William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens remain two of the most popular and widely known British writers all over the world. Dickens began his writing career as a journalist, and all his novels were first published serially in periodicals. Many of his works highlight the injustice of 19th century social institutions and inequalities between the rich and the poor. His most famous works include "Oliver Twist" and "David Copperfield". As to Shakespeare in addition to writing 35 known plays, he wrote 154 sonnets and sometimes acted in small parts in his own plays- He is known to have played the Ghost in "Hamlet". His best known plays include "King Lear", "A Midsummer night's dream" and "Romeo and Juliet".

Perhaps the best known of the Russian writers is Leo Tolstoy. He was the son of rich landowner. His parents died when he was 9. He spent his time drinking and gambling and not caring about anything but pleasure. Then he went into the armv and fought in the Crimean War.

Nowadays people seem to read newspapers mostly. Many people are fond of reading detective stories or spy thrillers. I myself prefer books about politics, history, travel-books and biographies. It is my dream to become a student of the department of foreign languages and to be able to read the books by my favourite English and American writers in the original.

Stratford-on-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, is now one of the most popular tourist centre's. But it was not so many years ago. In the 18th century only a few relics of Shakespeare were left — his tomb, New Place (a large house which was built in place of Shakespeare's own house), the mulberry tree that he had planted, and his birthplace.

Charles Dickens was born in 1812. He lived in the south of England when he was a little boy. His father worked in an office. He was a very clever man, but he was very poor. Charles had many brothers and sisters, but he did not often play with them. His father had many books and Charles liked to read them. He learned to read very early. When Charles was 10 years old, his family went to London. There his father got into debt (as he had little money) and then into debtor's prison. So little Charles began to work when he was ten. That was the beginning of Charles' hard life.

Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, was born on January 25, 1759 in Scotland. His father, William Burns, was a poor farmer. There were seven children in the family, and Robert was the eldest. His father knew the value of a good education, and he tried to give his children the best education he could afford. Robert was sent to school at the age of six, but as his father could not pay for the two sons, Robert and his brother Gilbert attended school in turn.

Robert Burns was born in 1759. He was a farmer but he was always poor. He became famous because he wrote poetry. He wrote many love poems and some of these are now songs. Burns also wrote angry poems about rich people and poor people. For Burns all men were the same. They were all brothers. Rich people in Edinburgh liked Burns's love poems but they did not like his other poems. They did not help him much. Once they gave him a small job. So Burns left his farm and went to work. There he died in 1796.

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin on October 16, 1854. His father was a famous Irish surgeon. His mother was well known in Dublin as a writer of verse and prose. At school, and later at Oxford, Oscar displayed gift for art and the humanities. While at the university, Wilde became one of the most famous personalities of the day: he wore his hair long, decorated his room with different beautiful things. His witty sayings were well known among the students.

In the history of English literature Jerome K. Jerome occupies a modest place. He cannot be compared with Dickens, Thackeray, or Bernard Shaw, but he is well known as a writer-humorist not only in his country but in another countries too

Charlotte Bronte was born in a small town in England in 1816. Charlotte and her sisters, Emily and Ann had a very hard life, from early childhood they knew poverty and very hard work. Charlotte received her education at an orphanage (which she described in her novel "Jane Eyre"). After that she worked as a governess and a teacher.