Flamewar 2007, MAY edition: America's Greatest Writer

[charlie and algernon]

I just finished reading the latest Ben Franklin biography and the author says that Franklin is America's greatest writer.
So I pose that question to you. Who is America's greatest writer?

[SKKY]

1. I'm going to go with F. Scott Fitzgerald...

...but I have no intelligent argument to base that on. It's my opinion.

[TZ]

4. I agree...

I truly think "The Great Gatsby" is the great american novel..plus I live about 10 miles from his and Zelda's grave so I am biased:)

[querelle]

7. Count Me In Too

Fitzgerald's "Tender Is The Night" is my all time favourite novel.

Q

[Call Me Wesley]

2. Hmmm ...

Hemingway and Steinbeck for the style (no useless babble to fill the pages), Vonnegut and Salinger for their content - just to pick some from the poll here.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

3. Twain for the humor, Fitzgerald because he's Fitzgerald...

Impossible to choose just one.

[charlie and algernon]

5. we need a bigger poll

i started to make it and quickly ran out of room, hence the big "other" choice. We're lucky to have such a deep talent pool.

[Arkham House]

6. Have to go with Walt...

...practically memorized "Leaves of Grass" as a kid...nothing else quite matches him in my eyes...

[hellbound-liberal]

8. Was that book by Walter Isaacson, by any chance?

Even though I am a big fan of Ben Franklin, I don't think he was a great writer. Out of these listed, I would have to say Emerson or Poe for their ability to write well in different genres.

[charlie and algernon]

9. yeah it was

franklin was great at satire and humor, but that's really all he did for the most part.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Tom Pynchon

Duh.

[EstimatedProphet]

11. Where's Philip K. Dick?

[sir_captain]

12. Uh, Herman Melville?

Not even in the poll?

IMHO, he's by far the best, and it's not even close.

I'd probably stick Philip Roth somewhere on there too.

[RushIsRot]

13. Who is Robert Thoreau?

Do you possibly mean Henry David Thoreau?

[some guy]

14. seconded!

:shrug:

[Glorfindel]

15. No Gore Vidal, Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Truman Capote,

Willa Cather, Flannery O'Connor, or James Dickey? There are just TOO MANY great American writers to choose from, and my favorite depends on the mood I'm in, anyway.

[NightWatcher]

16. Edward Abbey: Monkeywrencher's it's all about the monkeywrenchers

[Adsos Letter]

17. Gotta' go with Twain

We're somewhat removed from his times, but his issues are timeless.

[Wetzelbill]

18. me

for my humility.

[BlueIris]

19. Had to go Dickinson. Don't think so? Go over her with a scholar some time.

That'll curl your hair.

And man, you are asking for a flamewar, here. Good luck.