Who is the most deserving famous author

RobRoy · 10th December 2007, 03:14 PM

We have threads on the most over-rated, and most under-rated authors, I was curious what author is actually deserving of the level of fame and success they have acheived?

Slimething · 10th December 2007, 03:33 PM

Mark Twain, John Steinbeck and myself.

GreNME · 10th December 2007, 05:35 PM

Frank Herbert

Once he gets famous, Scott Roberts.

Elizabeth I · 10th December 2007, 07:18 PM

Well, to belabor the obvious, Shakespeare.

Jane Austen.

Mark Twain.

Miguel de Cervantes.

RedIbis · 11th December 2007, 06:00 AM

William Faulkner.

I've also got to hand it to Cormac McCarthy. I'm reading Suttree right now and it's about the only American book that approaches the visual creativity and impressive use of language as Faulkner.

Marquis de Carabas · 11th December 2007, 09:09 AM

Every author (indeed, every human) has the precise level of fame deserved.

Andronicus · 11th December 2007, 03:30 PM

In English William Shakespeare is considered by many people the greatest writer who ever lived. I'd agree on many levels.

LibraryLady · 11th December 2007, 03:40 PM

*ahem*

Lewis Carroll

geni · 11th December 2007, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Elizabeth I

Well, to belabor the obvious, Shakespeare.

A hack who got lucky.

Quote:

Jane Austen.

Evidence that if the "literary elite" harp on about something long enough they will eventualy sell some books.

geni · 11th December 2007, 03:53 PM

The logical aproach would be to look for authors who have managed to atchive fame during a period where their style of work being largely written off by the establisment.

So early Si-fi and fantasy authors might qualify or some of the first graphic novel people to make progress (Art Spiegelman or Neil Gaiman say).

Elizabeth I · 11th December 2007, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by geni

Evidence that if the "literary elite" harp on about something long enough they will eventualy sell some books.

Sorry, I fell in love with Jane Austen's writing as soon as I got into the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice. Hadn't heard anything from the "literary elite" and don't think much of them anyway.

geni · 12th December 2007, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Elizabeth I

Sorry, I fell in love with Jane Austen's writing as soon as I got into the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice. Hadn't heard anything from the "literary elite" and don't think much of them anyway.

And why do you think the book was in a position to be read by you? How many other midly sucessful victorian novelists have you read books by?

KateHL · 12th December 2007, 11:15 AM

Heh. I think it's amusing that this thread automatically assumes fame as being a positive. So many authors are recluses who would be happy to never meet a fan. So in that line of thought, if I don't like the work of JD Salinger (and I don't, to be honest) should I wish him fame (that's a bit mean, even for me)? If I DO like the work of an author who goes out of his way to promote himself should I wish him fame? Probably, considering fame leads to sales and money is useful for survival.

By this criteria I'll have to say Vonnegut as he was both an incredible writer and lecturer. Same with Upton Sinclair. I may be a bit biased on this point, though, as he was my grandmother's uncle and he helped raise her while her father had tuberculosis and after he died during the depression (he even used her family in some of his woo experiments!). My reasoning is as follows: He was a talented writer and very much a self-made man (he began writing for a living in his early teens if I remember correctly) going so far as to publish his own works when he couldn't find a buyer. That kind of dedication is something I admire and cannot identify with in the slightest. If I'm told no more than a few times I'm going to shuffle on home and find a new career.

Let's see, Eudora Welty is another one who sticks out. Lovely woman. Douglas Adams, of course.

Fnord · 12th December 2007, 11:23 AM

Saul/Paul of Tarsus.

He got more people talking about that fellow from Nazareth than any other author, in addition to starting a religion.

But then I'd have to include L. Ron Hubbard and Joseph Smith ...

... never mind.

TX50 · 12th December 2007, 11:44 AM

Publius Vergilius Maro. In the original, the "Aeneid" is just sublime.

bruto · 12th December 2007, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by geni

And why do you think the book was in a position to be read by you? How many other midly sucessful victorian novelists have you read books by?

Victorian? Not quite. Some of us have read (or attempted to read!) books by her contemporaries, however, and it helps to bring home just how unusual Austen was, as well as giving a little more understanding of the satire in novels such as Northanger Abbey. Her success during her own lifetime was modest, and anonymous as was often the case with women authors, and it's true that she was soon largely forgotten by all but a few of the so-called literary elite. But why shouldn't the so-called literary elite be in a position to revive a great author? I, for one, thank them for it.

