I noticed a while back that a few writers of interest were born at the end of November.
I found some good connections while I was looking to see what these astrological Sagittarians had in common.
A few more writers whose work I like or at least am familiar with and/or who are of interest for other reasons were born under the sign of Sagittarius – some before the end of November and some in December.
Most of them have been featured or at least mentioned in articles in the past; there may be more to say about a few of them in the future.
Jane Austen was born on December 16th 1775.
Although her books don't inspire commentary, she has been mentioned on here in a few articles in connection with suspicious deaths. She also appears in articles about tangled webs of connections.
She mentions a witch on one occasion:
“Ah, Mother! How do you do?” said he, giving her a hearty shake of the hand. “Where did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch...”
From Northanger Abbey
Lucy M. Boston was born on December 10th 1892.
She lived to the age of 97. One of her Green Knowe books features the witch Dr. Melanie Powers, who is mentioned in a few places on here, and her autobiography is the subject of an article.
Flying horses, which were mentioned in connection with writers born in late November, appear in The River at Green Knowe.
Frances Hodgson Burnett was born on November 24th 1849.
Her children's classics The Little Princess, The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy are her most famous works. They are rather dated but still selling well. She was involved with metaphysical matters; I will investigate this once the people and topics of current interest are finished with.
Winston Churchill was born on November 30th 1874.
His birthday was marked with an article about his wise words.
He has also been mentioned in one of the articles about Benjamin Disraeli and in an article or two in connection with Beverley Nichols.
Benjamin Disraeli was born on December 21st 1804.
He differs from Jane Austen in that he has inspired a series of articles, but he resembles her in that he has been mentioned in several articles in connection with suspicious deaths and tangled webs of connections. He mentions witches in one of his novels:
“...a mournful, mystic, bearded countenance, which might have flitted in the back scene of a 'Witches’ Sabbath.'”
“...the white clouds dashed along the sky as if they bore a band of witches too late for their Sabbath meeting, or some other mischief...”
From Vivian Grey
This novel was first published when Disraeli was only 21; it seems strange that he should mention witches and their Sabbaths - and where did he learn about them?
Sylvia Engdahl was born on November 24th 1933.
She has written some very good science fiction books, many for young adults. She has been mentioned in connection with feelings of not belonging in the world. She too will be investigated when I get the chance, as there are elements of interest in her life.
Dion Fortune was born on December 6th 1890.
She has some interesting things to say on the subject of energy vampires; she has been quoted in connection with witches, and she is mentioned in the article about depression at the equinoxes.
George MacDonald was born on December 10th 1824.
He was mentioned in the article about Michael de Larrabeiti's Borribles. He has written stories about witches. His fantasy books include The Princess and the Goblin and Lilith. They too are dated but still selling.
Many illustrious writers have said that he was a major literary influence; those mentioned on here include Richard Adams, J. M. Barrie, Walter de la Mare, Madeleine L'Engle, Neil Gaiman, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.
It is time to take another look at some of his work, which I last read when still at school.
Mary Norton was born on December 10th 1903.
Her children's book Bedknob and Broomstick is about a witch.
Her wainscot society of Borrowers may have influenced Michael de Larrabeiti when he was writing his Borrible series.
Fellow Sagittarian C. S. Lewis wrote to tell her how much he enjoyed reading the Borrower books.
Rosemary Sutcliff was born on December 14th 1920.
She was influenced by Rudyard Kipling when writing her books about Roman Britain.
I mentioned a film called The Eagle a while back; I didn't realise at the time that it was based on her best known book The Eagle of the Ninth.
I was shocked to learn that she was chronically ill, in great pain and wheelchair-bound for most of her life.
Alison Uttley was born on December 17th 1884.
As a child, I loved her Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig books with their beautiful illustrations; I enjoyed reading many of her other children's books too.
Unfortunately, she seems to have been a bit of a monster. She quarrelled with her illustrator and disliked Enid Blyton very much. Both her husband and son killed themselves.
She was interested in metaphysical matters such as ghosts and time travel. There might be yet another depressing biography to investigate here.
Rebecca West was born on December 21st 1892.
Just like Benjamin Disraeli, Rebecca West is a borderline case in that she came close to being born under the sign of Capricorn.
She has been quoted in an article about Stella Benson and also in one about Jean Rhys. I have learned that she was interested in certain spiritual matters and wrote stories about them.
It is interesting to see that of the 18 Sagittarian writers mentioned so far, 13 are women and 12 have written best-selling books for children.
A depiction of Sagittarius on the astronomical ceiling of the ancient temple of Hathor at Dendera in Egypt:
