Aphra Behn (1640-1689) is widely recognized as the first female novelist in English literature. She wrote numerous plays, poems, and novels, including the groundbreaking novel "Oroonoko" (1688).

Mary Shelley (1797-1851) is renowned for her Gothic novel "Frankenstein" (1818), which is considered a masterpiece of the genre and has had a profound impact on literature and popular culture.

Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) wrote the iconic novel "Jane Eyre" (1847), which is a powerful and moving story about a young woman's journey of self-discovery and love.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) is celebrated for her novels that explore the social and romantic lives of the landed gentry in Regency England. Her works, including "Pride and Prejudice" (1813), are known for their humor, irony, and astute observations of human nature.

Kate Chopin (1850-1904) wrote "The Awakening" (1899), a groundbreaking novel that explores the themes of female identity, sexuality, and societal expectations. It is considered a significant work in American literature and feminist thought.

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) is a prominent figure in modernist literature. Her novels, such as "Mrs. Dalloway" (1925) and "To the Lighthouse" (1927), are known for their stream-of-consciousness narrative style and exploration of human consciousness and subjectivity.

Alice Walker (born 1944) wrote "The Color Purple" (1982), a powerful novel that addresses issues of race, gender, and sexuality in the American South. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award.

Toni Morrison (1931-2019) is a Nobel Prize-winning author whose works have significantly contributed to African American literature. Her novels, such as "Beloved" (1987) and "Jazz" (1992), explore themes of history, memory, and the complexities of the African American experience.

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) wrote "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (1937), a novel that celebrates the strength and resilience of African American women in the rural South. It is considered a classic of American literature.

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) is a renowned poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Her autobiographical works, such as "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969), offer powerful insights into her experiences as an African American woman in the United States.

Margaret Atwood (born 1939) is a Canadian author known for her speculative fiction and feminist writings. Her novel "The Handmaid's Tale" (1985) is a dystopian masterpiece that explores themes of gender oppression and totalitarianism.

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) is a pioneering figure in science fiction and fantasy literature. Her works, such as the "Earthsea" series, explore themes of gender, ecology, and the power of language.

Octavia E. Butler (1947-2006) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer known for her exploration of social and political issues. Her novel "Parable of the Sower" (1993) is a powerful Afrofuturist work that addresses themes of climate change, inequality, and the resilience of the human spirit.

N.K. Jemisin (born 1972) is a contemporary American science fiction and fantasy writer. She has won multiple awards for her novels, including the Hugo Award for Best Novel three times for "The Fifth Season" (2015), "The Obelisk Gate" (2016), and "The Stone Sky" (2017).

Margaret Atwood (born 1939) wrote "The Testaments" (2019), a sequel to her dystopian masterpiece "The Handmaid's Tale". The novel explores the aftermath of the events in the first book and offers a glimpse into the future of Gilead.