Zenskeptical · 12th December 2007, 03:13 PM

I would definetely say John Steinbeck and Faulkner.

Tricky · 13th December 2007, 12:44 PM

Kilgore Trout

Slimething · 13th December 2007, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Tricky

Kilgore Trout

AFAIK, he only wrote one book. Is that right? Slimey on the Half-Shell or something like that.

Zenskeptical · 13th December 2007, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Tricky

Kilgore Trout

Clever.

AgeGap · 13th December 2007, 03:57 PM

Jeffrey Archer got what he deserved.

Halcyon Dayz · 13th December 2007, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by AgeGap

Jeffrey Archer got what he deserved.

Alas for the wrong reason.

hgc · 13th December 2007, 07:27 PM

I want to 2nd almost everyone mentioned, and especially Faulkner and Austen. geni reminds me of a character in the movie Metropolitan by the name of Tom Townsend. He carries on endlessly criticizing Austen, and particularly Mansfield Park. Then it's revealed that he hasn't read any Austen. He said he just read literary criticism and not the work being critiqued because he didn't want to bias his opinion!

I'll add Dickens (and actual Victorian writer) too. I'm reading Great Expectations right now, and damn, that's good.

I've been re-reading Vonnegut since his death, and he most definitely deserved his fame.

jenspen · 14th December 2007, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by hgc

I want to 2nd almost everyone mentioned, and especially Faulkner and Austen. geni reminds me of a character in the movie Metropolitan by the name of Tom Townsend. He carries on endlessly criticizing Austen, and particularly Mansfield Park. Then it's revealed that he hasn't read any Austen. He said he just read literary criticism and not the work being critiqued because he didn't want to bias his opinion!

I'll add Dickens (and actual Victorian writer) too. I'm reading Great Expectations right now, and damn, that's good.

I've been re-reading Vonnegut since his death, and he most definitely deserved his fame.

What he said.

KateHL · 14th December 2007, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by hgc

I'll add Dickens (and actual Victorian writer) too. I'm reading Great Expectations right now, and damn, that's good.

Dickens was a phenomenal writer and it makes me sad when people see boring in the place of hilarity when they read his work.

hgc · 14th December 2007, 02:45 PM

Dostoyevsky (The Brothers Karamozov)
Nabakov (Lolita)
Molière (Tartuffe)
Moravia (The Conformist)

tkingdoll · 14th December 2007, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by KateHW

Dickens was a phenomenal writer and it makes me sad when people see boring in the place of hilarity when they read his work.

Thirded. Dickens makes me laugh out loud.

Agamemnon2 · 17th December 2007, 05:23 AM

Terry Pratchett.

Almo · 19th December 2007, 02:58 PM

Douglas Adams, Frank Herbert, Stephen Jay Gould.

Doc Daneeka · 1st January 2008, 01:15 AM

Joseph Conrad. His work is even more impressive when you realise that he didn't even learn english until he was in his late teens.

kinkymagic · 1st January 2008, 12:23 PM

Laurence Sterne

Dr Johnson famously dismissed Tristam Shandy in five words: "Nothing odd will do long." Been going for almost two and a half centuries now.

Andronicus · 1st January 2008, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Doc Daneeka

Joseph Conrad. His work is even more impressive when you realise that he didn't even learn english until he was in his late teens.

Not my absolute favorite, but certainly a spectacular writer who was deserving of his fame.

Doc Daneeka · 2nd January 2008, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by Andronicus

Not my absolute favorite, but certainly a spectacular writer who was deserving of his fame.

Indeed. He's not my favourite either, but his writing is certainly worthy of fame.

Damien Evans · 3rd January 2008, 06:37 AM

Douglas Adams, Joseph Conrad and John Tolkein

Kmee · 4th January 2008, 11:31 PM

Well I happened to come accross this "Who is the most deserving author?" thread and I absolutely must express my opinion. Kurt Vonnegut absolutely blew me out of the water this year. However, after reading a few more of his books I came accross the following authors which at least deserve our respects. John Fante, Allen Ginsberge, Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemmingway, Lawrance, Celine, Turgenev, Gorky, Dostoevsky.

I am new, but love the system. Be as harsh as you want, I'll be here with a smile on.

Jon.

