From classics to cults, many of the country's favourite authors have laid their hat in Islington.
Mary Wollstonecraft, the feminist writer, encouraged her sister to leave her husband in 1784, and the pair of them opened a school in Upper Street. After witnessing the French Revolution and having been abandoned by her partner, she returned to Finsbury Square in 1795 where she made a failed suicide attempt. She started a new life by moving to Cumming Street. Mary met William Godwin, a radical and liberal and finally seemed happy, but died shortly after giving birth to a baby girl, also named Mary, in 1797. Her most famous work was probably "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman".
Her daughter Mary, went on to marry the great English poet, Percy Shelley. She wrote "Frankenstein", the classic gothic horror novel, while staying at Lake Geneva in Switzerland with her husband and fellow poet, Lord Byron.
Charles Dickens moved to Pentonville in 1837, at the age of 25. Like many authors and poets after him, his fascination with the borough is reflected in the amount of references he makes about Islington in many of his novels, including "Oliver Twist".
Edward Lear, best known for his humourous verse, "The Owl and The Pussycat" and "Nonsense Songs", lived in Bowman's Mews, off Seven Sisters Road, in the 19th Century. He was also an accomplished illustrator, and was asked to give drawing lessons to Queen Victoria in 1846.
Evelyn Waugh moved to Canonbury Square in 1928, joyous at the praise he was getting for reviews for "Decline and Fall" and his new marriage. But his time at Canonbury was to be tinged with sadness. After going away to Oxford to write, he returned home to find his wife, also Evelyn, had fallen in love with another man. Broken hearted Waugh filed for divorce, and penned one of his most famous books, "A Handful of Dust".
George Orwell moved to 27 Canonbury Square in 1944, after being bombed out of his home in St Johns Wood. Shortly after moving to the area, Orwell found worldwide success with his political satire novel, "Animal Farm". In 1947, he began writing his most famous novel, "1984", about his nightmarish vision of the future. He died from tuberculosis, in 1950.
Douglas Adams, science-fiction and comedy writer, lived in Duncan Terrace during the 1980s, whilst he enjoyed huge success with his "Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series of popular books.
Nick Hornby, of "Fever Pitch", "High Fidelity" and "About a Boy" fame, has regularly featured the borough in his books. The novelist, who lives in Highbury, dedicated "Fever Pitch" to his beloved Arsenal FC. This best selling book was made into a film starring another Islington resident, actor Colin Firth.
George Cruikshank, famous caricaturist, lived in Amwell Street between 1823 - 1849. He was best known for illustrating the novels of W. Harrison Ainsworth and Dickens' 'Oliver Twist'.
Kate Greenaway moved to Upper Street with her family in 1852. Greenaway soon became famous across Europe for her beautiful illustrations for children's books, and was also a successful designer and verse writer. In 1890, she became a member of the Royal Institute of Painters and exhibited several times.
Page Last Updated: 26 May 2009