Who was the greatest American Novelist?

1. 75

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years ago

   Who was the greatest American Novelist?
   
   Let me first state that if you think Steven King is an answer to this question - please go away.
   
   America has had some great novelist, who do you think was the greatest American Novelist?
   
   

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2. 61

   thostposted 12 years ago

   I like Mark Twain, you can read him over and over.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks very much, Sir - he is certainly high up on the list!!!!!!!!!!!!

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3. 59

   MickSposted 12 years ago

   William Seward Burroughs II, as a second choice I would go for William Gibson.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'm now ashamed that I ...don't even know who William Gibson is!

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   2. 59

      MickSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Contemporary novelist, SF, invented the genre of cyberpunk,  USA, born novelist.  Spent, I think, most of his childhood in Canada.  Wrote the novel Neuromancer, excellent style, and use of language.

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      Uninvited Writerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's funny, the Canadian's claim Gibson as a Canadian author

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   4. 59

      MickSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Gibson has dual nationality I believe.  It wasn't his childhood in Canada, it was a spell there to dodge the draft, he has, I believe a Cansdian wife.  Even if Canada claim his a Canadian writer, canda is still a country in the N, America, still make

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4. 86

   Georgie Loweryposted 12 years ago

   My personal favorite of the 'great American authors' is Mark Twain but Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Steinbeck, Melville and many others could also be argued. Twain's my favorite because I just love the way that man told a story.

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   1. 75

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      All great ones...but what about Hemingway??????

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5. 72

   maven101posted 12 years ago

   Booth Tarkington, Hemingway, or Sinclair Lewis...I never get tired reading any of these guys...Booth received two Pulitzers...

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   1. 75

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I believe that Hemingway and Lewis won NOBEL prizes for Literature!!!!!!!!!!  I'll have to fact check that though.
      
      Also, Faulkner and Steinbeck did.

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6. 59

   point2makeposted 12 years ago

   For me it would be Steinbeck and Hemingway because I would have a real tough time picking one over the other.

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   1. 75

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Point2make!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      
      YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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7. 78

   Eric Calderwoodposted 12 years ago

   I would definitely have to say, Mark Twain.  I know everyone has their own opinion, but I love his writing style and wit.  I also like reading about the American time period he covers.  I often daydream about what it would be like to live in that era and in the simple, but hard-working, way of life that most people had.  (Of course I would like it to be idealized by a lack of slavery.)

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   1. 75

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I can't argue with that!!!!!!!!!!

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8. 0

   timmathisenposted 12 years ago

   The "greatest" American novelist is not dead -- he/she may not have been born yet!
   
   Each author brings a different perspective to his/her writing, which means great modern American authors like Hemingway and Faulkner saw life differently and told stories differently than great contemporary fiction writers like Cormac McCarthy or Toni Morrison.
   
   Is one of these authors greater than the other? Nah. Each of these writers is great in his/her way.
   
   BTW, Hemingway put a Pulitzer on the shelf in 1953; Faulkner in 1955 and 1963; McCarthy in 2007; and Morrison in 1988.

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   1. 75

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Faulkner, and Hemingway won Nobel prizes...do you think the Pulitzer is more prestigious?

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      timmathisenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Both are prestigious awards -- just different in scope. The Nobel encompasses all the author's works; A Pulitzer focuses on one piece. Does that mean one is better than the other? Maybe -- either prize is a nice haul, though.

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9. 85

   Austinstarposted 12 years ago

   My first thought was Mark Twain. My second thought was Edgar Allen Poe. But the greatest American book I have ever read was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. That is the book and novel that stays with me.
   However, my 'bible' growing up was Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.
   Then there is my hero - Isaac Asimov among a few other science fiction writers like Heinlein and Vonnegut and Douglas Adams.
   Oh there are so many writers I admire.

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   1. 75

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Austinstar!!!!!!!!!!!!
      
      Thanks, I knew you'd have some good ones if you showed up!!!  Vonnegut might be my very favourite...I favour Steinbeck and Hemingway, but I'd never be able to say "this guy is my fave."

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      MickSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Douglas Adams is English, born at Cambridge, UK, I believe.

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10. 77

    Uninvited Writerposted 12 years ago

    In my opinion it's John Steinbeck.I have read everything he wrote and never fail to find something worthwhile.

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    1. 75

       Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I've not read them all, but certainly I loved the ones that I have read!!!!!!!!

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    starme77posted 12 years ago

    ok well maybe he not a novelist but DR Suess Waz pretty great

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    1. 59

       Highvoltagewriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       As far Children books, I can not think of any Americans that were better!

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12. 59

    Highvoltagewriterposted 12 years ago

    I am surprised no one said Steven King. As for as horror  and suspense, he is one of the best! Mark Twain is another one I never get tired of.

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    1. 75

       Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I spent my early teen years reading every King novel published at the time...I'm so burned out on S.K....

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13. 76

    alancaster149posted 12 years ago

    I'll have a stab at this one, as long as you can tell me who is the greatest British writer - and don't take the easy way out with Will Shakespeare! 
    For my money I'd say Samuel Langhorne Clemens - Mark Twain to anyone else. He had a good way with words, as did Hemingway, but 'Hemmers' tended to let his emotions cloud his writing. I'd say Longfellow is another candidate for the title, with his 'Hawkeye' story, an education for anyone who thought British involvement in the Americas ended at Yorktown.

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    1. 75

       Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       alancaster149 - Oh I'd never take that easy a way out...with Shakespeare!  He's too obvious a choice!!!!!!!  I like Chaucer quite a lot, REALLY, I do!

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