Great Regulars: Throughout his life, [José] Marti

never lost sight of his ultimate passion: promoting Cuban independence. In doing so, he would take on various roles, including teacher, diplomat and poet. His first poetry volume, "Versos Libres" (Free Verses), was published in 1878. More than a decade later, Marti's "Versos Sencillos" was published, the first poem of which became his most notable work and "an unofficial national anthem for Cuba," according to Bella Online.

from findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: José Marti, Cuban Poet and Revolutionary

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Lewis Carroll was born Charles L. Dodgson on Jan. 27, 1832 in Cheshire, England, the third of 11 children born to a church curate and his wife. After some public school and then tutoring by his father, Carroll attended Oxford University. He was top of his class in his mathematics work, and was also a top student of the classics. Carroll became a deacon in the Church of England in 1861. While at Oxford, he submitted poems and short stories to national magazines. He translated his first and middle names "Charles Lutwidge" into Latin, got "Carolus Ludovicus," switched the two names, translated them back into English and got "Lewis Carroll." He published his first poem as Lewis Carroll in 1856.

from findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson), Author of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"

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