your favourite english author

[Lassie]

hello everybody!
who is you favourite english writer? or if you don't have a favourite one, which english writers to you prefere to read?

[Idril]

Are you looking for a particular period or is being English the only requirement? As far as Victorian writers, I would have to go with John Galsworthy and Anthony Trollope. More modern favorites are JRR Tolkien, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, all fantasy writers...I really need to broaden my horizons.

[Taime]

William Shakespeare / Rudyard Kipling
or contemporary authors: Wayne Sharrocks / James Herbert

[grace86]

Henry Rider Haggard! He wrote Allan Quatermain and King Soloman's Mines (and many others for that matter) I love his stories because they are all adventure and in exotic places...so what if when he wrote them they were intended for men and boys. I also like Tolkien.

[mono]

I find it impossible to narrow my choices to one, but some authors that come to my mind: William Shakespeare, D.H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, George Eliot, William Golding, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, and the Brontë sisters (especially Emily Brontë).

[Psycheinaboat]

My favorite is probably Daniel Defoe, although right now I am appreciating George Eliot a great deal.

Mono, or anyone else, tell me why you like Virginia Woolf. I have a few friends with whom I share similar literary tastes who just rave about Woolf, but I cannot get into her at all. While reading Woolf I feel exhausted because it takes her forever to get to the point. I keep waiting for her to stop beating around the bush and just say it. Am I just missing something?

[rabid reader]

Orwell and Douglas Adams

[mono]

Mono, or anyone else, tell me why you like Virginia Woolf. I have a few friends with whom I share similar literary tastes who just rave about Woolf, but I cannot get into her at all. While reading Woolf I feel exhausted because it takes her forever to get to the point. I keep waiting for her to stop beating around the bush and just say it. Am I just missing something?
Indeed, Virginia Woolf can seem slightly difficult to understand, and her literature can get somewhat verbose. I cannot describe what interests me of her (besides her biography), but mainly her very odd and original creativity - no one has written like her, in my opinion, and I have yet to encounter anyone else who has such unique talent. I would have to call A Room Of One's Own one of the most intelligent essays I have encountered; especially for her era, and as a female author, I find that work particularly worth admiration. Mrs. Dalloway, I think, seems her essence of literature - her peak of creativity, twists of plot, deep psychology of each character, and originality of storyline.
Though I fully accept others' opinions who do not particularly enjoy her literature, as with any author, but I find Woolf amazing! :nod:

[Psycheinaboat]

To the Lighthouse is on my ever-growing reading list so I am willing to give Woolf another chance. It is mostly her short stories that tire me. I also have Flush, and I think her life was incredible, but I think that her writing may reflect some of her lack of emotional health. While many authors are simultaneously gifted and plagued by their eccentricities and uniqueness, it seems, at least from Woolf’s short stories, that it did not help her work. This is just my limited opinion.

Another thing I find is that I rarely agree with Woolf's criticisms of other authors, so I think perhaps there are differences between Woolf and I that could be almost personal. That sounds funny, but you know what I mean. :)

[Scheherazade]

While reading Woolf I feel exhausted because it takes her forever to get to the point. I keep waiting for her to stop beating around the bush and just say it. Am I just missing something?Nope, you are not missing much! She is one of the most overrated authors, I think!

:D

[OliviaLaurent]

I think one of my all time favourite british authors (I'm not entirely sure he can be counted as english though) is Rober Barr. wonderfully witty! Pitty he isn't more well read.

Other english authors I very much enjoy reading is, among others,
Dickens (of course), Tolkien, C S Lewis, Arthur Conan Doyle and Terry Pratchett.

[downing]

Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen

[PeterL]

Jonathan Swift

[bazarov]

Wilde, Shakespeare

[Syme]

Conrad probably.

[grace86]

Psycheinaboat, I have only ever read Robinson Crusoe. Have you read his other works? If so, did you enjoy them?

[OliviaLaurent]

Wilde, Shakespeare

Do Wilde really count as an english author?

[EAP]

George Orwell

[Manfred]

R.L. Stevenson, if he can be considered "English."

[mono]

Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift originally came from Ireland, I believe, born in Dublin.

[superunknown]

Shakespeare, Wilde (if he counts as English), and Orwell and Huxley. I haven't read that many English writers, now that I think about it. I've read tons of Americans, and a few Irish ones (I'm reading Joyce right now), but not too many English.

[alejandra]

I have to say Dickens.... but I also loved Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen and Wilkie Collins

[chaplin]

Joseph Conrad, if a birth in Poland doesn't exclude him.

[andave_ya]

Tolkien, Sayers, Christie, Austen, the Brontes, Dickinson.

