Your National Authors

[cuppajoe_9]

A lot of countries have one particular writer who is widely considered the 'official' writer of the country, either because he or she is considered the best or the most influential or the most representative of the national spirit, or just the best known. So, just for fun, let's get a list going. (Please note that, since I have only ever lived in my native country, I am going to be extremely presumptuous about international tastes. If any actual natives of said countries would care to inform me that, say, the Welsh are actually sick to death of Dylan Thomas, I will gladly issue a correction.)

In no particular order:

England - William Shakespeare
Scotland - Robert Burns
Wales - Dylan Thomas
Ireland - James Joyce
Iceland - Jónas Hallgrímsson (http://www.library.wisc.edu/etext/Jonas/Jonas.html) (He's quite good. The translations are a little rocky in bits, though.)
Denmark - Hans Christian Andersen
Russia - Alexander Pushkin
Chile - Pablo Neruda
Greece - Homer
Canada - Margaret Laurence
Finland - Aleksis Kivi
Norway - Henrik Ibsen
Estonia - Anton Hansen Tammsaare
Pakistan - Allama Iqbal
Indonesia - Pramodya Ananta Toer
Spain - Miguel de Cervantes
Italy - Dante Alighieri
Serbia - Ivo Andrić
France - Molière
Lebanon - Kahlil Gibran
Ukraine - Taras Shevchenko
Poland - Henryk Sienkiewicz
Czech Republic - Jaroslav Hašek
Egypt - Naguib Mahfouz
Kyrgystan - Chinghiz Aitmatov
Iran (formerly Persia) - Sa'di
Colombia - Gabriel García Márquez
India - Rabindranath Tagore
The United States of America - Mark Twain
Romania - Mihai Eminescu

[Virgil]

I'm not sure who we would consider in the US. As a national poet, probably Walt Whitman. As a writer, I would have to say either Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, or William Faulkner. My vote would go to Faukner. Twain and Hemingway are both over rated.

[Logos]

Russia - Dostoevski, I guess, although there's a lot of competition for that spot.
Canada - I'm going to say Mordecai Richler

For Russia I say it would have to be Alexander Pushkin (http://www.online-literature.com/alexander-pushkin/), about a generation ahead of Dostoevsky ;) lots of ground-breaking works, controversy, and paved the way for *many* after him.

For Canada, Mordecai is a good contender, but I'd also like to nominate Margaret Laurence (http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-74-161/people/margaret_laurence/) lots of best sellers, some still in print, some part of academic curriculum, lots of controversy/banned books etc :lol:

[Jouzou]

The official national author of Finland is Aleksis Kivi. His best known work is "Seven Brothers" (published 1870) - a story that takes place somewhere in the 19th century. Old farmer Jukola kicks the bucket and his seven sons have to take care of the family farm by themselves. Then the book follows the brothers as they live their lives (fight, drink booze, get married, pretty much everything Finnish farmers did in the 19th century). They even try to educate themselves but it doesn't go that well.

7 Brothers was the only novel that Kivi wrote. He wrote several plays, though. Today, the book has the same symptom as any classic: it's more talked about than actually read. 7 Brothers was one of the first novels written in Finnish and that's why it has an important place in Finnish history. Imagine how difficult task it is to write a novel in a language in which nobody has written a novel before.

The book was written in 1870 so the language is very old and a modern reader has to struggle from time to time in order to understand. Also, the way it's written resembles a script of a play. In theory, you have to read 7 Brothers to pass Finnish high school. However, in practice few read it because the exam on it is pretty easy to pass. I have to admit that I've never read it either :blush:

Another important author is Elias Lönnrot. He is the man behind "Kalevala" (1849) - the national epic of Finland. Lönnrot went around the country and collected folk tales and composed Kalevala based on them. Kalevala is a window to Finnish mythology and its characters have superhuman powers. I don't think that many people appreciate it today (remember, this is just me - one man cannot speak for a whole nation) but it had a great influence way back when. It's also noteable that Kalevala was a source of inspiration for J.R.R Tolkien.

The third author I'd like to mention is Väinö Linna. His main works are the trilogy "Under The North Star" (sometimes translated as "Here Beneath The North(ern) Star") (1959, 1960, 1962) and the novel "The Unkown Soldier" (1954). The Unknown soldier is a war novel about a bunch of men who go through WW2 serving in the Finnish army. The novel emphasizes the fact that Finnish soldiers are men who are forced to do terrible things rather than some sort of heroes.

"Under the North Star" follows the life of Koskela family from late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century covering (among other things) issues that eventually led to the Civil War of Finland.

Other important classic authors I can think of are: Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Johan Vilhelm Snellman, Zacharias Topelius, Minna Canth and Mika Waltari. I'll have to draw the line here but I think I got the most important names. It's a big chunk of text, but again: We're dealing with a whole nation. My knowledge about modern Finnish literature is not very good, so I'll leave it to other Finns.

[kilted exile]

Yeah, Burns is probably the main guy.

But, there is also Stevenson and Scott who need serious consideration.

My favourite Scottish poet is/was Iain Crichton Smith

[cuppajoe_9]

For Russia I say it would have to be Alexander Pushkin (http://www.online-literature.com/alexander-pushkin/), about a generation ahead of Dostoevsky ;) lots of ground-breaking works, controversy, and paved the way for *many* after him.

For Canada, Mordecai is a good contender, but I'd also like to nominate Margaret Laurence (http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-74-161/people/margaret_laurence/) lots of best sellers, some still in print, some part of academic curriculum, lots of controversy/banned books etc :lol:

Good call on Pushkin. I thought Dostoevski might be a bit too, um, dour to be a proper national writer.

I've reluctantly put Margaret Lawrence in ahead of Mordecai, on the grounds that I had to read more of her in high school. The Canadian author who came up the most often in my classes was Margaret Atwood, although I rejected her because she's too depressing, too infrequently read and too radical (we Canadians stereotypically like our politics nice and central). I, personally, love her stuff, but I imagine I'm exposed to it more often than the general population, as I have a lot of radical feminist friends. Also, we're supposed to be related.

I've also put Ibsen in for Norway.

[Taliesin]

For living Estonian writers, we would say Jaan Kross. (http://www.estlit.ee/index.php?id=646)
Overall, Anton Hansen Tammsaare certainly fits the post, most famous for his pentalogy "Truth and Justice" which takes as its subject the story of the development of the Estonian nation from the second half of the 19th Century and the emergence of Estonian consciousness, until 1918 and the establishment of an independent republic.
It also deals with the topics of land, work, religion, state, love and redemption.
Funnily enough, Tammsaare is quite widely believed to be a praiser of Estonianship and hard work, where as it seems to us that he really is a critic of both those things.

[Pensive]

For Pakistan, it is Allama Iqbal who is a poet. But, I will have to say that we have had better writers than Iqbal as well.

[subterranean]

Indonesia: Pramodya Ananta Toer (rest in peace :().

[Whifflingpin]

Goethe for Germany?

Cervantes or Lope de Vega for Spain?

[cuppajoe_9]

Germany is another tricky one, as Kant, Hegel, Kafka, the Grimm Brothers and even Marx and Luther are all reasonable candidates (if only for their influence).

I think Cervantes has Spain pretty well wrapped up, though.

[Virgil]

Marx? Come on. Actually without a doubt it's Goethe for Germany.

[grace86]

Does anyone else think this might be a good idea for future book club readings?

[Turk]

Dante Alighieri for Italy.
Ivo Andric for Serbia.

[cuppajoe_9]

The Communist Manifesto, whether you like it or not, dramatically transformed the studies of politics, history and sociology and has literally changed the flow of history from the time it was written to the present. Marx's ideas have changed the outlook of entire nations, and not just those nations that experienced revolutions either. There are very few writers who can claim to have accomplished that. Good or bad, Marx has had, by far, the greatest influence of any writer on this page, with the possible exception of Martin Luther.

