Literary quiz with interesting anecdotes

Who- when asked by a customs officer, "What have you to declare?" replied, "Only my Genius."?

Oscar Wilde, the Irish poet and playwright.  He was born in Dublin on October 15, 1856, the younger son of Sir William Wilde, a surgeon.  He was a master of deadly witticisms and wrote many famous plays such as, 'An ideal Husband',  and 'Lady Windermer's Fan'.  He also wrote children's fairy tales.  He died in November 30, 1900.

What was the only book for which Jonathan Swift, who wrote scores of books, was paid?

Gulliver's Travels.  Its title was originally, 'The Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World by Lemuel Gulliver'.  The book was so well presented with an illustrated portrait of Gulliver and maps, that many credulous people believed it to be true story.  Indeed, a bishop in Ireland angrily asserted that in his opinion it was full of improbable untruths to such an extent, that he scarcely believed a word of it.

He was born in Dublin on November 30, 1667 and was ordained a priest in 1695, but soon tired of a country parson's life.  He commenced to write poetry, but his verse was harshly criticized and he turned his attention to the shortcomings of the day's politics.  With wit and savagery he attacked the accepted customs of the land and made the church the particular target for his wicked humor.  Always outrageous in his attacks, he at long last in 1741, became completely insane and died on October 19,  1745.

Who was the first American Author to achieve International fame?

Washington Irving, who had fought against the British in the War of Independence.   He wrote many books, amongst them his 'Legends of the Alhambra' and 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'.  But it is  'Rip Van Winkle' for which he is best remembered.  He was born on April 3, 1783,  and died on November 28, 1859.

Who was the Army Nurse who won fame by writing books for girls?

Her name was Louisa May Alcott.  She was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on November 29, 1832, the daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott, a struggling educationalist who could obviously have profited by a little education himself in a few financial matters.

Louisa became an army nurse during the American Civil War and in 1863 her book 'Hospital Sketches', a record of her army experiences, was published.  This book earned her some measure of success.  She wrote primarily to support her family and rather feckless father.  In 1869, her book  'Little Women' appeared and her name was ranked with the famous writers.  More books followed, An Old Fashioned Girl',  'Little Men',  'Good Wives' and 'Jo's Boys'.  She died on March 6, 1888.  

'The Virginian', has often been filmed, but who wrote the book?

Owen Wister, who was born in Philadelphia,  on July 14, 1860.  He studied law and became barrister in 1889, but abandoned the law to write books.  He excelled in stories of the West and is regarded as the writer who laid the foundation of the later form of  'Cowboy' stories.   'The Virginian' has been filmed for the cinema screen and a long television series was based on it.