The term British Writer can refer to a variety of authors from the United Kingdom. Martin AMIS is a contemporary novelist and essayist whose works often explore the modern condition. Alexander POPE was an 18th century poet and satirist, best known for his poem The Rape of the Lock. Rebecca WEST was a 20th century novelist, journalist, and literary critic. Charles Reade was a 19th century novelist and playwright, known for his works such as The Cloister and the Hearth. George Meredith was a Victorian era poet and novelist, whose works often explored the role of the individual in society. Samuel Johnson was an 18th century author, poet, and lexicographer, best known for his Dictionary of the English Language. William Shakespeare was a 16th century playwright and poet, widely considered to be the greatest writer in the English language.