I don't think the Grimms can be entirely discounted either, on the grounds that nearly everybody in the English-speaking world (and, presumebaly, the German-speaking world) has, at one point or another, read one of the stories that they collected and popularized. I don't think Goethe can touch that.

[Turk]

Germans generally considers their national author as Goethe or Schiller.

[Mark F.]

France is tricky, although there are a lot of excellent writers none are really above the others. Molière is often considered as the "national author" but I think he's highly overrated. Of course Victor Hugo, Balzac, Zola, Baudelaire, Mallarmé are all serious contenders for the spot. But I guess Molière is the author every French child has to read at least once in school.

Gogol would definitely come before Dostoevsky but I'll trust Logos on Pushkin.

[Turk]

I think (as i said at Alexander Pushkin thread) Goethe, Pushkin, Moliere and many other authors considered national authors because of their infleunce on their literature. So being national author doesn't mean being "best" author of that nation. Gogol is good one Mark F. but Pushkin was very good friend of Gogol and Gogol was influenced by Pushkin really a lot. Even the idea of novel "Dead Souls" was given him by Pushkin.

[cuppajoe_9]

Does anyone else think this might be a good idea for future book club readings?I'm not a member, but is sounds good to me.

I can't edit the original post for some reason, but when I can, I will put in Dante for Italy (reluctantly), Ivo Andrić for Serbia and Molière for France.

The Germany spot will remain vacant, pending research on my part, but will probably go to either Goethe, Schiller or the Grimms.

[Virgil]

The Communist Manifesto, whether you like it or not, dramatically transformed the studies of politics, history and sociology and has literally changed the flow of history from the time it was written to the present. Marx's ideas have changed the outlook of entire nations, and not just those nations that experienced revolutions either. There are very few writers who can claim to have accomplished that. Good or bad, Marx has had, by far, the greatest influence of any writer on this page, with the possible exception of Martin Luther.

I don't think the Grimms can be entirely discounted either, on the grounds that nearly everybody in the English-speaking world (and, presumebaly, the German-speaking world) has, at one point or another, read one of the stories that they collected and popularized. I don't think Goethe can touch that.

I'm not even talking the politics. A national author has to do with the language and consciousness of his counrty, like Shakespeare or Dante or Cervantes. I don't believe that Marx (who didn't even live in Germany) contributed to the consciousness of his country. Do kids in Germany read Marx? Kids in english speaking countries read Shakespeare. I'm pretty sure kids in Italy read Dante and Cervantes in Spain.

As to the politics, besides Cuba and North Korea (and who wants to live there), I know of no country that claim or aspire to be communists. I think the world has decided that Communism is a failed system. So Marx's infleuence in the real world is not much, except to college professors who live in their own altered reality. He's not even taught in economics classes. The way I have phrased in other posts here on lit net, Marx was wrong about history, he was wrong about economics, and yet the liberal arts professors teach him as if he's gospel.

[another sara]

i have a question guys and im sorry if its not related, but i think it is in a away...
what about the arabian nights! who is the author? i mean whats the deal with it!...

[cuppajoe_9]

Marx is not being for the spot for Germany on the grounds that you cite, but he cannot simply be ignored. As I say, his influence in the fields of history and sociology is huge. It is not simply countries that aspire to be communist who have adapted his ideas. He was one of the first to call for free public education, for example. (Incidentally, no country has ever claimed to have acchieved a state of communism). Bottom line: he is tremendously influential, even if you don't agree with him.

I, frankly, have no interest in getting drawn into a conversation about the evils of college professors, if you don't mind.

[cuppajoe_9]

i have a question guys and im sorry if its not related, but i think it is in a away...
what about the arabian nights! who is the author? i mean whats the deal with it!...

The Book of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights is a collection of folk tales, most of which have no known author.

[Turk]

Virgil, i agree with you about that Marks is not national author of Germany. His effects on German literature is limited.

But we can't neglect his influence on world politics in 20. century. I don't believe in his theories mostly, but his influence on world was really important.

[another sara]

The Book of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights is a collection of folk tales, most of which have no known author.

thanks, but that i know, but it always makes wonder, who is it with such an imagination! but hey thanks:D

and since u r talking about national authors, khalil jubran had an influence on both the west and east

[Virgil]

Virgil, i agree with you about that Marks is not national author of Germany. His effects on German literature is limited.

But we can't neglect his influence on world politics in 20. century. I don't believe in his theories mostly, but his influence on world was really important.

Sure if you think negative, harmful infleuence was influence. Russia is still trying to catch up to the capitalist countries.

[Turk]

Influence is influence. I am not talking about good or bad influence. And Russia underdeveloped economy doesn't mean Marx was not influental in world history.

[cuppajoe_9]

Sure if you think negative, harmful infleuence was influence. Russia is still trying to catch up to the capitalist countries.

Of course it is. The Soviet Union, by the way, industrialized faster than any other country in the world, although Marx's ideas had nearly nothing to do with it and, had he been alive, he would have been appalled to see it.

Kahlil Gibran tentatively in for Lebanon.

[Turk]

Of course it is. The Soviet Union, by the way, industrialized faster than any other country in the world, although Marx's ideas had nearly nothing to do with it and, had he been alive, he would have been appalled to see it.

Kahlil Gibran tentatively in for Lebanon.

USSR was the fastest developing country of world with Japan Empire when Stalin governed USSR, it's true. But because of Stalin's politics millions of people died. Economy is not important than human life for me. But because of Communist theory they idolized economy (just like Capitalists).

[cuppajoe_9]

USSR was the fastest developing country of world with Japan Empire when Stalin governed USSR, it's true. But because of Stalin's politics millions of people died. Economy is not important than human life for me. But because of Communist theory they idolized economy (just like Capitalists).

Exactly. I completely agree. I was simply trying to defend poor Karl from the accusation that he destroyed the Russian economy.

[Mark F.]

As to the politics, besides Cuba and North Korea (and who wants to live there), I know of no country that claim or aspire to be communists. I think the world has decided that Communism is a failed system. So Marx's infleuence in the real world is not much, except to college professors who live in their own altered reality. He's not even taught in economics classes. The way I have phrased in other posts here on lit net, Marx was wrong about history, he was wrong about economics, and yet the liberal arts professors teach him as if he's gospel.

Not to sidetrack this into a political discussion but Marxism and Communism are two very different things. Marx was probably the most accurate and influential historian and economist ever. His ideology is another issue.

[Mark F.]

Just realised the discussion had already been sidetracked, heh.

[Virgil]

Of course it is. The Soviet Union, by the way, industrialized faster than any other country in the world, although Marx's ideas had nearly nothing to do with it and, had he been alive, he would have been appalled to see it.

and

USSR was the fastest developing country of world with Japan Empire when Stalin governed USSR, it's true. But because of Stalin's politics millions of people died. Economy is not important than human life for me. But because of Communist theory they idolized economy (just like Capitalists).

Yeah, if you rob and imprison and kill (execute is probably the more accurate word) anyone with property and confiscate that property and through the government channel it into industry, you can industrialize pretty fast. The real test of communism as an economic system is over time and how much did the Soviet Union grow economically as compared to other countries. After their initial spurt they had a continuous decline. The only spikes up were when they continued their mafia like robbing of other eastern european countries. In the end, they had a pretty miserable standard of living.

[Boris239]

and


Yeah, if you rob and imprison and kill (execute is probably the more accurate word) anyone with property and confiscate that property and through the government channel it into industry, you can industrialize pretty fast. The real test of communism as an economic system is over time and how much did the Soviet Union grow economically as compared to other countries. After their initial spurt they had a continuous decline. The only spikes up were when they continued their mafia like robbing of other eastern european countries. In the end, they had a pretty miserable standard of living.


I don't want to defend neither Marx nor USSR too much, but

1) Marx's theories were for already industrialized countries like Germany, France or England- certainly not for Russia or China, so the final Soviet collapse doesn't say much about Marx. Anyway, as it was mentioned already there are a lot of differences between communism and marxism. The great majority of European socialist parties took really a lot from Marx.

