Did you know that August was named after Augustus Caesar, first emperor of the Roman Empire and grand-nephew of Julius Caesar? The Roman Senate rewarded him for his conquest of Marc Antony and Cleopatra in Egypt by according him the same honor bestowed on uncle Julius, who had the month of July named after him. This sun drenched month is also known for unparalleled bounty, bringing us the gifts of the garden as well as the last lingering hours of light before autumn ushers in earlier sunsets. August is also rich in literary birthdays; following are a few of the literary lights born in this month. Click on names and book jackets to be taken to links:
Herman Melville (August 1, 1819-September 28, 1891); James Baldwin (August 2, 1924-December 1, 1987); Isabel Allende (August 2, 1942); Leon Uris (August 3, 1924-June 21, 2003); Dennis Lehane (August 4, 1965); JoJo Moyes (August 4, 1969); Jonathan Kellerman (August 9, 1949); Sue Monk Kidd (August 12, 1948); Edna Ferber (August 15, 1885-April 16, 1968); V. S. Naipaul (August 17, 1932-August 11, 2018); Frank McCourt (August 19, 1930-July 19, 2009); Ray Bradbury (August 22, 1920-June 5, 2012); Curtis Sittenfeld (August 23, 1975); Alexander McCall Smith (August 24, 1948); Barbara Ehrenreich (August 26, 1941); and Theodore Dreiser (August 27, 1871-December 28, 1945.)