Ashles · 6th January 2008, 06:47 AM

Douglas Adams and Jonathan Swift.

fitzgibbon · 6th January 2008, 07:25 AM

Michael Ondaatje. Read "In The Skin of the Lion" after having seen "The English Patient" and was astonished by the visual impact of his writing.

RedIbis · 14th January 2008, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by Kmee

Well I happened to come accross this "Who is the most deserving author?" thread and I absolutely must express my opinion. Kurt Vonnegut absolutely blew me out of the water this year. However, after reading a few more of his books I came accross the following authors which at least deserve our respects. John Fante, Allen Ginsberge, Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemmingway, Lawrance, Celine, Turgenev, Gorky, Dostoevsky.

I am new, but love the system. Be as harsh as you want, I'll be here with a smile on.

Jon.

Not to be too harsh, but you want to check the spelling of some of those great writers.

On a more pertinent note, I was recently introduced to John Fante's "Brotherhood of the Grape." What a beautiful and poignant book. He reminds me of an Italian John Steinbeck. Highly recommended.

this charming man · 14th January 2008, 01:17 PM

Jonathan Swift?

No matter how many times I read A Modest Proposal, I laugh and sit in awe of such wit.

Tressa · 14th January 2008, 02:56 PM

JK Rowling; for getting people of all ages to put down the video games, set down the tv remote, and turn off the computer by weaving a wonderful fantasy hero tale.

10th December 2007, 03:14 PM	#1
RobRoy Not A Mormon Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the sandbox Posts: 12,141	Who is the most deserving famous author We have threads on the most over-rated, and most under-rated authors, I was curious what author is actually deserving of the level of fame and success they have acheived?

10th December 2007, 05:35 PM	#3
GreNME Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Folsom Prison Posts: 8,283	Frank Herbert Once he gets famous, Scott Roberts.
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10th December 2007, 07:18 PM	#4
Elizabeth I Olympic Equestrian Wannabe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Defending the Alamo Posts: 9,267	Well, to belabor the obvious, Shakespeare. Jane Austen. Mark Twain. Miguel de Cervantes.
	__________________ • There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. - Winston Churchill • Never wrestle with a pig - you just get dirty and the pig enjoys it. • My blog: Pardon me, may I ask...

11th December 2007, 06:00 AM	#5
RedIbis Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,829	William Faulkner. I've also got to hand it to Cormac McCarthy. I'm reading Suttree right now and it's about the only American book that approaches the visual creativity and impressive use of language as Faulkner.
RedIbis Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,829	__________________ (RedIbis, on the other hand, exists to me only in quoted form). - Gravy (Mark Roberts)

11th December 2007, 09:09 AM	#6
Marquis de Carabas Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: vuori Posts: 27,106	Every author (indeed, every human) has the precise level of fame deserved.
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10th December 2007, 03:33 PM	#2
Slimething Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arizona USA Posts: 3,727	Mark Twain, John Steinbeck and myself.

11th December 2007, 03:30 PM	#7
Andronicus Critical Thinker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 283	In English William Shakespeare is considered by many people the greatest writer who ever lived. I'd agree on many levels.
	__________________ In like a dimwit, out like a light. -- Walt Kelly

11th December 2007, 03:40 PM	#8
LibraryLady ...but not JUST a LibraryLady Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Building a house in the common ground Posts: 13,076	ahem Lewis Carroll
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11th December 2007, 03:49 PM	#9
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,574	Originally Posted by Elizabeth I Well, to belabor the obvious, Shakespeare. A hack who got lucky. Quote: Jane Austen. Evidence that if the "literary elite" harp on about something long enough they will eventualy sell some books.

11th December 2007, 03:53 PM	#10
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,574	The logical aproach would be to look for authors who have managed to atchive fame during a period where their style of work being largely written off by the establisment. So early Si-fi and fantasy authors might qualify or some of the first graphic novel people to make progress (Art Spiegelman or Neil Gaiman say).

11th December 2007, 08:05 PM	#11
Elizabeth I Olympic Equestrian Wannabe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Defending the Alamo Posts: 9,267	Originally Posted by geni Evidence that if the "literary elite" harp on about something long enough they will eventualy sell some books. Sorry, I fell in love with Jane Austen's writing as soon as I got into the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice. Hadn't heard anything from the "literary elite" and don't think much of them anyway.
	__________________ • There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. - Winston Churchill • Never wrestle with a pig - you just get dirty and the pig enjoys it. • My blog: Pardon me, may I ask...