[byquist]

Conrad

[Boris239]

Probably George Orwell . Both 1984 and "Homage to Catalonia" are among my favorites. I also hold huge respect for him as a person.

Oscar Wilde is a close second.

[Aunty-lion]

Probably George Orwell . Both 1984 and "Homage to Catalonia" are among my favorites. I also hold huge respect for him as a person.

Yeah, I'd agree with that. Have you seen the Ken Loach film, Land and Freedom? It's kinda like watching a movie version of Homage to Catalonia. Very good film too. And a very good book (obviously).

[Boris239]

I haven't seen it. I'll try to watch it sometime this May. I'm interested in Spanish Civil War in general, but I haven't seen any movies about it (I'll probably watch "Pan's labyrinth" pretty soon)

[bazarov]

I have posted before, but I'm changing my mind. After reading Orwell last summer, he is definitely the best.

[Aiculík]

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

But I also like Wilde, Orwell, Golding, Greene.

[Panflute]

Dickens. I don't know if I will be able to read anything else (novel-wise), before I've read all of his novels.

[Nossa]

Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde (well he's Irish I know...but close enough..lol)

[Aunty-lion]

I haven't seen it. I'll try to watch it sometime this May. I'm interested in Spanish Civil War in general, but I haven't seen any movies about it (I'll probably watch "Pan's labyrinth" pretty soon)

Yeah, I went to see that the other day. It was fantastic, but very gruesome.

[morgane]

I would say that my favourite contemporary English author is Kazuo Ishiguro (I think he is British, although with Japanese origins): I simply lve his novels and especially the way he writes. His mastery of language is a delight for the reader.
But in a thread concerning English authors, I cannot not mention Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters, my all-time favourites!

[manolia]

Dickens. I don't know if I will be able to read anything else (novel-wise), before I've read all of his novels.

:thumbs_up
Dickens for me too! And i have the same resolution (to read all his books).

[LizB]

In no particular order...

Older: Orwell, Greene, Hardy, Kipling, Austen

Newer: Rushdie (probably doesn't count), Ishiguro (should count),

Children/young adult: Philip Pullman, Celia Rees, Berlie Doherty, Dick King-Smith

[kathycf]

C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, P.G. Wodehouse. For more modern I like P. D. James for mysteries, also Minette Walters is a very good suspense/mystery writer.

[Niamh]

Jonathan Swift
Born in Dublin, spent a while as a dean in England before returning to Ireland. Was the Dean of St Patricks cathedral when he was writing his works.

Wilde, Shakespeare
Wilde is also Irish.

hello everybody!
who is you favourite english writer? or if you don't have a favourite one, which english writers to you prefere to read?

So basiclly just from England? So R.L.Stevenson and Conan Doyle dont count because they are scottish.

Tennyson, Shakespeare, Austen, Pulman? Sue Townsend. Sure there is more but i'm trying to sieve through autors to make sure they are English.

[Niamh]

Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde (well he's Irish I know...but close enough..lol)

:lol: but not that close!;) :p

[jewells]

I really like Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Daniel Defoe, J.R.R. Tolkien, Salman Rushdie, Philip Pullman, The Brontes, Virginia Woolf, Douglas Adams, and so on...

But Dickens is definately my favorite.

[Niamh]

how did i forget Doughlas Adams!

[AChristieFan]

My favorite English author is J.R.R. Tolkien by far!

[PeterL]

Tom Holt makes the top of the list. Jonathan Swift was almost as good. Tolkien and Lord Dunsany are high on the list also.

In some ways Swift was superior to Holt, but Swift's humor was sometimes too refined.

[kilted exile]

It would have to be dickens, spending last year reading all his stuff was definetely well spent


On another note it seems quite a few people have trouble with the concept of what exactly england is - no it is not Scotland, Wales, or either part of the split island of ireland. These places are as english as germany is danish.

[Schokokeks]

Mine would be Shakespeare :nod:.


On another note it seems quite a few people have trouble with the concept of what exactly england is - no it is not Scotland, Wales, or either part of the split island of ireland. These places are as english as germany is danish.
You should say "as Germany is Austrian", since the majority in both countries speak the same language, if in a different varity; after all, you can't claim Scottish English is as far from English as German is from Danish ;).
But I think schools are to blame, at least the non-British ones. In my English lessons past, nobody even bothered about distinguishing England from Britain :rolleyes:.

[Niamh]

It would have to be dickens, spending last year reading all his stuff was definetely well spent


On another note it seems quite a few people have trouble with the concept of what exactly england is - no it is not Scotland, Wales, or either part of the split island of ireland. These places are as english as germany is danish.