2) About the mafia like robbing of other eastern european countries. Where does your information come from? The life in Eastern Europe certainly sucked under communism, but in general people lived much better there than in USSR. For example, there was a lot of money put into Eastern Germany, because USSR wanted to show the West how great it is to live in communist countries. I can assure you that East Germans or Czechs lived much better than Russians or Ukrainians. Their standard of living was very low compared to English, French or Dutch obviously and I don't even talk about various freedoms, but to talk about robbing eastern european countries is a bit too much

[Boris239]

Going back to writers- I agree wit Logos about Pushkin, and not Dostoevsky being Russian national poet/writer.
It's probably Taras Shevchenko for Ukraine
Henryk Sienkiewicz for Poland
Jaroslav Hasek for Czech Republic (maybe I'm wrong)

[Woland]

Mark Twain for the States

[Turk]

I don't want to defend neither Marx nor USSR too much, but

1) Marx's theories were for already industrialized countries like Germany, France or England- certainly not for Russia or China, so the final Soviet collapse doesn't say much about Marx. Anyway, as it was mentioned already there are a lot of differences between communism and marxism. The great majority of European socialist parties took really a lot from Marx.

2) About the mafia like robbing of other eastern european countries. Where does your information come from? The life in Eastern Europe certainly sucked under communism, but in general people lived much better there than in USSR. For example, there was a lot of money put into Eastern Germany, because USSR wanted to show the West how great it is to live in communist countries. I can assure you that East Germans or Czechs lived much better than Russians or Ukrainians. Their standard of living was very low compared to English, French or Dutch obviously and I don't even talk about various freedoms, but to talk about robbing eastern european countries is a bit too much

1. Right. But it also showed Marx's was wrong about his thoughts about Industrialized countries. Actually if there weren't some very accidental events in Russia there wouldn't be revolution too. For example there was a certain Jewish effect (and in my opinion Jews took their revenge from Russia and Tzar family after revolution, most important faces of 1917 revelution were Jewish, including Trotsky [he's the one who found financial aid for revelution, and he supported by New York's Jewish bankers].) And another example is support of Germany to Lenin (Lenin's himself wasn't Russian too, he was a Kalmuk). There was really more accidental conditions existed too. And revelution was really "accidental".

2. I agree, Russian people exploited by their own government and Germans or Czechs lived better than Russians. But Virgil is right too, because it's true USSR government spent their limited resources for challange west world and USA and those resources was "kinda" robbed by their own people.

[Turk]

Necib Mahfuz for Egypt.
Cengiz Aytmatov for Kirghizistan.
Probly Sheikh Sadi for İran.
Knut Hamsun for Norway (although he punished by Norway government after
2. world war.)

[Virgil]

2) About the mafia like robbing of other eastern european countries. Where does your information come from? The life in Eastern Europe certainly sucked under communism, but in general people lived much better there than in USSR. For example, there was a lot of money put into Eastern Germany, because USSR wanted to show the West how great it is to live in communist countries. I can assure you that East Germans or Czechs lived much better than Russians or Ukrainians. Their standard of living was very low compared to English, French or Dutch obviously and I don't even talk about various freedoms, but to talk about robbing eastern european countries is a bit too much

Are you sure? I find it hard to believe they gave more of their money to eastern european countries than they took back. That may have been propaganda. I bet the eastern european countries wouldn't agree with you.

Eastern Germany is a good comparison with western Germany. Compare their standards of living and you will see what system is best. And if Soviets acctually put money into eastern Germany to prop it up and it still was that far below western Germany, well nothing else needs to be said.

[Mark F.]

Virgil, what you're saying is true, but Stalinism is very far away from Marxist theory. It's the same problem with every totalitarian/centralised system. That's not really Marx's influence, it's just some fascist taking advantage of the situation. Marxist theory is responsible for the wellfare state and social security.

[Woland]

The problem with Whitman, or the problem I have with him, is he seems to be trying to construct an american identity, as if hes trying to be "american" instead of american. Twain is more authentic in my view.

Moliere is a fine choice for France but I wouldnt rule out Voltaire or Baudelaire.

[grace86]

This is just opinion right? Virgil, if you do not like Marx as a national author, why not suggest another one?

I'm not trying to be nasty, just trying to get back on track.

[ShoutGrace]

The problem with Whitman, or the problem I have with him, is he seems to be trying to construct an american identity, as if hes trying to be "american" instead of american. Twain is more authentic in my view.

Right, it's kind of funny that Whitman consciously intended to make himself into the American poet. It was a conscious effort for him, a designed role that he determined to fill.

He is still the quintessential American poet, one way or the other. Robert Frost is next for me.

For the United States, why not allow Twain / Faulkner / Hemingway / Steinbeck ?

(I like American literature too much to pare it down :D).


Virgil, if you do not like Marx as a national author, why not suggest another one?

I thought he did? ;)

[cuppajoe_9]

For the United States, why not allow Twain / Faulkner / Hemingway / Steinbeck ? Because then for England I'll have to allow Shakespeare / Orwell / Shaw / Donne / Marlowe / Moore / Fielding / Dickens / Cowper / The Beowulf Poet.

It's down to Faulkner, Twain and Whitman, I think. Steinbeck and Hemingway both strike me as a bit too socialist to be considered America's national writer.
Knut Hamsun for Norway (although he punished by Norway government after
2. world war.)

I think Ibsen, second most frequently preformed playwrite in the world, behind Shakepseare, has Norway pretty well wrapped up.

[Logos]

Google Results 1 - 30 of about 9,130,000 for "Mark Twain" (1835-1910)

Google Results 1 - 30 of about 3,230,000 for "Walt Whitman" (1819-1892)

Sure Whitman was born before Twain, but I think Twain had a much wider reaching effect on national/international interests and the cultural identity to American people. He travelled all over the world on extensive lecture tours too, welcomed by many other nations.

Although Whitman was a successful journalist too I think he could be considered at least as National Poet for the United States, but he was gay so a lot of people have 'issues' with him because of that. :rolleyes:

[cuppajoe_9]

No less an authority than William Faulkner described Twain as "the first truly American writer", so it's looking like Mr. Clemens at the moment.

[ShoutGrace]

Who said Walt Whitman was gay? ;)




Through me the afflatus surging and surging, through me the current
and index.

If I worship one thing more than another it shall be the spread of
my own body, or any part of it,
Translucent mould of me it shall be you!
Shaded ledges and rests it shall be you!
Firm masculine colter it shall be you!
Whatever goes to the tilth of me it shall be you!
You my rich blood! your milky stream pale strippings of my life!
Breast that presses against other breasts it shall be you!
My brain it shall be your occult convolutions!
Root of wash'd sweet-flag! timorous pond-snipe! nest of guarded
duplicate eggs! it shall be you!
Mix'd tussled hay of head, beard, brawn, it shall be you!
Trickling sap of maple, fibre of manly wheat, it shall be you!
Sun so generous it shall be you!
Vapors lighting and shading my face it shall be you!
You sweaty brooks and dews it shall be you!
Winds whose soft-tickling genitals rub against me it shall be you!
Broad muscular fields, branches of live oak, loving lounger in my
winding paths, it shall be you!
Hands I have taken, face I have kiss'd, mortal I have ever touch'd,
it shall be you.



Although Whitman was a successful journalist too I think he could be considered at least as National Poet for the United States.

I think he absolutely should be, though there is always strong anti-Whitman sentiment from all sides. “Leaves of Grass” was written (and of course rewritten) during the beginnings of what we now know as America; it is the archetypal vision of America. As it is written:

“In another hundred years we may be able to acknowledge ‘Leaves of Grass’ as America’s epic, written in the dawn of her history when her people were vigorous and naïve, and their faith fresh and bold.”



No less an authority than William Faulkner described Twain as "the first truly American writer", so it's looking like Mr. Clemens at the moment.

He may have been the first American writer, but he might not have been the one best capable of representing her. ;)

Let's take a poll? I'd go Faulkner before Twain, and I just cannot drop Steinbeck.

