American Writers and Literature have contributed a fair share of iconic works for the world to learn and grow. America’s one-of-a-kind writers shaped literature in a way that is now praised by the entire world. Before America’s independence from Great Britain, the country’s literature was heavily influenced by Britain’s literary style. The style and writing have changed over time and American writers developed a unique way of writing.
Who are the greatest American authors? This question cannot be easily answered as the world of literature has several fabulous writers whose works are celebrated by the world even after centuries. Here are the top 5 famous American Writers and their bestsellers.
Mark Twain
Who Is Known as The ‘Father of American Literature’?
- A. J.D. Salinger
- B. F. Scott Fitzgerald
- C. Mark Twain
- D. Harper Lee
Bestseller: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain is considered the ‘Father of American Literature.’ Gaining national recognition for his short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Twain is praised as one of the most influential writers and the most famous American authors of all time.
Scott Fitzgerald
Bestseller: The Great Gatsby
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, had suffered quite a lot during his writing career. His greatest work, The Great Gatsby sold poorly and received a wide range of negative responses. The author descended into drinking due to this and his poor financial conditions made him work for Hollywood as a scriptwriter.
The Great Gatsby actually gained popularity post World War II and was recognized as a literary masterwork. It is unfortunate to see that Fitzgerald died in 1940 before his book gained all the praise and popularity.
Ernest Hemingway
Bestsellers: The Sun Also Rises, The Old Man and The Sea
Ernest Hemingway can take credit for developing the prose writing style in American Literature. The 20th century saw great development in literature and Hemingway had a significant role in it. The author also received a Nobel Prize for ‘mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in The Old Man and the Sea, and for the influence that he has exerted on contemporary style.’
Toni Morrison
Bestsellers: Beloved, Song of Solomon
Toni Morrison was a very critically acclaimed female author in the world of Literature. Her works are known for their vivid dialogue, detailed characters, and epic themes. Morrison’s works were based on the black race’s upheaval – her novel’s central theme is based on the black American experience.
J.D. Salinger
Bestsellers: The Catcher in the Rye, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters
Jerome David Salinger was one of the American writers to devote themselves to writing. During the Second World War, Salinger witnessed the events at Utah Beach on D-Day, was present in the Battle of the Bulge, and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. The Catcher in the Rye was published as a novel in 1951 and became an immediate success for Salinger. The writer is also widely praised for shaping writers like Philip Roth, John Updike, and Harold Brodkey through his work.
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