If Charles Dickens were alive today would he struggling to pay his rent whilst the James Pattersons of the?

Question

world become wealthier? My point is, has the appreciaton for literature been dumbed down that nowadays mass audiences wouldn't know great talent if it bled to death on their front lawns?

Some really good analysis. Whew, I'm breathing a sigh of relief. I'm far from an intellect or a great reader myself. There is some hope for civilization. However, banal discussion around me and Supermarket pulp fiction gets me fearful at times.

Answer 1

The appreciation for good literature has been dumbed down with tons of books like, "the Devil Wears Prada" and the "Nanny Diaries" And lets not forget the books by, Zane. Too many authors are taking free liberties to trash bosses, go on the defense of political problems, etc... Good books are hard to come by, and when you do come across a good author, sometimes they get ostracized for their writings.

Its a shame that great authors are being lost in the shuffle of trying to be on the NYT best seller lists, or trying to take ideas from other books, and create their own.

Answer 2

All I can say is that book tastes are different today than they used to be. For one, Charles Dickens didn't have to deal with The New York Times Bestseller lists while he was alive. That was something new. And yeah, there are a lot of trashy books being written and published, I've read a couple and I won't drop any names, but this isn't a new thing. There were trashy writers when Charles Dickens was around. You do have a point though, a lot of writers write just for the glam, for the fickle tastes of the public, and they shouldn't. There are a lot of quality books being printed at this moment and I have faith in books today. However, a lot of trashy books are in circulation just because the publishing world has exploding since Dickens' time. But have faith, there are good books out there.

Answer 3

My 8 years in book retail have shown me this: There are two worlds of book buyers out there. One is a world of people who buy 2 or 3 books a year, usually only when on vacation. These people buy JP and DaVinci. The other is a world of people who buy 15+ books a year. These people read the Times Book Review on Sundays and see stuff advertised in periodicals like the New Yorker. The book world hasn't become dumbed down to the point that audiences can't recognize talent. It's just split in two. Check the bestseller lists. Phillip Roth and James Patterson both occupy top spots when their books come out even though they sell them to completely different people.

Appreciation for literature is still alive. Bookers and Pulitzers and NBAs and Newberrys and Corretta Scott Kings are still given out. They just have to contend with crap like the Quills now. Such is life.

What was the most unexpectedly wildly popular book of the last ten years amongst book groups? Lovely Bones! It was not a commercial book nor was it a product of the likes of Danielle Steel or Nora Roberts.

Appreciation is still out there.

Answer 4

First and foremost Dickens was a great writer. If he chose to write a book for the masses then he would. But understand that even Dickens was influenced by his publishers. During his time Dickens novels were published weekly or monthly by chapter. Upon completion of "Great Expectations" the publishers were afraid sales would decline because of an unhappy ending. They insisted Dickens complete a rewrite giving his fans the happy ending they wanted. True or not who knows. He complied.

Answer 5

Actually, Charles Dickens WAS the James Patterson of his day. His works were very popular during his own lifetime and he wrote for the masses. Shakespeare did the same during HIS lifetime.

I certainly hope James Patterson isn't the one who's remembered as the great author of our times, but if he is, maybe it wouldn't be such an inaccurate representation of our culture. We don't seem to have much use for true art or beauty anymore. What we sow, we reap.

Answer 6

In all candor, I'm not a fan of Dickens. That aside, I do tend to think that what is considered great writing has tended to shift towards books that put a relatively greater emphasis on beautiful wordplay rather than a really engrossing plot (see Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children, for example.) A lot of people who are just looking for entertainment in their reading may skip this sort of thing. JMHO.

Answer 7

If he were still alive his work would be adapted to the trends of today; better yet he would be a pioneer of a new style. But I do agree that it has been dumbed down. If you look hard enough you can still find contemporary authors out there who have great stories. Try "In America" by Susan Sontag. This story reminded me of Dickens.

Answer 8

sure even if it ought to were better or a lot less comprehensible to persons because it develop into very thick. did you recognize that our language actually come from the Germans and also the Netherlands. previous English consisted of all this North Germanic language Norse, spoken with suggestions from the Vikings who invaded and settled extremely in the northeast of england center English develop into infuenced with suggestions from. Norman Conquest in 1066, the Norman kings and their intense the Aristocracy spoke merely a spread of French said as Anglo-Norman. English persisted to be the language of the basic human beings So we are a mixed breed in language coming from germany, netherlands, romans french and the vikings.

Answer 9

I doubt that Dickens could even get a manuscript read if he was trying to break into writing today. When you have an educational system that employs teachers who have never read anything more stimulating than Dr Seuss it is to be expected.

Answer 10

If dickens were alive today he would be writing in the style of today in order to have his work appreciated.and while there is a lot of crap out there,there is some really good stuff too.