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A novel's whole pattern is rarely apparent at the outset of writing, or even at the end; that is when the writer finds out what a novel is about, and the job becomes one of understanding and deepening or sharpening what is already written. That is finding the theme.
In fiction, plenty do the job of conveying information, rousing suspense, painting characters, enabling them to speak. But only certain sentences breathe and shift about, like live matter in soil.
| Maude Adams, Actress (1872) |
| Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Poet (1836) |
| Mose Allison, Musician (1927) |
| Gordon W. Allport, Psychologist (1897) |
| Daisy Bates, Activist (1914) |
| Hans Magnus Enzensberger, Author (1929) |
| Daniel J. Evans, Politician (1925) |
| Calista Flockhart, Actress (1964) |
| David Hackworth, Soldier (1930) |
| Lee Haney, Athlete (1959) |
| Andre Bazin, Critic (1958) |
| Alexander Calder, Sculptor (1976) |
| Soren Kierkegaard, Philosopher (1855) |


