I'm always surprised that James Fenimore Cooper never seems to make any of these lists, despite the fact that he was one of the first prominent truly 'American' authors and that so many of his books are still in print. I suspect one reason for his decline in the eyes of many is due to Samuel Clemens' incredibly unfair attack on him, in which he almost entirely misrepresented Cooper's work. I know it is difficult to narrow down the list when selecting only eleven authors, and Cooper certainly shouldn't be put ahead of many on the list, but he helped put American authors on the map, and he really does deserve at least some recognition. Anyway, it was a good list, but maybe think about adding Cooper as an honorable mention at least.

Thanks! I agree with your choice of the best American writers, but perhaps Jack London worth an honorable mention, if not included on the list.

Billy Budd is really good

Good video. Edgar Allan Poe gets left out all to often. Also, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter, which has been called the best novel ever written by an American. And lesser known Nathanael West, who wrote among the modernists.

I think James Fenimore Cooper, Washington Irving, or Nathaniel Hawthorne would be considered the true contenders for the Father's of American Literature not Mark Twain; Twain was certainly more popular and wrote more, but it's of course debatable the Father of American Literature title is his.....over-all great video.

My favorite american writer is Jack London. But I'm European and this author seems to be loved more here than in America. Am I right ?

@purplesprigs

6 ай бұрын

I'm American and can't stand Jack London. So, I guess that's "yes."

@voz805

5 ай бұрын

I'd say Jack London would fall within many American's list of favorite novelists but not numbers 1-5. Many of us were assigned to read in high school, Call of the Wild, White Fang and Sea Wolf. My favorite novel of his that I read as a young adult was, Martin Eden and I can recall many parts of it to this day.

I’ve read almost every novel and short story by F Scott Fitzgerald. He had a magic way with words that is rare with most authors. The Great Gatsby is my favorite novel. “So we beat on, boats against the current, bourne back ceaselessly into the past.

I just read Sun Also Rises by Hemmingway. I believe you're wrong. Hemingway's book capitulated him to being the most prominent American author. It was banned in some locations...Fitzgerald on the other-hand was not born wealthy but had an infatuation with a younger upper class girl while at Princeton who picked a man with money. He said he the third and fourth most important things, looks and intelligence, but not the most important an animal magnetism and money (to paraphrase). This became a great theme for his tragic life. And yes, The Great Gatsby was not well received at the time!

@bluegregory6239

9 ай бұрын

'The Great Gatsby' aside, Hemingway was a much better and more consistent writer than Fitzgerald. I think 'The Sun also Rises' is better than 'Gatsby', as well as being much more enjoyable and re-readable.

@thomasthompson6378

6 ай бұрын

@@bluegregory6239 Respectfully, I'd say "The Sun Also Rises" is among Hemingway's weakest books, consisting, as it does, of a group of people drifting about from bar to bar while they all get increasingly drunk. By far his best novel, in my view, is his book set against the Spanish Civil War, "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

Review some Thomas C. Stuhr Lesser known American author. 💀💀💀

Hi Bryan, I've watched and really enjoyed all your great books videos, and I must say we have remarkably similar taste. This is the only one for which I feel compelled to suggest a few additions. To me one of the most moving and best structured classics and one with some of the most evocative language is Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. I was surprised, since our preferences match up so well, not to see Henry James on the list. The Portrait of a Lady, The Ambassadors and The Americans I believe are among the greatest psychological novels ever. I'd also include Richard Wright, especially for Native Son. Perhaps you later felt Harper Lee deserves to be on the list for the magnificent, moving To Kill a Mockingbird since you included it in your more recent Classic Literature video.

@Becomeawritertoday

11 ай бұрын

Good suggestions, I'll add them to another video

You missed Pulitzer Prize winner Ralph Ellison “Invisible Man”.

Edgar Allen Poe William Gilmore Simms Zane Grey Louis Lamour Charles Portis

@mr.t6142

11 ай бұрын

If interested in lesser known American author, try anything by Thomas C. Stuhr

@bluegregory6239

9 ай бұрын

Charles Portis, yes!

Mr. Cormac McCarthy was better than any of these admittedly great authors, even Faulkner and Hemingway. David Foster Wallace should get some credit as well.

I'd get rid of Melville. He's famous only for Moby Dick and pretty much nobody readsbanything else he ever did. And even Moby Dick is very split between people loving and hating it. There are definitely other authors more deserving of this list.

Ай бұрын

I disagree. Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener" is read widespread.

@dash4800

Ай бұрын

lol, no its not