10 Teachers Who Became Famous Writers

Emil Simandan (2003)

Here’s a list of ten writers who, at a point in their lives, were also teachers. The teacher-writers are listed in chronological order and the list is as subjective as it can be. Feel free to add to the list in the comments section.

1. William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

– Before he became an actor and playwright he was a teacher (unconfirmed).
– His books were made into movies.
– Romeo and Juliet (“And thus with a kiss I die.”)

 2. Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) – Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

– He worked as a mathematics tutor at Oxford University, England.
– His books were made into movies.
– Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass

3. Robert Frost (1874-1963)

– He worked as both a farmer and teacher in New Hampshire, USA.
– His students called him “the Hen Man” because the he was afraid of chickens.
– American poet, Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: Fire and Ice

“Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.”

4. J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)

– Taught English Language at the University of Leeds, UK.
– His books were made into movies.
– The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy

5. Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)

– Taught French at Eton, England.
– His books were made into movies.
– Brave New World

6. William Golding (1911-1993)

– Taught English and Greek literature in translation in the UK.
– When WWII broke out, he joined the Royal Navy.
– He once allowed a class of boys complete freedom in a debate, but had to intervene as violence broke out.
– His books were made into movies.
– The Lord of the Flies

7. Emil Simandan (1940-)

– Taught Romanian at a village school in Transylvania.
– Was made honorary citizen of his hometown in 2006.
– Wrote over 20 books of local contemporary history.

8. Stephen King (1947 – )

– Taught at an elementary school in Main, USA.
– Started to drink heavily during his teaching station.
– Third-highest paid writer in history.
– His books were made into movies.
– Misery, It, The Green Mile, Cujo

9. Dan Brown (1964 – )

– High school English teacher in New Hampshire, USA.
– His books were made into movies.
– Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and The Lost Symbol

10. J.K. Rowling (1965 – )

– English teacher in Portugal and England as a second language. She has got a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE).
– Second-highest paid writer in history.
– Her books were made into movies.
– Harry Potter series