[cuppajoe_9]

He may have been the first American writer, but he might not have been the one best capable of representing her.

Let's take a poll? I'd go Faulkner before Twain, and I just cannot drop Steinbeck.

Poll sounds fine to me. Who to should the contenders be, though? At the moment, I'm thinking Twain, Faulkner, Whitman, Steinbeck, Hemingway, Hawthorne ("I regret that I have only blah blah blah blah...") and, my personal favorite American authors, Sallinger and Fitzgerald.

Any I'm forgetting?

edit: yes there is: Stephen "The Red Badge of Courage" Crane

[Mark F.]

Melville? Many people consider "Moby Dick" as the greatest novel in English. He's only starting to be considered as a classic author.

[cuppajoe_9]

Right you are, Melville goes on the list.

Should we extend the vote only to Americans?

[Logos]

Re: Laurence (1926-1987) vs. Richler (1931-2001) [you gotta fix that spelling cuppa :p]

They both attracted controversy—fundamental Christians called Laurence's Scottish pioneers/Métis story The Diviners (1974) obscene and blasphemous and even today it doesn’t escape scrutiny and criticism, but as an Anglophone woman basically writing of the whole ‘Canadian experience’ [emigration from UK to Canada etc as in The Stone Angel (1964) and A Jest of God (1966)] she didn’t stir up as much criticism as the much more public figure Richler did.

As a Montreal Jew Richler often attacked the Parti Québécois (accused them of anti-Semitism for example) and Quebec politics and the Canadian Establishment in general. Other Anglophones and ‘provincials’ sympathetic to the PQ didn’t like his later enfant terrible journalistic efforts (though fellow icons like Peter Gzowski did appreciate him) I think the controversies unfortunately overshadowed his brilliant historical/fictional depictions of working class Montreal and beyond in Son of a Smaller Hero (1955), The Incomparable Atuk (1963), and of course The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1959). They were some of the first memorable novels I’d ever read! “A man without land is nobody”, I love that line/part of the novel/movie :D

[Logos]

Right you are, Melville goes on the list.

Should we extend the vote only to Americans?
Maybe you could start a new topic just for discussing/polling for American National Author :)

[Turk]

Gabriel Garcia Marquez for Colombia.
Probly Rabindranath Tagore for India.

[Laurel]

Melville? Many people consider "Moby Dick" as the greatest novel in English. He's only starting to be considered as a classic author.

I think "Moby Dick" is the only thing that will ever come close to being the Great American Novel. I'm rereading it now at the pace of about two pages a day and finding astonishing things in it. Melville did not write for his own generation.

As for the national poet of America, I would say Longfellow.

Laurel, a newbie

[Maida]

I agree that Ivo Andric is Serbia's national author, but does anyone know of any authors from Bosnia?

[cuppajoe_9]

And, after a long drawn out fight, the American national author is voted by the people of LitNet to be exactly who I thought should have the spot in the first place. And yes, I'm shamelessly attempting to revive this thread.

[Pendragon]

I couldn't think of giving National Author to any other American than Mark Twain. But England I would probably argue for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Shakespeare would be the greatest Playwright, hands down, but not an author per se. No one is ever going to forget the three great creations of Doyle-- Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John H. Watson, and Professor Challanger. France I would give to Victor Hugo. Again no one will ever forget The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Quasimodo kinda sticks in your memory. I agree with Miguel de Cervantes for Spain. No one will ever forget Don Quixote, that's for sure!
As America's poet, I will move in a direction no one might suspect. I vote Emily Dickins. Whitman was as dull as a post. :)

[cuppajoe_9]

But England I would probably argue for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Shakespeare would be the greatest Playwright, hands down, but not an author per se. I'm about to be controvertial, but I don't think Shakespeare is a particularly great playwright. Brilliant poet, philosopher, writer and social commentator yes, playwright, no. King Lear, for example, is undoubtedly one of the greatest pieces of English literature in the world, but as a play, it seems designed almost enitrely to annoy directors. Shakespeare's sonnet cycle contains no references to his career as a playwright, and one half-ashamed refernce to his acting career.


As America's poet, I will move in a direction no one might suspect. I vote Emily Dickins. Whitman was as dull as a post. :)She was brought up in the 'American National Author' thread, and I would heartily agree, were I American. Whitman seems to be a more, how to put it?, sterotypical American.

[crisaor]

Virgil, identifying Stalin with communism or even marxism is just as far-fetched as identifying Bush or Nixon with democracy. And the USSR was already on a road of fast development before Stalin, coming from a fully undeveloped economic structure. And Cuba isn't exactly communist, if it ever was, but I won't go further into that, forum rules and all that. cuppajoe_9 and Mark F. both made good points.
If we're considering only 'fictional' writers, then I agree Goethe is the choice for Germany. Without that restriction, Marx's influence is stronger IMO.

More on topic, Jorge Luis Borges for Argentina, José Martí for Cuba, and perhaps Eça de Queiroz or José Saramago for Portugal.
If we're broading the selection process, as in earlier civilisations, Snorri Sturluson for Scandinavia, Arabian Nights for Araby, and Virgil for Rome.

[PeterL]

If we're broading the selection process, as in earlier civilisations, Snorri Sturluson for Scandinavia...

Snorri is the national author for Iceland. There are other authors for the Scandinavian countries.

[crisaor]

Snorri is the national author for Iceland. There are other authors for the Scandinavian countries.
Yes, but for Scandinavia as a whole? His minor edda is a common element to all those countries, I don't think there is another one who accoplishes that. Isn't there a more modern author to identify Iceland with?

[Whifflingpin]

"But England I would probably argue for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. .. No one is ever going to forget the three great creations of Doyle-- Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John H. Watson, and Professor Challanger."

Ow - Conan Doyle is fun, and wrote some fine books (I believe that he rated his historical novels much more highly than his Sherlock Holmes stories.)
But for National Author, if we were restricted to prose writers, Doyle just does not have the weight. Dickens is the obvious, if not the only, choice.

However, the question does not arise, because the choice is not restricted to novelists, and Shakespeare is far and away the greatest writer in the English speaking world.

[Arguendo]

As sick as I am of him, Ibsen is undoubtedly the Norwegian National Author.

I fervently hope that Lars Saabye Christensen eventually will replace him. Maybe in a century or so...


Yes, but for Scandinavia as a whole? His minor edda is a common element to all those countries, I don't think there is another one who accoplishes that. Isn't there a more modern author to identify Iceland with?
Iceland isn't part of Scandinavia, and while Snorri Sturluson's works (and the works attributed to him) undoubtedly makes him The Old Norse Author, he's hardly anyone's National Author in Scandinavia.

Halldór Laxness for Iceland, perhaps?

[cuppajoe_9]

I stand by Jónas for Iceland.

"He is the only Icelandic poet who has become the founder of a whole school of poets: pioneer of a new movement in poetry and literature"

- Þorsteinn Gíslason

[cuppajoe_9]

I don't particularly want to get into naming national authors for entire regions (like Scandinavia), but I will name authors for smaller nations within political states (I'm open to suggestions for an Inuit national author, for example).

[crisaor]

while Snorri Sturluson's works (and the works attributed to him) undoubtedly makes him The Old Norse Author, he's hardly anyone's National Author in Scandinavia.
That's what I meant, but your objections are valid. I'll stick with national authors only.

[PeterL]

Yes, but for Scandinavia as a whole? His minor edda is a common element to all those countries, I don't think there is another one who accoplishes that. Isn't there a more modern author to identify Iceland with?

The Prose Edda is completely about Iceland, while the Elder Edda was drawn from general Germanic sources. So I see what you mean.

[Pendragon]

"But England I would probably argue for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. .. No one is ever going to forget the three great creations of Doyle-- Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John H. Watson, and Professor Challanger."