I've noticed that too Kilted. Just because we speak english doesnt mean we are english! Considering that Ireland Scotland and Wales all have distinct forms of english infuenced by our own gaelic languages and is clearly seen in our literature.
I think distinctions should be made when studying Literature of ireland and Britain.

[JBI]

Er, having trouble of thinking of ones that aren't Irish...

I would have to go with Shakespeare.

[kandaurov]

Off the top of my head, I'd have to say Emily Brontë. Mostly because I relate to her a lot. And her life was as outlandish as her novel. It's a good thing she only wrote that single one; anything after it would be a step backwards.

[Niamh]

Er, having trouble of thinking of ones that aren't Irish...

I would have to go with Shakespeare.

thats a safe choice if ever there was one!:lol: Just post who you think is English, and if they are not we'll let you know. But there are a lot of English Authors out there JBI. I'm sure you can name some more! (or look at the author lists for inspiration!;) )

[Englishteacher]

There is a certain quality to George Eliot that really attracts me. Her stories are like warm blankets to me. My grandfather a college English professor introduced me to Dickens when I was about 8. We read David Copperfield together. The scene where Peggoty is proposed to in the beginning of the books was then, as still is, a favorite.

[Schokokeks]

I think distinctions should be made when studying Literature of ireland and Britain.
At my uni, they do ;). Lectures are always dutifully called British and Irish Theatre in the 20th century. We even have a professor from Ireland here (in the middle of Germany's nowhere, I wonder what brought him here :D), and every semester he offers lots of courses on Irish literature only. I'm planning to take one next chance I get ;).
It's quite remarkable that the Irish (and the Scots, too) have produced so many excellent works of literature in proportion to their rather small number of inhabitants. Must be something in the air over there ;) :p.

[Dreadnought]

Milton or Keats! Quite the hard decision to make.

[kandaurov]

Milton and Keats! Good choices indeed!

[astrapecrith]

Tolkein, Dickens, Darwin

[Niamh]

At my uni, they do ;). Lectures are always dutifully called British and Irish Theatre in the 20th century. We even have a professor from Ireland here (in the middle of Germany's nowhere, I wonder what brought him here :D), and every semester he offers lots of courses on Irish literature only. I'm planning to take one next chance I get ;).
It's quite remarkable that the Irish (and the Scots, too) have produced so many excellent works of literature in proportion to their rather small number of inhabitants. Must be something in the air over there ;) :p.

An irish professor! That would explain the distinction!:lol: :p
you should do a course in Irish Lit Schok! Need any help you know where to find me!
And yes i agree there must be something in the air! We only have a population of slightly over 4million. About two and a half when yeats was around!

[kathycf]

how did i forget Doughlas Adams!
I must say the same...especially seeing as I have a quote from Adams as part of my signature! I think I am older than you, Niamh so I am going with "senility"...:D


I've noticed that too Kilted. Just because we speak english doesnt mean we are english! Considering that Ireland Scotland and Wales all have distinct forms of english infuenced by our own gaelic languages and is clearly seen in our literature.
I think distinctions should be made when studying Literature of ireland and Britain.
Good point, Niamh. Cultural identity should be respected. (and no I am not saying anybody here has been disrespectful, not at all.) Ireland, Wales and Scotland have their own identitities, culture and language...they aren't the "mini me's" of England.

Hey, see how I slipped in a reference to Austen Powers there with "mini me"? :p (Dr Evil was in the Powers movies...He had a small clone that he called "Mini me")

[Niamh]

I must say the same...especially seeing as I have a quote from Adams as part of my signature! I think I am older than you, Niamh so I am going with "senility"...:D
:lol: I look at the book every day kathy! I think i'm worse off!:sick:


Good point, Niamh. Cultural identity should be respected. (and no I am not saying anybody here has been disrespectful, not at all.) Ireland, Wales and Scotland have their own identitities, culture and language...they aren't the "mini me's" of England.
:nod: I think it is also important for a countries identity. Many writer represent there countries culture and associating them with the wrong nation can bruise a small countries identity. Especially when that country was once under the power of the other. i know scotland and wales are apart of britain but they are their own countres at the same time and their writers should be recognised separately from that of England.


Hey, see how I slipped in a reference to Austen Powers there with "mini me"? :p (Dr Evil was in the Powers movies...He had a small clone that he called "Mini me")
:D Aint nothing wrong with a good Austen Powers reference!

