Oxford Australia Blog

Sharing our love of education, language, and books

Category: Literature

  • Robert Louis Stevenson was born on this day

    Robert Louis Stevenson was born 164 years ago today in Edinburgh, Scotland. Born into a family of engineers and builders, Stevenson began engineering studies at Edinburgh University before switching to law. Instead of practicing in either field, he pursued literary aspirations in career that spanned nineteen years and crossed a wide range of genres including…

  • Waspish aphorisms from Oscar Wilde, born this day in 1854

    Oscar Wilde was born this day in 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. A popular playwright and novelist, Wilde is remembered best for his witty aphorisms. Here are some of our favourites: From The Importance of Being Earnest: “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” “The truth is rarely…

  • Miguel de Cervantes was born on this day

    Miguel de Cervantes was born 467 years (assumed) ago today in Alcalá de Henares, near Madrid. Most famous for his comic masterpiece, Don Quixote, Cervantes also wrote Exemplary Stories, short stories that, like Don Quixote, defy the conventions of heroic chivalric literature and range from the picturesque to the satirical. To celebrate his birthday, here are five…