Ow - Conan Doyle is fun, and wrote some fine books (I believe that he rated his historical novels much more highly than his Sherlock Holmes stories.)
But for National Author, if we were restricted to prose writers, Doyle just does not have the weight. Dickens is the obvious, if not the only, choice.

However, the question does not arise, because the choice is not restricted to novelists, and Shakespeare is far and away the greatest writer in the English speaking world."But England I would probably argue for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. .. No one is ever going to forget the three great creations of Doyle-- Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John H. Watson, and Professor Challanger." Please give me credit when you quote me, Wiff, if you don't mind. :)

Yes, Doyle himself both considered his historical novels better than anything else he wrote, his Professor Challanger series second. These are what he always said he wanted to be remembered for writing. So he killed off Holmes in The Final Problem. But unfortunately, his Holmes stories paid the bills, so he had to bring Homes back in The Adventure of the Empty House.

So we will agree to disagree, as I cannot stand Dickens.

Shakespeare I have already given best playwright hands down, period! If that makes him England's choice of National Writer, I certainly will never argue, based on that alone. Good day to you, sir! :)

[Whifflingpin]

So we will agree to disagree, as I cannot stand Dickens.


He's not my preferred read either:yawnb: , just the novelist who'd be most acceptable as National Author.

I must admit, though, that when I read Pickwick Papers for the first time earlier this year, it moved me to tears of laughter :lol: and rage :flare: and, I think, it probably expresses better than anything else I've read what it meant to be English.

Your servant, sir.:wave:

.

[penelopea]

Tolstoy is the prerevolutionary writer for Russia ,USSR is probably 'Sholokov,followed by Solzhenitsyn. These actually compose defining 'Russianness'


Ergo Shakespeare could be superceded by Dickens or Trollope or Martin Amis.
I think the historical context is a problem . The definition should be refined to 21st century writers or is the world too much of a global village now.

[ennison]

Andric was a Croat by birth but as he acted as an ambassador for Yugoslavia and was a supporter of the Yugoslav federation I doubt if the nutty nats of Croatia would want him. Doyle was Scottish but if the English can't find a writer of their own let 'em have him. Marx - what was it? Be as well to make Groucho Marx the quintessential American literary figure. Or J K Galbraith the Canadian. Wait a minute , come to think of it ...

[vheissu]

I'll put just a little word for Greek authors:
Firstly, there's a controversy about Homer. It's not quite sure anymore if Homer was just one guy, or if "his" two compositions, the Iliad and the Odyssey are actually a collection from different poets which lived at different times and were then put together by someone (possibly Homer!)
Greece doesn't have just one national author and it's usually poets that get the most "attention" if I could put it that way...a couple that stand out in my mind right now are Odysseas Elytis, Nikos Kazantzakis and Giorgos Seferis.
I can't think of anyone which is of great importance in today's greek literature, although Elytis only died a few years ago.

For italian literature, although Dante is quite and important influential figure, there are a lot more which share equal importance: Manzoni, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Italo Calvino, Foscolo, De Amicis, D'Annunzio, Primo Levi and of course today's Umberto Eco.
I don't know whether Machiavelli's "Il principe" should be added, since it's considered political literature, which I tend to distinguish a bit from the rest

I went to an italian school and italian literature was such an important and widespread subject that I couldn't help but mentioning all these names, and there should be a few more as well.
We actually had separate lit classes which concentrated on Dante and Manzoni in our final years, though I always prefered anything but these two!!

[ennison]

I read Zorba when I was young and it remains one of my favourite books. Kazantzakis was a terrific writer but the web seems a bit thin on him. I cant even find a decent picture of him.

[Niamh]

I Think people in ireland would see Yeats more as a national author than Joyce, I personally think Joyce is over rated and Have never really liked his work. But then being irish i cant just choose one author or what have you to be 'the' national author of my country. i'd say it's more like these are the following national literary figures of ireland; W.B.Yeats, Oscar Wilde, G.B.Shaw, Synge, Beckett, Moore, Heaney, and O' Casey.


I think that when people start to represent an author with England they will automaticlly think Shakespeare bacause he is probably the most well known English playwright in the world. I mean how many of us have had to study his plays in school and college and be made to treat them like a bible? I mean what about Marlowe, or tennyson even Jane Austen!


I Agree that Mark Twain is over rated as an author, personally i dont like his books and definately would think of him as the national Author for America. I'd go for Stienbeck. His East of Eden is one of the best and most moving books i've ever read. Or maybe Sylvia platt or Tennesse Williams.


Bertolt Brecht for germany, Checkov for russia, Eco for Italy, Coelho for Brazil, Ibsen for norway and Rimbaud for France.

[Virgil]

I Think people in ireland would see Yeats more as a national author than Joyce, I personally think Joyce is over rated and Have never really liked his work. But then being irish i cant just choose one author or what have you to be 'the' national author of my country. i'd say it's more like these are the following national literary figures of ireland; W.B.Yeats, Oscar Wilde, G.B.Shaw, Synge, Beckett, Moore, Heaney, and O' Casey.


I've always been amazed at how a small country like Ireland (they're population has only ranged from 3-5 million) has so many geat authors. And if you count the American writers of Irish ethnicity, it's incredible. Is it in the genes or is your mother's milk special? Kudos to all the Irish writers. You also forget Swift as a possible Irish national author. But I would pick either Joyce or Yeats, although both are relative recent. To me a national author should be someone early on who helped form the national consciousness and language.

[ShoutGrace]

I Think people in ireland would see Yeats more as a national author than Joyce, I personally think Joyce is over rated and Have never really liked his work. But then being irish i cant just choose one author or what have you to be 'the' national author of my country. i'd say it's more like these are the following national literary figures of ireland; W.B.Yeats, Oscar Wilde, G.B.Shaw, Synge, Beckett, Moore, Heaney, and O' Casey.


Has nobody mentioned Joyce's expatriate tendencies? I find Yeats as capturing Ireland's national "spirit" far more than Joyce - Synge and O'casey were huge figures in the Irish literary renaissance, though O'Casey isn't known for too much outside of "The Plough and the Stars," is he?

Yeats or Synge for Ireland, definitely.



To me a national author should be someone early on who helped form the national consciousness and language.

I think that as far as literature in Ireland is concerned, the Irish literary renaissance is central - before that, you had a lot of British imposed stuff and unattributed Irish myth, legend and folklore. Lady Gregory, Moore, AE, Synge, Yeats . . . were all very active during that time. Joyce came just slightly afterward, if I remember correctly - he had some choice criticism for an elderly Yeats. :D

[Virgil]

Has nobody mentioned Joyce's expatriate tendencies? I find Yeats as capturing Ireland's national "spirit" far more than Joyce - Synge and O'casey were huge figures in the Irish literary renaissance, though O'Casey isn't known for too much outside of "The Plough and the Stars," is he?

Yeats or Synge for Ireland, definitely.




I think that as far as literature in Ireland is concerned, the Irish literary renaissance is central - before that, you had a lot of British imposed stuff and unattributed Irish myth, legend and folklore. Lady Gregory, Moore, AE, Synge, Yeats . . . were all very active during that time. Joyce came just slightly afterward, if I remember correctly - he had some choice criticism for an elderly Yeats. :D

You make great points Shout. I think I agree with all.

[Boris239]

Tolstoy is the prerevolutionary writer for Russia ,USSR is probably 'Sholokov,followed by Solzhenitsyn. These actually compose defining 'Russianness'


Ergo Shakespeare could be superceded by Dickens or Trollope or Martin Amis.
I think the historical context is a problem . The definition should be refined to 21st century writers or is the world too much of a global village now.


For Russia it is Pushkin, who is the national author. We are talking about national not the best/most famous.

In any case neither Sholokhov nor especially Solzhenitsyn never were and never will be considered national Russian writers. I guess you can argue about "Quiet Don", but Solzhenitsyn is respected much more abroad than in Russia.

[cuppajoe_9]

You also forget Swift as a possible Irish national author.I suspect that Swift had no great love for his countrymen (or anybody else for that matter). See: Red-haired Yahoos, sexual habits of.

