Going through history and learning of the early American writers such as Thomas Paine, and up to the Dark Romanticist authors such as Poe and Nathanial Hawthorne, up until the Pre WWII writers such as Steinbeck and Hemingway. It leads me to wonder, in 100 years, what post WWII authors will we remember?
Which authors will be in our history books?
There are two major goals for a book to be remembered, it seems. First of all, the book has to be very well selling, and secondly, the book has to have either lead to a social reformation, or be able to personify the time period in which it was written. For instance, books like Walden by Thoreau was the epitome of the transcendentalist movement.
So far, in my ponderings, I have thought of Joseph Heller with Catch-22, Kurt Vonnegut with books such as Cat's Cradle and Slaughter-House 5, and I was thinking even the graphic novelist Alan Moore could be remembered for his novels such as The Watchmen and V for Vendetta.
So, I wonder, what authors do you feel will be remembered? Not only American authors, I would also like to know of those native to other countries as well.
Definitely J.K Rowling. She has created a phenomenon throughout the whole world with the Harry Potter series. Not only with the books, but also the movies, and tons of franchises. If you asked any kid now, they'll know who Harry Potter is (in a general sense 
). ask any kid and they will come up with the name K. J. Rowling
harry potter has become a household name and a legend
Kurt Vonnegut was the first person to come to my mind. This is an interesting question. I need to think about it a little bit more.
| TurtleShell wrote: |
| Kurt Vonnegut was the first person to come to my mind. This is an interesting question. I need to think about it a little bit more. |
I think people are remembering him more now that he's dead. He was my favorite author, and one thing I always wanted was the chance to just sit down and talk to him once when he was still alive. Nevertheless, he still remains one of my idols, even if he's dead.Kurt Vonnegut was plenty famous before and after his death. I really don't think his passing has made much difference one way or the other.
Great topic. I haven't been here in a while, and always find something interesting in the Literature forum.
I totally concur with Kurt Vonnegut--his entire body of work. And also Joseph Heller--or rather, Catch-22 (the one book). His other stuff kind of pales in comparison.
I'd add:
- To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
- Lord of the Flies (William Golding)
- On The Road (Jack Kerouac)
- Catcher in the Rye (JD Salinger)
- All of Margaret Atwood
Can we consider George Orwell a post WWII author? If yes, then put him on the list for sure.
What about William Faulkner?
Hard to come up with stuff post-1960s. But of that era, we probably need to consider Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Hunter S. Thompson's Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. Neither are terrific novels, but both defined the generation, I would suggest.
Which leads to a question: are we talking of recognized high literary quality that will last into the next century, or purely ones that defined their time period or led to social reformation? Somehow it seems there is a difference between these two things for me.
Last edited by Crazy_Canuck on Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:45 pm; edited 1 time in total My girlfriend and myself spent a long time debating Beat novelists. Kesey and Kerouac mostly. I feel, that most definitely, if one was to talk about the beat generation, then they would obviously talk about these authors, but I question how popular the beat generation will be in 2107.
Just anything that will be well-remembered. The types of books that will be taught in English classes, moreso. I was just saying that often times, at least in American history, the most famous books today have either centered around, or incited some form of social reform.
| AnalogPlayers wrote: |
| My girlfriend and myself spent a long time debating Beat novelists. Kesey and Kerouac mostly. I feel, that most definitely, if one was to talk about the beat generation, then they would obviously talk about these authors, but I question how popular the beat generation will be in 2107. |
Yes, it's hard to say. I doubt it will be remembered for its literary quality, but rather for its overall contribution to a shift in literary style and a reflection of the era--political, social, cultural, historical and also literary. I bet the Beats will last in that regard, but will be taught as a clump: so we should also add Burroughs' Naked Lunch and Ginsberg's epic poem, Howl. And if we start down the poetry road, I'd make a prediction that Dylan's body of work would be included and recognized as the literature that it is along with these other Beat/60s writers.
| AnalogPlayers wrote: |
| Just anything that will be well-remembered. The types of books that will be taught in English classes, moreso. I was just saying that often times, at least in American history, the most famous books today have either centered around, or incited some form of social reform. |
So, what would be the fate of the Harry Potter series, do you think? I will go out on a limb and say that, if anything, it would be perhaps referenced similarly to the Beat writers, as representative of an overall cluster of fantasy-mythical-allegorical novels, which would include Tolkein and potentially other science fiction writers too.
What else? Hmmm.....Tolkien's another good suggestion. If you're going to add LOTR, you could probably add the Once And Future King (TH White) to the list. They already cover that in most high school lit classes anyway:)
...and i was just coming out here to say that Ginsberg (Howl) would be on the list.
I don't remember if this has been mentioned before, but 1984 by George Orwell, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
I am fairly certain that both of those, along with Brave New World, will stick around. I could see future history books talking about all three of them.
We'll remember Andrej Skubic 
| TurtleShell wrote: |
| would ayn rand count? |
Count for what ? 
I have such mixed feelings about Ayn Rand. I don't think she ranks up there for literary quality, but as an idealogue ... maybe. | AnalogPlayers wrote: |
Not only American authors, I would also like to know of those native to other countries as well. |
So now...being an Indian i can't forget and also no Indians can forget the Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore..
To know more about him see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagore
