The book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and has become one of the most popular novels in American literature. Beyond the Horizon (first performed 1920), Anna Christie (1921), Desire Under the Elms (1924), and The Iceman Cometh (1946) were naturalistic works, while The Emperor Jones (1920) and The Hairy Ape (1922) made use of the Expressionistic techniques developed in German drama in the period 1914-24. Look at a few of the top names below. Science-fiction author Kurt Vonnegut is best remembered for the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, which became a New York Times bestseller. The period between 1868 and 1898 was crucial to the development of Puerto Rican political institutions: it witnessed a pro-independence rebellion, colonial reform, the establishment of the first national political parties, the abolition of slavery (in 1873), and a short-lived experiment in autonomy under Spanish rule. Dune won the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award and spearheaded the Dune franchise. He is also known for writing books that have a lot of rhymes in them, making them easy to learn. Modernism, a movement that was a radical break from 19th century Victorianism, led to postmodernism, which emphasized . The Great Depression, the rise of . J. D. Salinger is considered one of the twentieth centurys greatest writers and one of the greatest American authors of all time. Harper Lee was an American novelist who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic To Kill a Mockingbird. Susan Hill is a giant of 20th-century horror, and her 1983 gothic ghost story The Woman in Black has become a classic. His works were translated into over 20 languages and sold more than 600 million copies by the time of his death. Science-fiction author Kurt Vonnegut is best remembered for the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, which became a New York Times bestseller. . This put her on the map, but her most famous work, Beloved, was published in 1987. Born a Jew, he became an atheist later on. He was one of the first to write jazz poetry. Browse further to get a list of famous writers of the 20th century. Their books have cast an impact not just on the readers but on the culture, religion and politics of the region as well. The Hugo Award-winner had also fought against the Germans in World War II and expressed his anti-war and atheist views through his works, which also include short stories, plays, and autobiographical works. When we see her in this room, we get a kind of odd indoor-outdoor feeling, Shaw explains. Much like Hansberry, Sandra Cisneros draws inspiration from her childhood in Chicago. Dr. Seuss was an American children's author, illustrator, and political cartoonist. Many people are familiar with the famous fantasy and science fiction works of J. R. R. Tolkien. Everything else in the room, from a framed painting to a window and an out-of-place tree with a birds nest in its branches, is blurred and bathed in overexposed light. His stories focused on his interpretation of humanity's place in the universe. The process of the Hebrew language revival began on October 13th 1881, as Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and his friends agreed to exclusively speak . He is one of the most celebrated childrens authors of all time, and he wrote countless childrens books during his life. Some of the most well-known writers from the 20th century who exerted extraordinary impact through their books include George Orwell, James Joyce, JRR Tolkien, F Scott Fitzgerald, CS Lewis, Virginia Woolf, Anne Frank, T.S. Born in 1988, Veronica Roth is one of the younger influential writers of the 21st century. In 1970, she published The Bluest Eye. James Joyce was an Irish novelist, poet, teacher, short story writer, and literary critic. His work often touches on social criticism and family troubles. Virginia Woolf is one of the most popular female writers of all time. ThoughtCo. And the objects in the exhibition are also very diverse. Beverly Cleary was another of the most famous writers of the 20th century. He first achieved popularity after publishing his book,The Selfish Gene, which is credited with popularizing the gene selection theory. She was an amazingly talented childrens book author, and her books have sold more than 91 million copies. This book would spend close to half of the year on the bestseller list, and it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1988. Speaking with the Guardian in 2003, she declared, I resented critics who reviewed my work as Chinese literature when I felt I was writing American stories about America.. From Updike's post-World War II suburbia to Smith's postcolonial tale of London immigrants, the sweep of these writers' works chronicles the vast changes that have occurredover the turn of the 21st century. World War I created a sense of skepticism and alienation that became tropes of twentieth century literature. Along with AlejandroIrritu and Alfonso Cuarn, he is known as one of the Three Amigos of Cinema. Comparatively, Robert McCurdys 2006 painting of the Beloved author (on view in the museums 20th-Century Americans: 2000 to Present gallery) depicts an unsmiling woman with her hands tucked into the pockets of a gray sweater. Experimentation. Franz Kafka is credited for being one of the earliest German-speaking authors to explore themes like absurdity, existential anxiety, and alienation. . George Orwell, widely seen as one of the greatest authors of the twentieth century, certainly fits this description. Stan Lee was one of the most popular comic book writers, thanks to his appearances in several Marvel movies. T.S. Mark Twain, the father of American literature, was one of the worlds greatest 19-th century humorists and authors. Vote for Your Favourite 20th Century Writers, (Primary Creative Leader of Marvel Comics and Characters such as 'Spider-Man', 'X-Men' and 'Iron Man'), (Author of 'The Hobbit' & 'The Lord of the Rings'), (American Literary Icon Who Was Known for His Straightforward Prose & Use of Understatement), (English Author Known for Her Detective Novels and Short Stories), (Lauded as the 'Greatest Humorist' the United States Has Produced), (Known for His Novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four), (American Poet and Civil Rights Activist Known for Her Autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings). She started her career as an English teacher but eventually left the teaching profession to become the first female African-American editor at publishing giantRandom House. Philip Roth Philip Roth (1933-2018) seems to have won more book awards than any other late-20th-century American writer. He is credited with co-authoring the academic paper that propounded the double helix structure of nucleic acids such as DNA for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962. Often referred to as one of the most important Hispanic writers of the 20th century, he experimented with both the form and content of his stories. Please look at a few of the best authors from the 20th and 21st centuries whose work deserves to be part of your personal library. Literature. If you are looking for the best 20th century authors, who are some of the biggest names you need to consider? This list includes notable artists, authors, philosophers, playwrights, poets, scientists and other important and noteworthy contributors to literature. He also wrote short stories and novels meant for adults. is almost unsettling. . In 1977, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. is often ranked among the most influential Black writers of the 20th century. Wallace continues to serve as an inspiration to writers like Darin Strauss and George Saunders. Publication details: New York, Hawthorn Books Edition: [1st ed.] Best-Loved American Women Poets. Dan Brown is an American author best known for writing a series of Robert Langdon novels; three such novels, namely The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and Inferno, have been made into films, with Tom Hanks portraying Robert Langdon in all three movies. She ended up sharing a jail cell with fellow featured writer Alice Walkeran experience detailed in the formers 2012 verse memoir, I Love a Broad Margin to My Life. Poet, author, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou was a champion for black feminism and is best remembered for her autobiography, (American Weird-Fiction Writer Known for Creating the Mythopoeia 'Cthulhu Mythos'), (Best Known for His Novel 'The Great Gatsby'), (Famous for Her Books 'The Bell Jar' and 'Ariel'), (Author of Epic Fantasy Novels 'A Song of Ice and Fire'). The immediate response is that she looks like the artist Frida Kahlo, says Shaw. William Faulkner 1897 -1962. British writer Ian McEwan started winning literary awards with his first book, a collection of short stories, "First Love, Last Rites" (1976) and never stopped. Poet, author, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou was a champion for black feminism and is best remembered for her autobiography, (American Weird-Fiction Writer Known for Creating the Mythopoeia 'Cthulhu Mythos'), (Best Known for His Novel 'The Great Gatsby'), (Known for His Classic Series 'The Chronicles of Narnia'), (One of the Most Important Modernist 20th-Century Authors), (Famous for Her Books 'The Bell Jar' and 'Ariel'), (One of the Greatest Authors of All Time), (Author of Epic Fantasy Novels 'A Song of Ice and Fire'). Modernists were dealing with a. One of the most prominent literary figures of the early 20th century, with novels like "Mrs. Dalloway" and "To the Lighthouse" (1927). She wears large hoop earrings, and her hair, carefully parted in the middle, is arranged in a braided updo. What is incredible for me to think about is the American writing talent that all originated at the start of the 20th century. In the context of changing constructs of home and of childhood since the mid-twentieth century, this book examines discourses of home and homeland in Irish children's fiction from 1990 to 2012, a time of dramatic change in Ireland spanning the rise and fall of the Celtic Tiger and of unprecedented growth in Irish children's literature. Her Story: A Century of Women Writers is on view at the National Portrait Gallery through January 18, 2021. Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. His personal life also attracted attention as he had sexual relationships with men, which was unusual at the time. Jamaicas Ian Fleming International Airport is named after him. Some of Updike's most renowned novels included his Rabbit Angstrom novels, "Of the Farm" (1965), and "Olinger Stories: A Selection" (1964). Robert Frost was an American poet. I love the contrast of these two portraits, and its great to have them up at the same time because it really shows the sitters have different expressions and attitudes, the curator explains. HP Lovecraft was a writer of weird and horror fiction and is known for his creation of Cthulhu Mythos, which has inspired a large body of games and music. His stories have inspired several films like Tales of Ordinary Madness, Crazy Love, and Factotum. He was widely considered one of the greatest writers of all time, and he published many