[Virgil]

I suspect that Swift had no great love for his countrymen (or anybody else for that matter). See: Red-haired Yahoos, sexual habits of.

True, but like you say, for no one else either. Swift was a thought. I tend to agree with Shoutgrace, the conscousness of Ireland (although I'm not speaking here from any real detailed knowledge of Irish culture) has been reconstituted in the late 19th century.

[simona]

Romania too has a "national author", and since nobody thought to mention him, I'm going to do this: Mihai Eminescu.

[Virgil]

Romania too has a "national author", and since nobody thought to mention him, I'm going to do this: Mihai Eminescu.

Thank you Simona. I unfortunately know nothing about Romnian literature.

[Niamh]

the conscousness of Ireland (although I'm not speaking here from any real detailed knowledge of Irish culture) has been reconstituted in the late 19th century.

The culture of Irish literature as as we see it today was reconstituted in the late !9th century. Its almost like Irish literature was reborn and that everything before the Irish literary rivial was a mere shadow, influenced strongly by britian. you only have to look at The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith to see this. As for swift, he'd never be classed as an national author in ireland as he didn't really like ireland that much and you could almost class him as a briton, even if he was irish.

I'm swaying towards Synge as his works were inspired from being out amongst the real irish, the peasentry and the working class of the country. he even lived like them for a while. Most of the others, especially Yeats played on the 'nationalist' trend that was spreading; the rebirth of legendary heros like cuchullain and Fionn maCool.

Out of all the great national authors of Ireland, Sean O'Casey and Patrick Kavanagh, as far as i'm aware, were the only ones that weren't of the Gentry or aristocracy. Sean O'Casey is really only famous for three plays based around dublin. The Plough and The Stars, Juno and The Peacock and The Shadow of a Gunman.:)

[Virgil]

Out of all the great national authors of Ireland, Sean O'Casey and Patrick Kavanagh, as far as i'm aware, were the only ones that weren't of the Gentry or aristocracy.

Why would being in the gentry or aristocracy disqualify anyone? Perhaps my ignorance of your country shows here, but we in America have never had class distinctions.

[Vedrana]

As much as I am not exactly mad about Dickens, I would agree that few other authors of his time have looked at so many people on different levels of society.

But, on another note, Shakespeare's ability in writing for the stage is not in question. What is the question is whether or not he epitomises English literature, and I would have to say he definitely is one of the best known writers EVER.

But as for Australia...now who would represent Australia best? One could argue in favour of Henry Lawson or A.B. "Banjo" Patterson, for poetry no doubt. And you would have to put in a word for Norman Linsday and his children's book "The Magic Pudding". I would be tempted to say Miles Franklin, because after all, she even has a literary prize named after her. Others would say Patrick White, who would be a more obvious choice as a Nobel Prize winner, but I actually have never read his work, so I wouldn't know.

And I forgot Oodgeroo Noonuccal for poetry. She is an absolute icon of Indigenous literature.

Any other suggestions?

[Whifflingpin]

niamhking: "Out of all the great national authors of Ireland, Sean O'Casey and Patrick Kavanagh, as far as i'm aware, were the only ones that weren't of the Gentry or aristocracy."

Virgil: "Why would being in the gentry or aristocracy disqualify anyone? Perhaps my ignorance of your country shows here, but we in America have never had class distinctions"

In Ireland, the aristocracy consisted, to some degree, of leaders of Irish clans, but to a greater degreee of people of Norman, English or lowland Scot descent. These last three are/were seen by the "native" Irish as foreign conquerors, even though their families may have lived in Ireland for centuries*, and many of them struggled for Irish independence alongside all other classes of Irishmen. Many of them did oppress poorer classes (just as aristocrats might do anywhere) but in Ireland there was a racial distinction, rather than merely a class distinction.

*Normans since about 1100, English from 16th/17th centuries, lowland Scots from 17th century.

.

[Niamh]

I wasnt stating that they should be disqualified from the discussion because they were from an aristocratic back round, i was merely stating that they where. It was an observation. I Myself am a huge fan of synge and of the irish Literary rivival, and have be reading and researching it for about ten years. But it must be noted that the Rivival and the national theatre of Ireland where founded by the well to do of society, and those that were well know within society. The same way that the Land league's popularity expanded when Parnell got involved. Also it might be noted that the Belle Epoch in France may have infuence what was happening in Ireland as many of the main Literary figure heads spent some time in Paris before they sparked off the rivival.
most of the great national figures of Ireland were landlords, like Countess Marcivistz, Wolfe Tone, Lady Gregory,even the fitzgeralds. but then in saying that many weren't from the wealthy classes either,Micheal Davitt, sean o'Casy.
Just because someone is not rich does not mean they are less important.Both are equally important.

[ennison]

Seems to me that the question of who is or is not a 'national' author is, by and large, best left to the citizens or subjects of the nation concerned. From the comments on Ireland I can see that the names are those largely given the imprimatur of the literate international bourgeoise (If I can plunder the vocabulary of Satan for my own purpose). There are so many more other Irish authors who write out of the bowels, not of the cosmopolitan city that's Dublin, but out of the rural Ghaidhlig tradition who would never feature in this playful listing but who the literate Irish man and woman would enjoy long before say Joyce or Beckett ( A lapsed Calvinist writing mainly in French). What about William Trevor. He is probably the greatest living Irish writer - but how Irish is he?
Right now I'm listening to the Irish 'edition' of Pipelines and enjoying it very much.

[Niamh]

Seems to me that the question of who is or is not a 'national' author is, by and large, best left to the citizens or subjects of the nation concerned. From the comments on Ireland I can see that the names are those largely given the imprimatur of the literate international bourgeoise (If I can plunder the vocabulary of Satan for my own purpose). There are so many more other Irish authors who write out of the bowels, not of the cosmopolitan city that's Dublin, but out of the rural Ghaidhlig tradition who would never feature in this playful listing but who the literate Irish man and woman would enjoy long before say Joyce or Beckett ( A lapsed Calvinist writing mainly in French). What about William Trevor. He is probably the greatest living Irish writer - but how Irish is he?
Right now I'm listening to the Irish 'edition' of Pipelines and enjoying it very much.

Well Ennison i must agree with you there! While selecting My national Authors list for Ireland i was only Thinking of those that had an effect on the country during a time of great change. In my part of Dublin the main man would be Roddy Doyle, mainly because most of his books are based in my townland. But what about John Magahern or John Banville? yes William Trevor is good.

[ennison]

A friend has recently given me two novels by Desmond Hogan to read. A most peculiar writer. Very visual. Rather fragmentary I'd say - reading him is like trying to reconstruct a stained glass window from thousands of fragments. My personal jury is out on how good he is. He's definitely Irish to the core though.

[lavendar1]

What about William Trevor. He is probably the greatest living Irish writer...


I agree... and may I ask a question: What's your take on Kate O'Brien? I read her Land of Spices awhile back and found both the subject and O'Brien's style captivating; is she under-read and under-rated?

And by the way, how's about Molly Keane? I'd honestly never heard of her or the whole "Big House" scene until I was asked to review a collection of critical essays about her writing. I felt so ill-equipt to do it that I bought Good Behavior. I've barely started it. Anyway, how's Keane regarded by the Irish?

[Koa]

I haven't read the whole thread but I confirm that THE Russian national writer is universally considered to be Pushkin.

And has anyone mentioned Taras Shevchenko for Ukraine?

[ennison]

Kate o Brien? Kate o Brien?? Sorry brain has just gone blank. I don't know who she is. Popularity of course is not always a sign of value but it's certainly good for a writer's income! It's a very unappealing trait in an author when he or she is led to believe that success in sales means they are very interesting and can have opinions on everything like some poor journalists have to do - forever trying to manufacture something to say on a subject of which they are ignorant. It certainly true that some good competent writers are not very good readers. I am amazed at those who cannot understand 'Heart of Darkness' and put it down as a racist text. Have just read Smiley's erroneous opinions on it and she is a pretty decent writer herself.
I admit to having huge blanks in my own reading and having very strong dislikes (m french grrr; j irving grrrr; k vonnegut grrrrr; styron grrrr grrr).
Guess your o Brien must be in one of these blanks.

