
America gave birth to many genius writers like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Angelou, Capote, Kerouac, Steinbeck or Twain. Who was the greatest among them?
On netivist we already had great debates about literature from different countries. We discussed who was the best Russian writer between Dostoyevsky or Tolstoy, we talked about famous British mystery writers such as Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle or we had a debate about Scandinavian crime literature. This time we focus on some of the greatests American writers.
As countries go, America has not been around very long at all. Its writers, however, have wasted no time in creating some of the most profound and popular works of literature ever written, inspiring change in politics, culture and identity, and enrapturing audiences across the globe. But who do you think is the greatest?
The individual style of each of the nation’s greatest wordsmiths can make them difficult to compare. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s (1896 – 1940) intense characters take form through beautiful description and elegant metaphor, whereas Ernest Hemingway (1899 – 1961) forgoes the lashings of vibrant language to convey an incredibly powerful tale shortly and simply in his The Old Man and the Sea. Both books, however, are often considered the ultimate American novel.
Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014), whose plays and poems rocked the country’s politics and culture and made a great contribution to the civil rights movement, similarly might be crowned the best. John Steinbeck (1902 – 1968), however, similarly made many people question how close reality was to the great American Dream. Shoulder-to-shoulder in the running are surely Mark Twain (1835 – 1910), famous for his silver-tongued wit and author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and more modern authors such as Truman Capote (1924 – 1984) and Jack Kerouac (1922 – 1969). Both these later writers captured the essence of souls in chaos, struggling to come to terms with their place in the world around them, or perhaps its effect upon them and their identity.
All of these writers are masters of their craft, but each explores there world in their own, powerful way. Whose work do you think earns them the title of the greatest American writer? Vote and comment below!
If you change your mind, you can change your vote simply by clicking on another option.
New to netivist?
Join with confidence, netivist is completely advertisement free. You will not receive any promotional materials from third parties.
Join the debate
In order to join the debate you must be logged in.
Already have an account on netivist? Just login. New to netivist? Create your account for free.
CONTACT THE HACKANGELS WhatsApp 1(520)200-2320+) or shoot them an email at (support@thehackangels.com) They also have a great website at(www.thehackangels.com)
I’ve read many stories about THE HACKANGELS how the expert is helping people recover their funds after losing them to scammers. It is indeed surprising to know you can recover all lost bitcoin back from scammers or any fake investment site. I used to be a victim of an online trading platform where I invested about $875,000 worth of Btc and lost everything. They helped me get my stolen funds back, they are the best, I can assure you a swift and competent job with them.
If you're in London, you can even visit them at their office … Read more
CONTACT THE HACKANGELS WhatsApp 1(520)200-2320+) or shoot them an email at (support@thehackangels.com) They also have a great website at(www.thehackangels.com)
I’ve read many stories about THE HACKANGELS how the expert is helping people recover their funds after losing them to scammers. It is indeed surprising to know you can recover all lost bitcoin back from scammers or any fake investment site. I used to be a victim of an online trading platform where I invested about $875,000 worth of Btc and lost everything. They helped me get my stolen funds back, they are the best, I can assure you a swift and competent job with them.
If you're in London, you can even visit them at their office … Read more
CONTACT THE HACKANGELS WhatsApp 1(520)200-2320+) or shoot them an email at (support@thehackangels.com) They also have a great website at(www.thehackangels.com)
I’ve read many stories about THE HACKANGELS how the expert is helping people recover their funds after losing them to scammers. It is indeed surprising to know you can recover all lost bitcoin back from scammers or any fake investment site. I used to be a victim of an online trading platform where I invested about $875,000 worth of Btc and lost everything. They helped me get my stolen funds back, they are the best, I can assure you a swift and competent job with them.
If you're in London, you can even visit them at their office … Read more
I came across SYNACK TECH which is an exceptional and highly reputable private licensed investigation firm based in the states that i had the privilege of engaging with after my company suffered a loss of $950,000 worth of btc due to a mistaken transfer to an unknown account by our financial accountant. Despite our desperate attempts to recover the funds through traditional channels and various recovery firms, we were met with disappointment and further financial losses. However, our fortunes changed when we discovered SYNACK TECH. Upon contacting them, their team of skilled professionals' swiftly and effectively managed to recover $830,300 of our lost funds, bringing immense relief and peace to our company. Their dedication and e… Read more
I was once a victim of a heart-wrenching cryptocurrency scam that left me devastated. I had invested a significant sum of $95,000 worth of Ethereum in an online investment platform, hoping to reap substantial profits. Little did I know that I was about to face a nightmare. As the weeks went by, my excitement turned into despair when I realized that the platform I had trusted was nothing more than an elaborate scheme to rob unsuspecting investors like me my hard-earned Ethereum, leaving me feeling helpless and betrayed. After extensive research, I came across Synack Hackers Recovery Team, a crypto recovery specialist who helps victims like me regain their stolen assets. After weeks of tireless efforts, s y n a c k h a … Read more
Https://web.facebook.com/Emu-Temple-104891… Read more
Steinbeck captured his era,in so many ways relative to his time,and probably influenced the future of impending culture like few can IMO!! Novel's n short stories. Have a wide range of characters, in all kinda situations in life relative to time immemorial!! But Ken keyseys Cukoos Nest tops my personal favorites, but much kudos to Joseph wambaugh & John d. Macdonald also for their takes on modern stories of the 1950's and today's sketches of people and their lives and the sensibilities of the eras
I was debating myself between Fitzgerald or Steinbeck but finally decided to vote for Steinbeck. I have enjoyed most of his works, from the short novellas The Pearl or Of Mice and Men to the thicker East of Eden or the Grapes of Wrath.
Apparently, The Great Gatsby passed unnoticed early after its publication, and Fitzgerald was puzzled as well as depressed about it. It wasn't until after Fitzgerald's death that it came to prominence. (SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!) Ironically, Fitzgerald's funeral was as 'well' attended as that of his most famous protagonist, and someone at the funeral drew a parallel between the two men: moaning 'The poor sound-of-a-bitch' - quoting what happened at the funeral scene in the book.
You point at very good alternatives for this poll. But you forget Herman Melville (as the Avenger has just pointed out). Do you think he also deserves to be shortlisted or just one great novel is not enough?
The Great Gatsby may have been such as shocking book at the time of publication. I just feel that people currently don't really appreciate the value of such a revolutionary masterpiece. I have not great experience with these American authors. I was going to vote for Hemingway thinking of the Old and the sea... but then Melville's Moby Dick came to my mind...
However, i… Read more
I choose Hemingway but I also like to read Steinbeck ,I will have a look on Angelou books.
Each is probably great in something. My favorite is Fitzgerald. If, following Borges, we judge authors by their (arguably) best work and if we appreciate the ability to convey something substantial economically (whether it's making us think or feel or experience smth) while retaining certain beauty and elegance to writing (which still doesn't try to bring the life's mess down to a couple of 'strong patterns'), then perhaps The Great Gatsby is a candidate for the best writing from among the best produced by these authors. Still, my preferences that reflect my subjective experience and thinking.
Join the debate
In order to join the debate you must be logged in.
Already have an account on netivist? Just login. New to netivist? Create your account for free.