[JBI]

thats a safe choice if ever there was one!:lol: Just post who you think is English, and if they are not we'll let you know. But there are a lot of English Authors out there JBI. I'm sure you can name some more! (or look at the author lists for inspiration!;) )

No just saying all the ones that pop into my head are Irish... I know more than Shakespeare, but he shows himself to be the best. Other than that though, I would have to go with Jane Austen.

[kilted exile]

:D Aint nothing wrong with a good Austen Powers reference!

Well you say that, but you're not the one that upon meeting new people has to do a "fat bastard" impression :lol:

[Woland]

Shakespeare, Marlowe, Coleridge

[kathycf]

I like the Brontes as well, mostly Charlotte.


Well you say that, but you're not the one that upon meeting new people has to do a "fat bastard" impression :lol:
Oh dear and Fat B wears a kilt throughout most of those movies too...:lol:

[Niamh]

No just saying all the ones that pop into my head are Irish... I know more than Shakespeare, but he shows himself to be the best. Other than that though, I would have to go with Jane Austen.

:blush: Sorry JBI i was just joking.!


Oh dear kilted! It could be worse. every time i go away people always assume i drink guinness and ask me to say 'top o the mornin to ya'.:sick:

[chasestalling]

H.G. Wells

[kandaurov]

I've just now read Jane Eyre, and I'm tempted to see Charlotte as one of the true great. Comparing her to Emily, however, is, to me, as good as comparing an apple with a bird. Their novels are so unlike...!

[Uncle Lar]

William Shakespeare.

"To thine own self be true."
(Hamlet)

[Jolly McJollyso]

James Joyce. Yeah, he's Irish, but what do you want?

[Niamh]

James Joyce. Yeah, he's Irish, but what do you want?

What is being asked- English- As in from England not Ireland.
:)
Is it really that hard to select an Author from England?
Is everyone who is posting Irish authors aware that there is an Irish Lit thread a few pages away?
Sorry am ranting! Again!

[Jolly McJollyso]

What is being asked- English- As in from England not Ireland.
:)
Is it really that hard to select an Author from England?
Is everyone who is posting Irish authors aware that there is an Irish Lit thread a few pages away?
Sorry am ranting! Again!
Ah, sorry.

Well, Thomas Hardy, then, or T.S. Eliot (ah c'mon, he counts).

Oh, and Joseph Conrad, of COURSE.

<--clearly a modernist.

[literaryc]

hello everybody!
who is you favourite english writer? or if you don't have a favourite one, which english writers to you prefere to read?

Blake (amongst others) - his writing is truly from the heart and his poems are simple yet the meaning can be profound; I particularly like Tyger Tyger, Burning Bright.

[Tingis]

William Shakespeare.

"To thine own self be true."
(Hamlet)

William Shakespeare, Conrad, Keats

This is also "my" quote:
And this above all,
To thine own self be true.

[kenikki]

George Orwell, Shakespeare, Woolf

[Whifflingpin]

Niamh: "Many writer represent there countries culture and associating them with the wrong nation can bruise a small countries identity. Especially when that country was once under the power of the other. i know scotland and wales are apart of britain but they are their own countres at the same time and their writers should be recognised separately from that of England."

That's not easy, and is sometimes scarcely sensible, unless they are writing in Gaelic or Cymric. English literature is a melting pot of cultural influences, and it is not possible, for the most part to unravel the cultural strands that make the fabric of any writer's work.

A good example is Conan Doyle, whom you mentioned a few days ago as being Scottish. In fact, although he was born in Edinburgh, he was of an Irish family (and from the name and position of his family, I guess Norman-Irish, not Celtic-Irish.) Doyle went to school, and lived his adult life in England, but studied medicine in Scotland. So, the only valid national label to stick on him would be British (not confusing British with English, and remembering that, in his time, all of Ireland was part of Britain, and remembering too that his early influences included Poe and Bret Hart, and his writing career was boosted early on from the support that he had from America.)

[Annamariah]

Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë

[medusa_woman]

Thomas Hardy

[promtbr]

Since Shakespeare is God, and I am making the assumption here that God is not of a particular nationality, I will have to exclude him...

Woolf, Conrad (Good to finally see some luv for this amazing writer), Austen and Lawrence, in that order.


"Woof is overated..." *harrumphs* maybe you could notify every college library on the planet to this affect. If they remove all their Woolf related books they would have a few spare ROWS of book shelves. It must have been sheer luck or coincidence that she caused that many humans to contemplate her writing over the years...

[Mr Endon]

Woolf, Conrad (Good to finally see some luv for this amazing writer), Austen and Lawrence, in that order.

Though I've only read one novel by each that looks to me like a very sensible list.

I'd like to add Henry Green. I've only read Living, but it's really a great novel, in its own quiet way.