[lavendar1]

Kate o Brien? Kate o Brien?? Sorry brain has just gone blank. I don't know who she is. I admit to having huge blanks in my own reading and having very strong dislikes (m french grrr; j irving grrrr; k vonnegut grrrrr; styron grrrr grrr).
Guess your o Brien must be in one of these blanks.

Not to worry -- there's too much literature and too little time to read it. I read The Land Of Spices and learned it was banned in Ireland. I liked O'Brien's 'gutsiness;' apparently she was unwilling to modify her penchant for including French in her original manuscript -- that, combined with the underlying theme of homosexuality in the novel cost her -- she was never a commercial success.

But, did you ever hear of Molly Keane?

[ennison]

Keane, yes. Virago I think have her on their list. I'm not keen on her.

[Gehenna]

Slovenian national author - Ivan Cankar as for a national poet I would say France Prešeren, after all we took one of his peoms for our anthem (bloody drunks)

[Etienne]

In an attempt to discover new authors, the idea of listing authors that might be known nationally but much less internationally is a good idea.

For french litterature I would like to list Emile Nelligan (the classical french-canadian poet)
http://www.reelyredd.com/0906romanceduvin.htm Here's a translation of one of his famous poems.

Michel Tremblay, french canadian again, prolific novelist and dramaturgist, had an enormous impact on french canadian litterature, and has been translated in many, many languages, he is relatively known internationally.

Then Boris Vian, I don't know about translation, doesn't sound too healthy with a style as eccentric as his. But an incredible writer, jazz player and song writer. He is not a national author, as he is french (I'm french canadian) but he's underrated internationally, as he should hold his place in the top. The reason for this might be that his style his not easily translatable, as for french litterature, he is a pillar.

[thelastmelon]

The Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Great novels by her are: "Jerusalem", "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" and "The story of Gösta Berling". She has written many more, but those are the most famous and the most read books I believe as well.

She's worth giving a try. :thumbs_up

[aabbcc]

We had Selma Lagerlöf's stories about Christ as compulsory reading in sixth grade when I lived in Croatia. :) And I recently ventured into re-discovering her works, at least that which I could find translated here.

Regarding national literature of the nations I belong to...
In the field of Croatian literature, the most known author you could encounter is probably Miroslav Krleža, most of his works are masterpieces, amongst which I greatly prefer At the Edge of Reason (original Na rubu pameti), which I wholeheartedly recommend should you ever run across it somewhere. Krleža's opus in general is considered to be the top of Croatian literature of XX century.
Furthermore, not so known and not so dear to me, but worth mentioning, would be August Šenoa (proto-realism / realism). From his opus I would recommend Prijan Lovro if it is translated (despite Zlatarovo zlato being the most famous), and his works in verse, such as Propast Venecije (roughly: The Fall of Venice). I do not known if those works were translated into English, but if they are, perhaps they might be of some interest to you.

One of my literary favourites from the field of Croatian literature is Ivan Gundulić, XVII century baroque poet. I particularly like the epic poem Osman, and Suze sina razmetnoga (Tears of the Prodigal Son), which is based on Biblical parable.

I also like short stories, poems and writings from travel by A. G. Matoš (XX century), some of which I find to be superb. Highly recommended, if you manage to find him translated.
The XVI century Croatian renaissance playwriter Marin Držić had also written some wonderful (though slightly illegible from the point of view of the language used :D) works, especially comedies.
Today is also well-known Ranko Marinković and his works (XX century), the poetry of Tin Ujević (also XX century) and many others, but I have limited myself to my few personal likes which at the same time make representative example of Croatian literature.

Actually, the tragedy of Croatia (and at the same time its blessing) in whole is that the world does not know about its existance, whilst it is culturally incredibly rich - in the fields of architecture, the remains of classical antiquity, the richness of language, the beauty of nature; there are things you will find in Croatia which you cannot find in any other country in the world. The same goes for literature, which is not known to the world because it is written in one obscure little language (and often in even more obscure dialects thereof, which are sometimes not intelligible to the native speakers either), in one obscure little country, but which in its entirety is very rich. Also, the geographical and cultural position on the crossroads of Western/Mediterranean European culture, Central European culture and Balcans makes one very fascinating mix in literature; but that is a subject for another discussion and I am already going off-topic... ;)

In the field of Serbian literature, what I would point as most worth reading are Andrić, Selimović and poetry.
Ivo Andrić (XX cent.) is a Nobel Prize winner. There is an ongoing debate of his nationality (namely, whether he was Serb or Croat), but I decided to include him as recommendation when speaking of Serbian literature because it is usually counted into it. The most known of his works are The Bridge Over Drina, Chronicles of Travnik, The Damned Yard, though virtually anything by him is worth reading. I like Andrić's opus a lot.
Meša Selimović (XX cent.), who belongs both to the field of Serbian and Bosnian literature, is another name worth mentioning. His Death and the Dervish is one of the most beautiful works I have ever read, though in translation does not sound nearly as good as in original, but it is still worth trying.

Serbian poetry is very rich. From folk balads to XX century poetry, you can find pretty much anything you desire. Personally I opt for Vladislav Petković Dis (whose work Drowned Souls is one of my poetic favourites in whole), Branko Radičević; the poetry of Branko Miljković is also very interesting, just to name a few.
Other popular names of Serbian literature are Danilo Kiš and, currently, Milorad Pavić (the latter is translated for sure), so you might wish to give them a try as well.

As far as Russian literature is considered, generally I do not read as much of it other than the well-known classics, and even whilst in RF, I hardly ever venture into reading something which would not be as known abroad, so technically, no good recommendations here.
Maybe Dear Elena Sergeevna (by Ljudmila Razumovskaja, if I recall well) and poetry by Tjutchev, everything else which I like is rather known abroad.

[JBI]

Margret Atwood is essentially Canada's national author. I like some of her stuff, but other works seem tedious. Her poetry, in my opinion, only sells because of the association already created by her name.

[Niamh]

Etienne if you look back over the rest of the national authors thread you will be able to add an aweful lot of writers to your to read list, many well know and many not so well known.:thumbs_up :)

[amalia1985]

I think that Greece has more "national" poets than authors, like Seferis, Elitis, Ritsos. I would say that the most well-known Greek author-apart from Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus and Aristophanes, of course- is Nikos Kazantzakis, an astonishing master of language and themes.

[JBI]

Israel, Bialik or Agnon. Bialik represents the Jewish renaissance, whereas Agnon captures Israel at the time of its creation.

[Virgil]

I think that Greece has more "national" poets than authors, like Seferis, Elitis, Ritsos. I would say that the most well-known Greek author-apart from Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus and Aristophanes, of course- is Nikos Kazantzakis, an astonishing master of language and themes.

I guess Homer goes too far back?

[Etienne]

There should be a distinction between greek and ancient greek litterature.

[stlukesguild]

Marx? Come on. Actually without a doubt it's Goethe for Germany.

Virgil... I must agree. In spite of all the brilliant other possibilities (Hölderlin, Rilke, Heine, Hesse, Mann, Kafka, Nietzsche, Schiller, Brecht, Grass, etc...) I don't think anyone else comes near to the towering stature of Goethe.

Good or bad, Marx has had, by far, the greatest influence of any writer on this page...

So by this logic Mao is the greatest poet of the 20th century and Hitler's Mein Kampf is a towering work of prose?

I will put in Dante for Italy (reluctantly)

What possible alternative could there be? Boccaccio? Petrarch? Leopardi? Calvino? Montale? No other is even close.

Google Results 1 - 30 of about 9,130,000 for "Mark Twain" (1835-1910)

Google Results 1 - 30 of about 3,230,000 for "Walt Whitman" (1819-1892)

Sure Whitman was born before Twain, but I think Twain had a much wider reaching effect on national/international interests and the cultural identity to American people. He travelled all over the world on extensive lecture tours too, welcomed by many other nations.

