In no particular order (because it changes):

Charles Dickens
Victor Hugo
Howard Bahr

I have talked about Howard a fair bit in the threads at one time or other. He wrote two Civil War novels, The Black Flower and The Year of Jubilo. Both are excellent.

Some of you know that I wrote a song inspired by his novel The Black Flower. Mister and I have since met Howard, and we have become fast friends. He is a really swell guy, loves the old songs, and plays the fiddle himself.