books that are still read regularly. He also wrote plays and short stories. His novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were drawn from his childhood experiences in Missouri. A Farewell to Arms: The Hemingway Library Edition, East of Eden, John Steinbeck Centennial Edition, The Great Gatsby: The Original 1925 Edition (A F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel), The Complete 8-Book Ramona Collection: Beezus and Ramona, Ramona and Her Father, Ramona and Her Mother, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Ramona Forever, Ramona the Brave, Ramona the Pest, Ramona's World, 360 Pages - 07/08/2014 (Publication Date) - Scribner (Publisher), First Little, Brown and Company mass market paperback edition, 601 Pages - 03/01/2023 (Publication Date) - Penguin Books (Publisher), 328 Pages - 01/01/1961 (Publication Date) - Signet Classic (Publisher), 110 Pages - 04/27/2021 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher), 128 Pages - 12/27/1989 (Publication Date) - Mariner Books (Publisher), 321 Pages - 06/08/2004 (Publication Date) - Vintage (Publisher), 1728 Pages - 10/13/2020 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins (Publisher). Many of his creations were adapted into animated cartoons. Find out more about the greatest 20th Century American Writers, including William Gibson, Quentin Tarantino, Sylvia Browne, Christopher Lloyd and Stephen King Vote for Your Favourite 20th Century American Writers 1 Stan Lee (Primary Creative Leader of Marvel Comics and Characters such as 'Spider-Man', 'X-Men' and 'Iron Man') 95 48 She simply let her thoughts move from her brain into her hand and onto the page. Download Twentieth Century and Contemporary American Literature in Context 4 volumes Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle This four-volume reference work surveys American literature from the early 20th century to the present day, featuring a diverse range of American works and authors and an expansive selection of primary source materials. Success! He's also the founder of Run Spot Run, a website dedicated to reviewing contemporary literature. Heinlein is credited with pioneering a literary subgenre called hard science fiction as he was among the first to stress the importance of scientific accuracy in fiction. I started writing stories of my students lives and weaving it into this neighborhood from my past, the author said in 2016. Fleming is credited with creating one of the most popular characters of all time, James Bond. Bringing useful and engaging material into the classroom, this four-volume set covers more than a century of American literary historyfrom 1900 to the present. Browse further to get a list of famous writers of the 20th century. C. S. Lewis was a British writer whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide after having been translated into over 30 languages. I love the way shes sitting on the steps, as though she's talking to a neighbor, Shaw adds. His works gained international acclaim only in the years following his untimely death at 44. He is best known as the author of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. The British novelist and essayist's third novel, "On Beauty," was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the 2006 Orange Prize for Fiction. Best known for his science fiction works, Asimov was regarded as one of the Big Three writers along with Arthur C. Clarke and Robert A. Heinlein. She got many ideas for her stories simply by looking out of her window and observing children as they played. But am I prepared to give my body to the struggle or even my comforts?, She concluded, Comfort has come to be its own corruption.. Modernism Emerges in Works by Joseph Conrad, James Joyce, T.S. Auden Ford Madox Ford Samuel Beckett John Millington Synge Derek Walcott Dylan Thomas References Photo byJoseph Beuys Hat. Originally from Ohio, she studied English at Howard University. His James Bond series of novels have sold more than 100 million copies, making them one of the best-selling fictional book series in history. Throughout his career, Auden was both influential and controversial. . Biography of Salman Rushdie, Master of the Modern Allegorical Novel, Biography of Margaret Atwood, Canadian Poet and Writer, Biography of Ernest Hemingway, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize Winning Writer, Biography of John Updike, Pulitzer Prize Winning American Author, Biography of Isabel Allende, Writer of Modern Magical Realism, Biography of Philip Roth, American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Biography of Louise Erdrich, Native American Author, 12 Russian Authors Every Language Learner Should Read, Profile of Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Winning Novelist, Biography of Saul Bellow, Canadian-American Author, A List of Every Nobel Prize Winner in Literature, Characters' Thoughts and Motivations in Psychological Realism, B.A., English Education, University of North CarolinaChapel Hill. He is well-known as the co-creator of many famous superheroes, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Hulk. Faulkner is one of the most celebrated American writers . However, he wasnt much popular during his lifetime. He is known mainly for his novels and short stories set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha Country, Mississippi. Modern period in the English literature begins with the 20th century and remain till 1965. 