Influential Authors

Great writers in history

Leading and intriguing writers in history

Talking about great writers in history is Susannah’s passion. She tells their stories so vividly that you’d swear she knew some of them personally. The people on this page are her favourite authors, the ones that she loves to talk about the most.

She shares juicy details about the type of person they were, uncovers their love-life, delves into family-life, and explores the impact that parents, siblings, partners and children all had on their work. She reveals how prolific they were, and how wealthy.

Susannah has done the research work for you. She lists books by, and books about the author, providing links to paid and free editions of these works. There are videos to watch, links to follow, and websites to view. You can even book her to give a live or online talk for your society or group.

Meet her favourite authors here.

Reviews
Influential Authors
Rated 5/5 based on 5 customer reviews
Thanks for your lecture series on the 4 English trailblazers, I have now caught up with all four of them Even though I had a fair bit of prior knowledge of all except Florence Nightingale, I enjoyed y... more

Thanks for your lecture series on the 4 English trailblazers, I have now caught up with all four of them. Even though I had a fair bit of prior knowledge of all except Florence Nightingale, I enjoyed your lectures very much, there were so many lovely pictures and unexpected sidelights that I was very well entertained. You really brought out how these four brilliant misfits made a difference to English culture!

I would have loved to have taken part in the actual lectures, but 5 pm on a weekday does not work for me, unfortunately, so I was pleased to be able to catch the lectures later. I look forward to further lectures in the future.

Merete
5.0 5
Thanks for your lecture series on the 4 English trailblazers, I have now caught up with all four of them Even though I had a fair bit of prior knowledge of all except Florence Nightingale, I enjoyed your lectures very much, there were so many lovely pictures and unexpected sidelights that I was very well entertained You really brought out how these four brilliant misfits made a difference to English culture! I would have loved to have taken part in the actual lectures, but 5 pm on a weekday does not work for me, unfortunately, so I was pleased to be able to catch the lectures later I look forward to further lectures in the future
I absolutely love receiving your programs!

I absolutely love receiving your programs!

Wendy
5.0 5
I absolutely love receiving your programs!
I just wanted to thank you for your March Trailblazers series Such interesting and diverse lives and the discovery of all those quirky facts gave a full picture of the personalities behind the famous ... more

I just wanted to thank you for your March Trailblazers series.
Such interesting and diverse lives and the discovery of all those quirky facts gave a full picture of the personalities behind the famous personas.

As the ladies say, “It’s not easy”. What an understatement!

Gayle
5.0 5
I just wanted to thank you for your March Trailblazers series Such interesting and diverse lives and the discovery of all those quirky facts gave a full picture of the personalities behind the famous personas As the ladies say, "It's not easy" What an understatement!
Thank you I thoroughly enjoyed the refresher on Florence A great woman Today we would no doubt diagnose her as having a mental illness In my experience people who are so exceptional, such creative thi... more

Thank you I thoroughly enjoyed the refresher on Florence. A great woman. Today we would no doubt diagnose her as having a mental illness. In my experience people who are so exceptional, such creative thinkers, so different from their peers as Florence was could be bi-polar. Her debilitating illnesses would have exacerbated this. So much of what I learned as a nurse came directly from her teachings. 
All the stats we continually collected also came from her.

Jann
5.0 5
Thank you I thoroughly enjoyed the refresher on Florence A great woman Today we would no doubt diagnose her as having a mental illness In my experience people who are so exceptional, such creative thinkers, so different from their peers as Florence was could be bi-polar Her debilitating illnesses would have exacerbated this So much of what I learned as a nurse came directly from her teachings All the stats we continually collected also came from her
I really enjoyed this talk, Susannah Today I used notes I took from this Trailblazers series to complete 3 hours of the 100 hours of Professional Learning I must do to be able to continue casual teach... more

I really enjoyed this talk, Susannah. Today I used notes I took from this Trailblazers series to complete 3 hours of the 100 hours of Professional Learning I must do to be able to continue casual teaching!