12th December 2007, 10:24 AM	#12
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,574	Originally Posted by Elizabeth I Sorry, I fell in love with Jane Austen's writing as soon as I got into the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice. Hadn't heard anything from the "literary elite" and don't think much of them anyway. And why do you think the book was in a position to be read by you? How many other midly sucessful victorian novelists have you read books by?

12th December 2007, 11:15 AM	#13
KateHL Alleged Skeptic Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: climbing Mount Cleverest Posts: 1,698	Heh. I think it's amusing that this thread automatically assumes fame as being a positive. So many authors are recluses who would be happy to never meet a fan. So in that line of thought, if I don't like the work of JD Salinger (and I don't, to be honest) should I wish him fame (that's a bit mean, even for me)? If I DO like the work of an author who goes out of his way to promote himself should I wish him fame? Probably, considering fame leads to sales and money is useful for survival. By this criteria I'll have to say Vonnegut as he was both an incredible writer and lecturer. Same with Upton Sinclair. I may be a bit biased on this point, though, as he was my grandmother's uncle and he helped raise her while her father had tuberculosis and after he died during the depression (he even used her family in some of his woo experiments!). My reasoning is as follows: He was a talented writer and very much a self-made man (he began writing for a living in his early teens if I remember correctly) going so far as to publish his own works when he couldn't find a buyer. That kind of dedication is something I admire and cannot identify with in the slightest. If I'm told no more than a few times I'm going to shuffle on home and find a new career. Let's see, Eudora Welty is another one who sticks out. Lovely woman. Douglas Adams, of course.

12th December 2007, 11:23 AM	#14
Fnord Metasyntactic Variable Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6,633	Saul/Paul of Tarsus. He got more people talking about that fellow from Nazareth than any other author, in addition to starting a religion. But then I'd have to include L. Ron Hubbard and Joseph Smith ... ... never mind.
	__________________ Belief is the subjective acceptance of a (valid or invalid) concept, opinion, or theory; Faith is the unreasoned belief in improvable things; *and Knowledge* is the reasoned belief in provable things. Belief itself proves nothing.**

12th December 2007, 11:44 AM	#15
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,555	Publius Vergilius Maro. In the original, the "Aeneid" is just sublime.
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,555

12th December 2007, 03:05 PM	#16
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 11,190	Originally Posted by geni And why do you think the book was in a position to be read by you? How many other midly sucessful victorian novelists have you read books by? Victorian? Not quite. Some of us have read (or attempted to read!) books by her contemporaries, however, and it helps to bring home just how unusual Austen was, as well as giving a little more understanding of the satire in novels such as Northanger Abbey. Her success during her own lifetime was modest, and anonymous as was often the case with women authors, and it's true that she was soon largely forgotten by all but a few of the so-called literary elite. But why shouldn't the so-called literary elite be in a position to revive a great author? I, for one, thank them for it.
	__________________ "Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding.(Samuel Johnson) The gods are less for their love of praise....(Wendell Berry)

12th December 2007, 03:13 PM	#17
Zenskeptical Student Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 32	I would definetely say John Steinbeck and Faulkner.
Zenskeptical Student Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 32

13th December 2007, 12:44 PM	#18
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,367	Kilgore Trout

13th December 2007, 01:11 PM	#19
Slimething Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arizona USA Posts: 3,727	Originally Posted by Tricky Kilgore Trout AFAIK, he only wrote one book. Is that right? Slimey on the Half-Shell or something like that.

13th December 2007, 03:57 PM	#20
Zenskeptical Student Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 32	Originally Posted by Tricky Kilgore Trout Clever.
Zenskeptical Student Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 32

13th December 2007, 03:57 PM	#21
AgeGap Master Poster Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: St.Helens, UK Posts: 2,386	Jeffrey Archer got what he deserved.

