Top Greatest American Authors Of All Time

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 America’s Finest Writers
In literature, America has been blessed with some of the greatest names in the world. From the 19th century to the 21st, American authors have penned powerful works that explore timeless themes such as racism and prejudice, love, family, courage, and the human condition. Here is a look at the best and most famous American authors of all time.

Nathaniel Hawthorne 

Best known for his short stories and tales such as “The Scarlet Letter” and “The House of Seven Gables,” Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1804. His works are often associated with Puritanism and the morality he experienced growing up there, as well as his interest in the Romantic Movement in literature.

Mark Twain 

Famed for the novels “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Mark Twain was a master of American humor and satire. His writing style, which he famously coined as “the difference between the almost-right word and the right word,” is still widely studied and admired today.

F Scott Fitzgerald 

One of the brightest stars of the 20th century, F Scott Fitzgerald’s works are often judged against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties. His Jazz Age classics such as “The Great Gatsby” and “Tender is the Night” give us a glimpse into the dynamics of modern relationships in that era.

Ernest Hemingway 

Considered to be one of America’s greatest writers of the 20th century, Hemingway was renowned for his sparse and direct prose style. From “The Old Man and the Sea,” which won a Pulitzer Prize, to “A Farewell To Arms,” Hemingway’s writing captured the ferociousness of war, the allure of the outdoors, and the tragedy of lost love.

Harper Lee 

A novelist from Monroeville, Alabama, Harper Lee gained popularity for her novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” This coming-of-age story explored themes of racism and the beauty of innocence through its protagonist Scout Finch, and won Lee a Pulitzer Prize.

William Faulkner 

One of the most renowned Southern authors of all time, William Faulkner is remembered for his distinct writing style and his groundbreaking works such as “The Sound and the Fury”, “A Rose for Emily,” and “Sanctuary.” Faulkner’s style was heavily influenced by the culture of the South, and his works earned him a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949.

John Steinbeck 

The winner of a Nobel Prize for literature in 1962, Steinbeck is most often remembered for the novels “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men.” His works were praised for their humanism, vivid characters, and dedication to the underdogs of society.

John Updike 

Celebrated for his prose and poetry, John Updike was a giant of 20th-century American literature. His works often explored the complexities of intimate relationships and the invisible forces that shape everyday life. Some of his most famous books include “Rabbit Run,” “The Centaur,” and “Couples.”

J.D. Salinger 

Considered to be one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, J.D. Salinger recorded the post-World War II angst in books such as “The Catcher in the Rye” and “Nine Stories.” His writing style, which combined humor and intense emotions, made him one of the most celebrated writers of all time.

Toni Morrison 

Toni Morrison was one of America’s most prominent and acclaimed authors whose works often explored racial and gender identity in the United States. Her novel “Beloved,” about a runaway slave, won a Pulitzer Prize and earned her a Nobel Prize for literature in 1993.

Raymond Carver 

From the American West to the Pacific Northwest, Raymond Carver’s minimalist masterpieces explored the harshness of economic hardship during the Cold War era. The books “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” and “Cathedral” have become touchstone works of modern American literature.

Zora Neale 

Hurston
One of the earliest and most celebrated African American authors of the 20th century, Zora Neale Hurston was a key writer in the Harlem Renaissance. She wrote novels such as “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” which explored themes of prejudice, the African-American folk tradition, and racial identity.

In the grand scope of America’s literary history, these ten authors have all left their mark by writing works that explore our shared mankind experiences. From the tragic to the joyous, from the humorous to the heartbreaking, their collective works paint a picture of how far we have come, and how far we still have to go as a society. Moreover, these authors consistently show us the power and beauty of storytelling, how the written word can transform our lives and inspire us in profound ways. No matter their sometimes divergent styles, these authors all deserve recognition for the layers of meaning and emotion that they have brought to American literature.

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