I’m sure to use the things I have learned in class. Thank you!
Cathy
5.0 5
I really enjoyed this talk, Susannah Today I used notes I took from this Trailblazers series to complete 3 hours of the 100 hours of Professional Learning I must do to be able to continue casual teaching! I'm sure to use the things I have learned in class Thank you!
I want to say how much I enjoy and appreciate, Susannah’s Trailblazer presentations

I want to say how much I enjoy and appreciate, Susannah’s Trailblazer presentations.

Thelma
5.0 5
I want to say how much I enjoy and appreciate, Susannah’s Trailblazer presentations
Bravo Susannah!  You revealed a phenomenal man to us  Photographic memory!

Bravo Susannah!  You revealed a phenomenal man to us.  Photographic memory!

Stephanie
5.0 5
Bravo Susannah!  You revealed a phenomenal man to us  Photographic memory!
Thank you so much for a most enjoyable and informative talk last night on Dr Johnson

Thank you so much for a most enjoyable and informative talk last night on Dr Johnson.

Sandra
5.0 5
Thank you so much for a most enjoyable and informative talk last night on Dr Johnson
Another great and inspiring talk  Can’t wait to go to the Library to see a copy

Another great and inspiring talk.  Can’t wait to go to the Library to see a copy.

Christine
5.0 5
Another great and inspiring talk  Can’t wait to go to the Library to see a copy
I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation, Susannah!  Brilliant as usual You do such a marvelous job bringing your subjects to life

I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation, Susannah!  Brilliant as usual. You do such a marvelous job bringing your subjects to life.

Alan
5.0 5
I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation, Susannah!  Brilliant as usual You do such a marvelous job bringing your subjects to life
Susannah is a masterful, engaging and passionate presenter who enriches our souls!

Susannah is a masterful, engaging and passionate presenter who enriches our souls!

Alan
5.0 5
Susannah is a masterful, engaging and passionate presenter who enriches our souls!
What a wonderful holiday gift—thank you, Susannah! I was hanging on every word My introduction to GWTW was similar to yours My next-door neighbor (a middle-aged woman) gave me her copy when I was 14... more

What a wonderful holiday gift—thank you, Susannah! I was hanging on every word. My introduction to GWTW was similar to yours. My next-door neighbor (a middle-aged woman) gave me her copy when I was 14 years old. Luckily, summer had just begun, so it didn’t matter that I stayed up three nights straight reading nonstop. I lived, breathed, and ate GWTW and was devastated after reading the final sentence. It’s the first time a book totally grabbed me and wouldn’t let go! I keep looking to repeat the experience, but have never fully succeeded.

Linda Fineman
5.0 5
What a wonderful holiday gift—thank you, Susannah! I was hanging on every word My introduction to GWTW was similar to yours My next-door neighbor (a middle-aged woman) gave me her copy when I was 14 years old Luckily, summer had just begun, so it didn’t matter that I stayed up three nights straight reading nonstop I lived, breathed, and ate GWTW and was devastated after reading the final sentence It’s the first time a book totally grabbed me and wouldn’t let go! I keep looking to repeat the experience, but have never fully succeeded
What an illuminating and fascinating lecture last night  Your research is so thorough I could not see you at the end of the lecture to thank you Wonderful crowd, so it was impossible to move about

What an illuminating and fascinating lecture last night.  Your research is so thorough. I could not see you at the end of the lecture to thank you. Wonderful crowd, so it was impossible to move about.

Sheila
5.0 5
What an illuminating and fascinating lecture last night  Your research is so thorough I could not see you at the end of the lecture to thank you Wonderful crowd, so it was impossible to move about
Thank you so much for your wonderful talk last night My daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed both talks and loved the photosAs others, I have been fascinated by The Mitfords for years, made pilgrimages ... more

Thank you so much for your wonderful talk last night. My daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed both talks and loved the photos.
As others, I have been fascinated by The Mitfords for years, made pilgrimages to Swinbrook, the Church and graves, Chatsworth of course etc … but their story is always compelling.

Bronwyn
5.0 5
Thank you so much for your wonderful talk last night My daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed both talks and loved the photosAs others, I have been fascinated by The Mitfords for years, made pilgrimages to Swinbrook, the Church and graves, Chatsworth of course etc … but their story is always compelling