Classics Calendar for November 26

Scene from an early production of Eugene Ionesco's
La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Soprano)

Here are today's milestones:

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Born on this day:

William Cowper (1731; died April 25, 1800) English poet; The Task; "John Gilpin"; hymns

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Eugene Ionesco (1909; died March 28, 1994) Romanian-French playwright; The Bald Soprano; The Killer; Rhinoceros

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Frederik Pohl (1919; died September 2, 2013) American author of science fiction, especially Gateway; Man Plus; Jem

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Died on this day:

Sojourner Truth (1883; birthdate unknown, c. 1797) American activist; The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave; purported speech "Ain't I a Woman?"

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Coventry Patmore (1896; born July 23, 1823) English poet and critic who wrote The Unknown Eros and The Angel in the House

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Bonus Classic:

Murasaki Shikibu (Lady Murasaki) (c. 973/978-c. 1014/1031) Japanese novelist, poet, and lady-in-waiting; wrote Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji); Murasaki Nikki (Lady Murasaki's Diary)

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