48) The Apartment in Bab El-Louk by Donia Maher, illustrated by Ganzeer and Ahmed Nady, . Graham Greene was one of the greatest novelists of the 20th century and his influence on the cinema and theatre was enormous. Widely considered one of the 20th century's most important and influential writers, James Joyce contributed immensely to the modernist avant-garde movement. David Foster Wallace was an American author who is regarded as one of the most innovative and influential writers of the past 20 years. Among modernists (or late modernists) still publishing after 1945 were Wallace Stevens, Gottfried Benn, T. S. Eliot, Anna Akhmatova, William Faulkner, Dorothy Richardson, John Cowper Powys, and Ezra Pound. He wrote five plays and almost all of his novels, including "Brighton Rock", "The Ministry of Fear" and "The End of the Affair", have been brought to the screen. Writers of modernist literature include Franz Kafka, D. H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, T.S. "Saturday" (2005) won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Considered one of the greatest authors, JRR Tolkien is popularly called the father of the modern fantasy literature. Thanks to his illustrious career, which spanned more than 70 years, Arthur Miller is regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest dramatists. Flanagan, Mark. An influential poet, Frost was honored with four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, the only poet to receive four such awards. Graham Greene. Everything else in the room, from a framed painting to a window and an out-of-place tree with a birds nest in its branches, is blurred and bathed in overexposed light. Ian Fleming was a British writer, naval intelligence officer, and journalist. Eliot D.H. Lawrence W.B. Some of the 24 women spotlighted in the exhibition were better known during their lifetimes than they are today. She has a long list of published works, but one of her most popular books is titled a Room of Ones Own. You shall know what we are talking about. It also embraced music to form jazz and blues poetry. Henry James was an author, regarded as one of the greatest novelists ever to write in the English language. Overall, he had 11 best-selling books in a career spanning over 60 years. The searingly painful novel offers a very personal window into the horrors of the enslavement of people and its aftermath. Hansberry died of pancreatic cancer on January 12, 1965. He also played a major role as a former special effects makeup artist. This gave birth to the modern fantasy genre that most people know and love. Tolkien was born in South Africa but emigrated to Britain at a relatively young age. Description: 160 p. 22 cm Subject(s): Literature, Modern -- 20th century -- History and criticism; Christianity in literature He was one of the first to write jazz poetry. Despite publishing only two books, Lee was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to literature, such was her impact in the world of literature. Some of the famous personalities influenced by her include Amber Heard, Vince Vaughn, Jimmy Wales, Ayelet Shaked, and Mary Ruwart. Canadian author Margaret Atwood has numerous critically acclaimed novels to her credit. Terri Blackstock Blackstock is also a "Christian fiction" writer whose novels span several genres including Christian romance to Christian mystery. Novelists defied all expectations. A friend of Truman Capote, Lee has been portrayed by popular actresses in Capote's biographical films. of the 1940s and '50s., Rendons portrait offers an intimate view of Cisneros, seemingly placing the viewer in direct conversation with the writer. Sylvia Plath achieved popularity and critical acclaim despite suffering from clinical depression for the most part of her adult life. Regardless of whether you like short stories, works of nonfiction, or critical essays, there are a few fantastic authors that you need to consider. 9. The phrase "contemporary philosophy" is a piece of technical terminology in philosophy that refers to a specific period in the history of Western philosophy (namely . In book: Idealism in Modern Philosophy (pp.174-C10P51) Authors: Paul Guyer Literary critic James Wood coined the term "hysterical realism" in 2000 to describe Zadie Smith's hugely successful debut novel, "White Teeth," which Smith agreed was a "painfully accurate term for the sort of overblown, manic prose to be found in novels like my own 'White Teeth.'" From one of Egypt's most exciting contemporary writers. Also a prolific writer, Albert Camus had an illustrious literary career; most of his philosophical essays and novels are still influential. Her story inspired the 2003 film Sylvia in which she was portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow. Availability: Items available for loan: Landman Library (1) Location, call number: General Stacks CB425 .C28 1987 . This is a work in progress. . Eliot's The Waste Land and James Joyce's Ulysses, both written in the twentieth century, were watersheds in the history of English literature. ThoughtCo, Aug. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/important-contemporary-authors-852801. Hansberry, who drew on her personal experience of racism to become the first African American woman whose work was produced on Broadway, is one of 24 groundbreaking authors featured in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallerys newest exhibition. Please try again. . Subscribe for exclusive content! She had a unique writing style in that she wrote many of her works using a stream of consciousness. He was from Springfield, Massachusetts, and enjoyed a successful career as a cartoonist, poet, and animator. Ranking the most important authors in contemporary and late-20th-century literature is impossible. