Who's the best American author? (1 Viewer)

[ltasey]

Who is the best American author? Some say it's Hemingway, others Faulkner, and still others Steinbeck.

Is there a criteria by which we can judge each American author, and thus be able to tell who the best is? Or is everything subjective?

ltrain

 

[walrusbear]

are you serious?
what an impossible question

the only certain thing is that it's NOT hemingway

 

[Not-That-Bright]

My Hero, Harold Bell Wright.

 

[666_blessings]

I'd go with Steinbeck.

 

[Sarah168]

are you serious?
what an impossible question

agreed.

i like harper lee (TKAM) and f. scott fitzgerald. I read them often. Currently reading a biography of Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda

 

[AlleyCat]

mark twain, no contest.

 

[walrusbear]

here are some post-war US writers i like (if not loved):

phillip roth
joseph heller
kurt vonnegut
thomas pynchon
john updike
john irving

i've heard saul bellow is good too

 

[ltasey]

I'd go with Steinbeck.

666,

Yes, Steinbeck it is.

 

[fake_mcdickpant]

You douches, the best American author is clearly R.L. Stein.

 

[walrusbear]

666,

Yes, Steinbeck it is.

i've never read any steinbeck, nor any faulkner, but if i'm to believe critics then isn't faulkner the better writer?

 

[gorgo31]

I'm not a big fan of "classic" American prose, but for poetry I'd say Whitman and theatre Tennesse Williams. For contemporary American authors, Donna Tartt and Michael Cunningham are hard to beat.

 

[absolution*]

Twain probably.

 

[M-turkey]

My vote would go to Edgar Allen Poe.

 

[absolution*]

My vote would go to Edgar Allen Poe.

I doubt you could really classify him as an author strictly speaking.

 

[AlleyCat]

I'm not a big fan of "classic" American prose, but for poetry I'd say Whitman and theatre Tennesse Williams. For contemporary American authors, Donna Tartt and Michael Cunningham are hard to beat.

williams would be one of the greatest american playwrights, id say. ive read basically all his work, and he really does have amazing insights.

 

[aurelia jejune]

Haha, R.L Stein. My first instinct was Steinbeck, but Joseph Heller is also great. Is Eugenides American?

 

[minushuman]

Maddox.

Please close the thread now that i've resolved this issue for you.

 

[davin]

so worried that maddox is an author now.

Dan Brown is american. Though I'd say the best current american author of fiction is clive cussler, personally. or orson scott card.

more historically, i'd lean toward twain as a favourite, myself. Poe counts becuse he did write short stories....nothing said we're talking novel-writers here. question is, do you mean best author who is american, or best author that also is representative of america?

 

[MasterP]

Twain was arguably the first great American author, but as far as the best goes, it's a much harder question to decipher. Not to mention highly subjective in itself, illustrated by this thread.

 

[Benny_]

F Scott Fitzgerald
Joseph Heller
Raymond Chandler
Kurt Vonnegurt
John Updike
Truman Capote

.. a lot of people like Jack Kerouac as well, I'm rather indifferent personally