Thomas Paine's pamphlet, \"Common Sense\", published in 1776, played a pivotal role in galvanizing support for American independence and is widely credited with inspiring the American Revolution.

Jules Verne, a French author, is often referred to as the father of modern science fiction due to his groundbreaking works like \"Journey to the Center of the Earth\" and \"Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea\".

Simone de Beauvoir's \"The Second Sex\", published in 1949, is a seminal work in feminist literature that explores the oppression of women and the need for gender equality.

William Shakespeare is widely considered the greatest playwright of all time due to his profound impact on literature and theater. His works, including \"Hamlet\", \"Romeo and Juliet\", and \"Macbeth\", have had a lasting influence on Western culture.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches and writings, particularly his \"Letter from Birmingham Jail\" and \"I Have a Dream\" speech, were instrumental in galvanizing support for the civil rights movement and advocating for racial equality.

Edgar Allan Poe is credited with creating the modern detective story genre with his tales featuring the detective C. Auguste Dupin, such as \"The Murders in the Rue Morgue\".

Jean-Paul Sartre, a French philosopher and writer, is renowned for his existentialist works, including \"Nausea\" and \"Being and Nothingness\", which delve into themes of freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of existence.

T.S. Eliot, an American-born British poet, is widely regarded as one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, known for his groundbreaking work \"The Waste Land\" and contributions to the modernist movement.

Rachel Carson's book \"Silent Spring\", published in 1962, raised awareness about the dangers of pesticides and sparked a global movement for environmental protection.

Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish writer, is often regarded as the father of the modern novel for his groundbreaking work \"Don Quixote\", which introduced a complex and realistic protagonist and laid the foundation for the modern novelistic form.

Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst, is considered the father of psychoanalysis. His theories on the unconscious mind, sexuality, and dream interpretation have had a profound impact on the field of psychology.

William Wordsworth, an English poet, is widely considered the greatest writer of the Romantic era, known for his focus on nature, emotion, and the individual.

Charles Dickens, an English writer, is renowned for his social commentary and critique of Victorian society in works like \"Oliver Twist\" and \"A Tale of Two Cities\".

Washington Irving, an American writer, is often referred to as the father of American literature for his pioneering works like \"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow\" and \"Rip Van Winkle\".

James Joyce, an Irish writer, is considered a pioneer of modernism in literature, known for his experimental and groundbreaking works like \"Ulysses\" and \"Finnegans Wake\".