13th December 2007, 05:31 PM	#22
Halcyon Dayz Thinker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nederland - Sol III Posts: 180	An Aristocrat In Gaol Originally Posted by AgeGap Jeffrey Archer got what he deserved. Alas for the wrong reason.
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13th December 2007, 07:27 PM	#23
hgc Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 13,018	I want to 2nd almost everyone mentioned, and especially Faulkner and Austen. geni reminds me of a character in the movie Metropolitan by the name of Tom Townsend. He carries on endlessly criticizing Austen, and particularly Mansfield Park. Then it's revealed that he hasn't read any Austen. He said he just read literary criticism and not the work being critiqued because he didn't want to bias his opinion! I'll add Dickens (and actual Victorian writer) too. I'm reading Great Expectations right now, and damn, that's good. I've been re-reading Vonnegut since his death, and he most definitely deserved his fame.
	__________________ Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse assail him and wail him with monster truck force. - Cake, The Distance Was there a second singer on the grassy Knowles? - Stephen Colbert

14th December 2007, 04:37 AM	#24
jenspen Thinker Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 163	Originally Posted by hgc I want to 2nd almost everyone mentioned, and especially Faulkner and Austen. geni reminds me of a character in the movie Metropolitan by the name of Tom Townsend. He carries on endlessly criticizing Austen, and particularly Mansfield Park. Then it's revealed that he hasn't read any Austen. He said he just read literary criticism and not the work being critiqued because he didn't want to bias his opinion! I'll add Dickens (and actual Victorian writer) too. I'm reading Great Expectations right now, and damn, that's good. I've been re-reading Vonnegut since his death, and he most definitely deserved his fame. What he said.

14th December 2007, 07:42 AM	#25
KateHL Alleged Skeptic Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: climbing Mount Cleverest Posts: 1,698	Originally Posted by hgc I'll add Dickens (and actual Victorian writer) too. I'm reading Great Expectations right now, and damn, that's good. Dickens was a phenomenal writer and it makes me sad when people see boring in the place of hilarity when they read his work.

14th December 2007, 02:45 PM	#26
hgc Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 13,018	Dostoyevsky (The Brothers Karamozov) Nabakov (Lolita) Molière (Tartuffe) Moravia (The Conformist)
	__________________ Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse assail him and wail him with monster truck force. - Cake, The Distance Was there a second singer on the grassy Knowles? - Stephen Colbert

14th December 2007, 05:24 PM	#27
tkingdoll AKA TEEK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Up Myself Posts: 12,471	Originally Posted by KateHW Dickens was a phenomenal writer and it makes me sad when people see boring in the place of hilarity when they read his work. Thirded. Dickens makes me laugh out loud.
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17th December 2007, 05:23 AM	#28
Agamemnon2 New Blood Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 16	Terry Pratchett.
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19th December 2007, 02:58 PM	#29
Almo Masterblazer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 6,407	Douglas Adams, Frank Herbert, Stephen Jay Gould.
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1st January 2008, 01:15 AM	#30
Doc Daneeka Muse Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto. But we call it Tarana Posts: 545	Joseph Conrad. His work is even more impressive when you realise that he didn't even learn english until he was in his late teens.
	__________________ ubi dubium ibi libertas.

1st January 2008, 12:23 PM	#31
kinkymagic Student Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 42	Laurence Sterne Dr Johnson famously dismissed Tristam Shandy in five words: "Nothing odd will do long." Been going for almost two and a half centuries now.
kinkymagic Student Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 42

1st January 2008, 06:33 PM	#32
Andronicus Critical Thinker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 283	Originally Posted by Doc Daneeka Joseph Conrad. His work is even more impressive when you realise that he didn't even learn english until he was in his late teens. Not my absolute favorite, but certainly a spectacular writer who was deserving of his fame.
	__________________ In like a dimwit, out like a light. -- Walt Kelly

2nd January 2008, 07:11 PM	#33
Doc Daneeka Muse Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto. But we call it Tarana Posts: 545	Originally Posted by Andronicus Not my absolute favorite, but certainly a spectacular writer who was deserving of his fame. Indeed. He's not my favourite either, but his writing is certainly worthy of fame.
	__________________ ubi dubium ibi libertas.

3rd January 2008, 06:37 AM	#34
Damien Evans Up The Irons Tagger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 25,302	Douglas Adams, Joseph Conrad and John Tolkein
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4th January 2008, 11:31 PM	#35
Kmee New Blood Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Your Crawl Space... Posts: 4	Well I happened to come accross this "Who is the most deserving author?" thread and I absolutely must express my opinion. Kurt Vonnegut absolutely blew me out of the water this year. However, after reading a few more of his books I came accross the following authors which at least deserve our respects. John Fante, Allen Ginsberge, Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemmingway, Lawrance, Celine, Turgenev, Gorky, Dostoevsky. I am new, but love the system. Be as harsh as you want, I'll be here with a smile on. Jon.