American Literature in the 20th Century
American literature of the 20th century experienced immense evolution and growth as it had an array of authorial styles and content that ranged from modernism to postmodernism, from westerns to science fiction, jazz age novels to post-apocalyptic tales, and classic literature to non-canonical books. Authors at the time wrote about topics that extended way beyond the romanticism, idealism, and nationalism of previous centuries. This article will dive into the main authors who shaped American literature in the 20th century, their works, and the major literary movements.
Main American Authors of the Twentieth Century
The 20th century was marked by some of the greatest American authors who used to write in a way that broke barriers of the traditional conventions. Here are some of the major figures who inspired a generation of readers.
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) is one of the greatest American authors who wrote about topics related to the World War I such as masculinity and heroism in his works. His most famous novels include A Farewell to Arms (1929), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), and The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1936). Hemingway also wrote about the disillusionment of the post-war generation and the moral and psychological damage that World War I caused.
John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck (1902–1968) primarily wrote about Pearl Harbor and the Great Depression in his works, elevating him to a leading voice of the economically oppressed. He is famous for books such as The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and East of Eden (1952).
William Faulkner
William Faulkner (1897–1962) wrote about the decline of Southern America in many of his novels, such as The Sound and the Fury (1929) and As I Lay Dying (1930).
John Updike
John Updike (1932–2009) wrote mainly about middle-class life in America in his novels, such as Rabbit at Rest (1990).
Raymond Carver
Raymond Carver (1938–1988) was an American short story writer and poet. He was one of the pioneers of the minimalist movement. His most famous books are Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? (1976) and Where I’m Calling From (1988).
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993 for her story “Beloved.” Her other works focused on the black experience, such as Sula (1973) and Jazz (1992).
Main Literary Movements
The 20th century saw the emergence of several new literary movements, mainly sparked by the innovations of authors who wanted to break away from the tradition of writing. Here are the major literary movements of the century:
Modernism
Modernism is the literary movement that emerged after World War I, and it was largely influenced by the rapid changes of the 20th century. It is characterized by themes related to World War I, such as disillusionment, anti-war feelings, and cynicism. Among the major writers of this movement are T. S. Eliot and James Joyce.
Postmodernism
Postmodernism started in the 1950s, and it was largely based on a reaction to Modernism. Writers of this movement often questioned and challenged the traditional conventions and structures of literature by conveying their ideas in an ironic way. Notable writers include William Gaddis and Don DeLillo.
Beats
The “Beats” were a group of authors and poets who were involved in the counterculture movement of the 1950s. They wrote about topics related to anticonformism, freedom, and escaping from society. The most famous writers of this movement are Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs.
Westerns
Westerns were popular in the 19th century and most of the 20th century. They usually featured visions of America’s past, the Wild West, and featured characters like cowboys, outlaws, sheriffs, and settlers. Westerns mainly enjoyed their popularity due to the popularity of films such as Stagecoach (1939) and High Noon (1952). Novelists of Western genres include Owen Wister and Zane Grey.
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance is an African-American movement of literature, theater, music, and art that emerged in the 1920s. It mainly focused on topics related to black culture and the struggles of African-Americans in the 20th century. Major authors of this movement include Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and James Weldon Johnson.
Science Fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction that typically deals with futuristic or technological topics. It began to gain success since the beginning of the 20th century and was regarded as one of the pioneer genres with authors such as H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. In the following years, more authors got involved and it developed into the genre known today. Authors of 20th-century science fiction include Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Robert A. Heinlein.
The 20th century marked a period of extreme change in American literature as it saw a range of different authors and thoughts that were unlike anything before. Authors of the time wrote about topics extending from modernism to postmodernism, from westerns to science fiction, jazz age novels to post-apocalyptic tales, and classic literature to non-canonical books. Major authors of the century included Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, John Updike, Raymond Carver, and Toni Morrison. Major literary movements included Modernism, Postmodernism, Beats, Westerns, Harlem Renaissance, and Science Fiction.
