leticia Valle,” “La Sinrazón,” “La Confesión,” “Desde el Amanecer,” “Barrio de Maravillas,” and “Acrópolis.” (bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni)  Family links:  Spouse:  Timoteo Pérez Rubio (1896 – 1977)* *Calculated relationship

Juan Chabás (1910 - 1954)

Author. He was born in Denia, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana He was a member of Generation of 1927. He worked for magazines such as “Cervantes,” “Tableros” and “Horizonte” and for the newspapers “Diario de Barcelona” and “Luz” of Madrid. During Spanish Civil War, he was a member of Alliance of Antifascist Intelectuals. Later, he was forced […]

Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616)

Renowned Spanish Writer. From his first novel, La Galatea, to his final production Los Trabajos de Persiles y Segismunda in 1617, Cervantes won the respect and admiration of the world. The fourth of 7 children, he was born into a poor family but from a very early age Cervantes showed his love for adventure and […]

Luis Cernuda (1902 - 1963)

Noted Spanish-born poet. He fled to England, and ultimately Mexico, to escape the fascism in Spain. Among his books of poems: “Los Placeres Prohibidos”, “Donde Habite el Olvido”, “La Realidad y el Deseo”, and “Como Quién Espera el Alba.” He is buried in Panteón Jardín, City of Mexico. (bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni)

Bennett Cerf (1898 - 1971)

Publisher, Editor, Author and Television Personality. Most Americans are familiar with him as a guest panelist on the television game show, “What’s My Line?” He was co-founder of the publishing company, Random House. A collector of jokes and witticisms, he was noted for his wit and pithy sayings, as exampled in his quotes “The person […]

Vincenzo Cerami (1940 - 2013)

Novelist, Screenwriter. He will be best remembered for the script of the Oscar-winning film “Life Is Beautiful” (1997). In 1976, he published his first novel “Un borghese piccolo piccolo”, ferocious satire about middle-class frustrations of the italian in the seventies which was followed by a successful film adaptation starring Alberto Sordi. During a literary career […]

C. W. Ceram (1915 - 1972)

C.W. Ceram was the pseudonym of German journalist and author Kurt Wilhelm Marek, known for his popular works about archaeology. He chose to write under a pseudonym to distance himself from his earlier work as a propagandist for the Third Reich. Ceram was born in Berlin. During World War II, he was a member of […]

Blaise Cendrars (1887 - 1961)

Author.  Real name Frédéric Louis Sauser.  An innovator in poetry and prose,  he had a significant impact on French literature before and after World War I.  His novels “Gold” (aka “Sutter’s Gold”,  1925) and “Moravagine” (1926) have been translated into over 20 languages.  Cendrars was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.  At 15 he was […]

Louis-Ferdinand Celine (1894 - 1961)

Author,  Physician.  Real name Louis-Ferdinand Destouches.  A major figure of 20th Century French Literature,  he is noted for the spectacular misanthropy of his semi-autobiographical fiction. “It is of men, and them only, that one should always be frightened” he declared,  and he portrayed the human race as forever doomed to torment itself with malice,  greed […]

Gabriel Celaya (1911 - 1991)

Noted spanish novelist and poet. His books include “Lo Demás es Silencio,” “Baladas y Decires Vascos,” “Tranquilamente Hablando,” and “La Soledad Cerrada.” (bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni)

Paul Celan (1920 - 1970)

Poet. His original name is Paul Antschel. He was born in Czernovitz, in Romania. Because of his jewish origin, in the 2nd World War he was interned to a Nazi labor camp, from where he escaped to the Red Army. In 1945 he started to publish translations. (He spoke several languages, including German, Romanian, Russian, […]

Camilo José Cela Trulock (1916 - 2002)

Writer. He was born in Iria Flavia (Galicia, Spain) and died in Madrid. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1989. He is best remembered for his works “La Familia de Pascual Duarte,” “La Colmena,” “San Camilo 36,” “Mazurca para dos Muertos,” “Viaje a la Alcarria,” “Cristo vs. Arizona” and “Madera de Boj.” He […]

Madison Julius Cawein (1865 - 1914)

Poet. One of the most prolific poets in American history, he published 31 books of verse. Known principally as a “nature” poet because his rhymes of nature, he earned the alliterative nickname, “The Keats of Kentucky” for his sensitive and descriptive works. William Dean Howells, the early twentieth century Dean of American Letters, lauded his […]

