i have to do this research paper on an american author but i want an american author who can have me influenced and make me excited to write about.
2007-04-25 01:20:11 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
still can't get over Samuel Clemens' work. And I don't think America will ever get any different than how it is portrayed in his books.
2007-04-25 01:24:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The great short story writer O Henry must have inspired many Mericuns to take up the quill I would have thought. His unusual biography; ex con-man, hustler etc., is well worth a read! He'd be my first choice. O is the kind of guy you'd like to watch on a midnight chat show. Unfortunately he died some considerable time ago. However his stylish tongue-in-cheek all-American yarns live on. There's a great paperpack you can try and get - 100 Short Stories by O Henry.
2007-04-25 07:29:20 · answer #2 · answered by A N Byddus 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mark Twain. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", especially. This one is my favorite.
Ray Bradbury. "Soft Rain Will Fall." A short story, but very poignant. If you're interested in science fiction, this is the person to read.
Granted, there are many many more. Probably what you could do if find an anthology of American Literature (like what is used for text books in colleges) and flip through and see if anything jumps out at you as fascinating.
2007-04-25 02:50:01 · answer #3 · answered by dancingelf1988 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Louisa May Alcott
Ambrose Bierce
James Thurber
Mark Twain (of course)
Ray Bradbury
Margaret Mitchell
Taylor Caldwell
2007-04-25 01:33:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about Jack Kerouac? He was part of the Beat Generation writers. Kerouac's motto was "first-thought=best thought".
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars."
—from On the Road, which demonstrates Kerouac's use of imagery in a beat style.
2007-04-25 03:16:39 · answer #5 · answered by Jeffrey P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can give you two choices:
1. Harper Lee - Author of "To kill a mocking bird". The novel won a Pulitzer and is supposed to be one of the best pieces of American literature. Check the Wiki entry on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_A_Mockingbird
2. J.D. Salinger: He's my favorite. Author of this terrific piece of fiction called "Catcher in the Rye". Its supposedly a milestone in American literature. Check the wiki on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catcher_in_the_Rye
2007-04-25 01:27:45 · answer #6 · answered by Chaitu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stephen King, but hes not dead, Edgerl Allen Poe as well, both revolutionized the horror liturature of the states.
2007-04-25 04:08:21 · answer #7 · answered by Adam of the wired 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you considered Ernest Hemingway?
2007-04-25 03:48:55 · answer #8 · answered by rgwstl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hunter S. Thompson would have to be the most interesting.
2007-04-25 01:22:39 · answer #9 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
kurt vonegut. his writings may appear as pure sci fi initially but they are also comments on american society
2007-04-25 01:24:16 · answer #10 · answered by griffyn10941 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