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Amongst the greatest writers of the 20th century and a leading literary voice in the civil rights movement, James Baldwin extensively explored issues like race, sexuality and humanity in his work. Even after four decades after her death, Agatha Christie remains an influential figure in the world of literature and entertainment as most of her books continue to serve as inspiration to films, TV series, and video games. Decadence in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture: A Comparative and Literary-Historical Reevaluation (Cambria Press, 2020) is the first comprehensive study of Decadence in Chinese literature since the early twentieth century. Among the most striking portraits included in her Her Story is a 1998 picture of Toni Morrison that appeared on the cover of Time magazine. | Carl himself died unexpectedly six years later, succumbing to a cerebral hemorrhage while scouting out new homes for the family in Mexico City. Her iconic novel, (American Poet and Critic Known for His Works: Ripostes, Hugh Selwyn Mauberley and the Epic Poem, The Cantos), American poet Ezra Pound was a significant figure in the modernist poetry movement who developed imagism and gained fame with works such as, (American Novelist Best Known as the 'Dean of Science Fiction Writers'), (One of the Most Awarded American Writers of His Generation), (Writer and Philosopher Known for Her Best-Selling Novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged), (British Author Who is Regarded as a Key Transitional Figure Between Literary Realism and Literary Modernism), (Science Fiction Author Best Known for His 1965 Novel 'Dune' & Its Sequels), (Molecular Biologist Who Co-discovered the Double Helix Structure of DNA With Francis Crick), (American Playwright and Winner of the 1936 Nobel Prize in Literature), (One of the Greatest Authors of 20th Century), (One of the Most Prolific Filmmakers of the Modern Era Who Was Known for His Psychological Dramas), (Author of 'The Naked and the Dead', 'Armies of the Night' and 'The Executioner's Song'), (Self-Help Writer, Motivational Guru, Public Speaker), Writer and academic Dale Carnegie is best remembered for his work on courses in areas such as corporate training, self-improvement, and salesmanship. "City of Beasts" (2002) has been another large commercial success. "10 Important Contemporary and Late-20th-Century Authors." There was an error submitting your subscription. Modernism was a literary and artistic movement that developed in the early decades of the 20th century and was especially influential after the First World War. Dick's novels have inspired films like Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, and The Adjustment Bureau. But in 1937, her parents opted to move the family to the all-white neighborhood of Woodlawn, defying Chicagos racially charged housing covenants and, in doing so, attracted the ire of violent white mobs. After experiencing a profound moral crisis in the 1870s, Tolstoy went through a phase of spiritual awakening, which had a great impact on his subsequent works that incorporated ideas on nonviolent resistance. You can pick up a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird for yourself from Amazon. One of the great modern poetry movements in America was the Beat generation of Jack Kerouac and Alan Ginsberg. After finishing high school, he studied English literature at Stanford; however, he left without graduating. American authors that write about the American experience. White Teeth, which won Whitbread and Guardian first book . He had some unique life experiences that informed his works. Adrienne Rich Allen Ginsberg Carolyn Forch classic literature Dylan Thomas Edgar Allan Poe Elizabeth Bishop Emily Dickinson Gwendolyn Brooks iconic poems Kevin Young Langston Hughes Louise Gluck Lucie Brock-Broido Lucille Clifton Marianne Moore Mark Leidner Maya Angelou Muriel Rukeyser Nikki Giovanni Patricia Lockwood Paul Laurence Dunbar poems Philip Roth (19332018) seems to have won more book awards than any other late-20th-century American writer. Mitchell won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for "Ghostwritten," was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for "number9dream" (2001), and was on the Booker longlist for "The Bone Clocks" (2014). Plath is credited with popularizing confessional poetry and won a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. His poetry was noted for its technical achievement and versatility. Chilean-American author Isabel Allende wrote her debut novel, "House of Spirits," to great acclaim in 1982. She is best known for her feminist and dystopian political themes, and her prolific output of work spans multiple genres, including poetry, short stories, and essays. He wields a paintbrush. This unexpected connection speaks to the bonds and relationships forged by a number of the women included in Her Story, says Shaw. He is best known for his high fantasy classic works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which is set in a conceived world called the Middle-Earth. The novel began as a letter to her dying grandfather and is a work of magical realism charting the history of Chile. Gore Vidal was an American intellectual and writer. . He is well-known as the co-creator of many famous superheroes, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Hulk. Shel Silverstein was an American writer, playwright, songwriter, and cartoonist. Visit megaphone . Francis Scott Fitzgerald was an American novelist, widely regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, American writers of the 20th century.