Frank Morgan Cavett (1905 - 1973)

Motion Picture Screenwriter. He  authored eleven motion pictures screenplays including those for “Forsaking All Others,” “The Corn is Green” and “Across the Wide Missouri.” He was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Screenplay, and won for “The Greatest Show on Earth,” and “Going My Way.”  Family links:  Parents:  Charles Dawes Cavett (1865 – 1939) […]

Constantin Cavafis (1863 - 1933)

Noted Poet born and died in Alexandria (Egypt) of Greeks origins. He is best remembered for his books “El Dios Abandona a Antonio,” “Ítaca,” and “Regresa y Tómame.” (bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni)

William Jerome Caunitz (1933 - 1996)

Author. A New York City Police Officer for 30 years, after he retired he began to write mystery novels based on his experience. He was the author of One Police Plaza (1984), Suspects (1986), Black Sand (1989), Exceptional Clearance (1991), Cleopatra’s Gold (1993), Pigtown (1995) and Chains Of Command which was published posthumously in 1999. […]

Bruce Catton (1899 - 1978)

Author, Historian, Pulitzer Prize Winner. A prolific and popular American Civil War historian, he is best remembered for his books on the American Civil War, and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1954 for “A Stillness at Appomattox.” Born Charles Bruce Catton, his father was a Congregationalist minister who moved the family to Benzonia, Michigan to […]

George Edward Gordon Catlin (1896 - 1979)

Political Scientist, Philosopher. A strong proponent of Anglo-American cooperation, he worked for many years as a professor at Cornell University and other universities and colleges in the United States and Canada. He was born in Liverpool, the son of an Anglican clergyman. He had no formal schooling until the age of thirteen when he began […]

Willa Cather (1873 - 1947)

Author. Born in Virginia, she moved with her family to Webster County, Nebraska at the age of nine. There she lived among the immigrant families that became the inspiration for the frontier settlers in her writings. She graduated from Red Cloud High School in 1890, and then enrolled in the University of Nebraska. While attending […]

Julio Alejandro Castro (1906 - 1995)

Author. He was born in Huesca, Aragón, Spain. He is one of the best spanish screenwriters. He is fondly remembered for his works for the motion picture director Luis Buñuel. In his youth, he was friend of the writer Antonio Machado. His first book was “La Voz Apasionada”(1932). Loyal to the Spanish Government, during Spanish […]

José Luis Castillo-Puche (1919 - 2004)

Novelist. A close friend of Ernest Hemingway, he wrote a memoir about the American author in which it was titled “Hemingway in Spain: A Personal Reminiscence of Hemingway’s Years in Spain by his Friend.” He also wrote more than a dozen novels. (bio by: Laurie)

Adolfo Castelo (1935 - 2004)

Journalist, humorist, radio and T.V. host. Best known for his last radio program “Mirá lo que te digo.” (bio by: 380W)  Family links:  Children:  Daniela Castelo (1968 – 2011)* *Calculated relationship

Rosario Castellanos (1925 - 1974)

Author, Educator. Born in México, Distrito Federal, México, she was raised on her family’s ranch in Comitan, Chiapas. She returned to México, Distrito Federal at the age of 16 to study at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México where she earned her Masters Degree in Philosophy in 1952. After traveling to Europe and to the […]

Carlos Castaneda (1925 - 1998)

Author. Born in Cajamarca, Peru, he was educated as a anthropologist who wrote a total of 15 books, which sold 8 million copies worldwide. Most noted for writing a series which describes the teaching of Don Juan, his works helped define the 1960’s and usher in the New Age movement. Published in 17 different languages, […]

Jules-Antoine Castagnary (1830 - 1888)

Politician, Art Critic. In 1874 he coined the term ‘Impressionism’. His bust is by Rodin. (bio by: David Conway)

Alejandro Casona (1903 - 1965)

Playwright. He was born in Besullo, Asturias, Spain. During Spanish Civil War, he was forced to exile and he stablished in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is best known for his books “La Sirena Varada,” “La Dama del Alba,” “Nuestra Natacha,” “Prohibido Suicidarse en Primavera,” “Los Árboles Mueren de Pie,” “La Tercera Palabra” and “El Caballero […]