Although Whitman was a successful journalist too I think he could be considered at least as National Poet for the United States...

Logos... I think you must consider that these results (Google) are from the current era when the novel reins supreme in the mind of many readers while poetry...? Personally I would not underrate Twain. Huckleberry Finn is magnificent... but Whitman must be credited as perhaps the first American writer to profoundly influence world literature... and his influence certainly has continued long after him... in the works of key figures both at home (T.S. Eliot, Hart Crane, Ginsberg, etc...) and abroad (Pessoa, Neruda, etc...)

[Virgil]

We seem to think a like, St Lukes. :)

[symphony]

Kazi Nazrul Islam, the Bidrohi(rebel) Poet, is the national poet of Bangladesh. I think he can also be considered as a national author. Could u add him in the list, Joe? :)

[Etienne]

I would personally put Rabelais over Molières for french literature.

[amalia1985]

I guess Homer goes too far back?


As Etienne said there is a distinction between Greek and Ancient Greek Literature, that's why I did not include Homer in my reply. You must not think I am not aware of his existence. There is a great difference, if you can understand what I mean, I cannot say that our national author is Homer, who was not an author, in any case, but a POET. In "modern"-if you prefer- Greek Literature, Kazantzakis is our national author, no matter if many are "offended" by his writings.

[Virgil]

As Etienne said there is a distinction in Greek and Ancient Greek Literature, that's why I did not include Homer in my reply. There is a great difference, if you can understand what I mean, I cannot say that our national author is Homer-who was not an author, in any case, but a POET. In "modern"-if you prefer- Greek Literature, Kazantzakis is our national author, no matter if many are "offended" by his writings.

I understand perfectly. ;) Although I don't think we were distinguishing between novelists and poets throughout the thread. Shakespeare was unquestionably for the English and he's a poet and a dramatist.

Oh if greece is selected as one of the book forum countries, i hope we do a Kazantzakis novel. I have so wanted to read one.

[amalia1985]

I thought the thread was about "authors". Anyway, you should definetely read "The Last Temptation", but it's rather difficult for me to pick one of his works as "the best". Each one has its own unique value.

[manolia]

I second Kazantzakis being our national author :D (the fact that he is from Crete has nothing to do with it)
If Greece is selected in the country poll i hope we read Kazantzakis too :)

[amalia1985]

It would be useful in many aspects...

[trippy star]

Lately in Canada i would nominate Margaret Atwood (ugh).

[JBI]

Robertson Davies is, I would think, the better choice for Canada. Lawrence captures only the west in her books, and Atwood only her political agenda.

[Etienne]

I ask for a separate category for Quebec, as it is not the same literature as Canada. For Quebec, Emile Nelligan without a single doubt.

[HotKarl]

I don't think I've seen anyone nominate Proust for France. I don't know much about French literature, but many people I know speak reverently about him, so I'm throwing it out there.

As for the debate about America's author, I think Whitman is a better choice. Big Wally genuinely trumpets America's dominant culture. He has a blind faith that America is site of the second coming. Whitman's voice is indicative of American dominant culture. He has that "America is better than your country mentality." Patriotism radiates from his verse. When you throw in his spiritual connection with nature and his almost religious zeal for democracy (another trait of American culture: the blurring of secular and religious lines), he better capture the common American mentality better than Twain.

While Twain does capture this common American mentality, he--unlike Whitman--mocks that mentality, whereas Wally celebrates it. Just look at Twain's body of work: Connecticut Yankee, Huck Finn, Puddin' Head Wilson, etc. He's mocking American institutions: slavery, colonialism, American "forward" thinking. Many people just don't realize Twain was down on America. I think if most Americans actually read these two men's bodies of work, most of them would identify with Whitman.

[Henk]

The Netherlands:
- Harry Mulisch
- Cees Nooteboom
- Arnon Grunberg
- Dirk van Weelden

[johann cruyff]

I agree that Ivo Andric is Serbia's national author, but does anyone know of any authors from Bosnia?

Well,first of all,us Bosnians have every right to consider him a Bosnian author,since he was,after all,born in Dolac near Travnik(for those of you not that well versed in the Balkans' geography;) ,that's a town/city in B&H).But,Andric aside,here are some great Bosnian authors:

Mehmedalija Mesa Selimovic
Nedzad Ibrisimovic
Dzevad Karahasan
Musa Cazim Catic
Camil Sijaric
Abdulah Sidran
Skender Kulenovic
Mak Dizdar

[dum_spiro_spero]

well, as it has already been mentioned, Mihai Eminescu is romania's national author, our greatest romantic poet,even now considered a genius. he has been translated abroad but it's pretty hard to fully appreciate him if you don't know the language. there are other writers that definitely deserve some attention-mircea eliade (he is reasonably well known in the States i guess)- fiction writer, philosopher, religion historian, has written a lot on the general nature of religion-The Sacred and the Profane,Treatise on the History of Religions-to name only a few, but also has fiction works that are worth a read.my favourite novel is The Forbidden Forest which mixes folklore, religion, recent history, magic,and a good deal of love, friendship, and human struggle-all the great themes are there, and he has his own style in telling a story.also, for the troubled teenager out there, there's always the Novel of the Nearsighted Adolescent, early autobiographical work..Maytreyi and Miss Christina, again, highly recommended.
Marin Preda – and his novel The most beloved of earthlings..one of the best novels i have ever read, it’s the confession of a defeated man, by his own beliefs, by history, by destiny, and also a fair portrayal of the communist regime.people actually broke the windows of bookstores in order to get the book, and it was withdrawn from libraries, bookstores and any other form of public access was blocked shortly after publication (the same regime was not very happy with the author’s opinions and influence). It ends with the words „Where there is no love, there is nothing”, inspired from the famous words of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. I’m not sure if anyone has translated this book yet…i hope someone did, it’s really worth it, and so are other works from him(Morometii, The great loner, Life as a prey)
Marin Sorescu- great originality in his poetry and plays, sensitivity and sarcasm together, great deal of his works translated in english- verses-Alone among poets, Death of the Clock, plays-The Thirst of the Salt Mountain, The Third Stake, and so on.
some other big names:
poetry:
Tudor Arghezi
Lucian Blaga
Nichita Stanescu
Prose:
Octavian Paler (not very famous, but dear to me)
Mircea Cartarescu
Nicolae Steinhardt
These are the ones i read and loved. So, if you want to try some romanian authors and stumble upon any of them, give them a chance, it’s first class literature.

[Matilda]

The Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Great novels by her are: "Jerusalem", "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" and "The story of Gösta Berling". She has written many more, but those are the most famous and the most read books I believe as well.

She's worth giving a try. :thumbs_up

Selma Lagerlöf is certainly one of Swedens best writers, but I think most Swedes would name Astrid Lindgren as their most beloved writer. Almost everybody can quote lines from her books by heart!
Even though she wrote children's books, and lived very recently I would say she's Swedens national writer.:)

[thelastmelon]

Selma Lagerlöf is certainly one of Swedens best writers, but I think most Swedes would name Astrid Lindgren as their most beloved writer. Almost everybody can quote lines from her books by heart!
Even though she wrote children's books, and lived very recently I would say she's Swedens national writer.:)

Yes, that's true. She's one of my absolute favorite Swedish writers. I wrote a 20-page essay on her in high-school and she's absolutely wonderful. :) She was not only a good writer, but also a good person who was happy to be alive, and who has said so many wonderful things.

[JhKreisler]

Belgium
Willem Elsschot

[Pecksie]

I would put forward Horacio Quiroga or Juan Carlos Onetti (fiction) and Julio Herrera y Reissig (poetry) for Uruguay.

[JuniperWoolf]

For Canada, Mordecai is a good contender, but I'd also like to nominate Margaret Laurence (http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-74-161/people/margaret_laurence/) lots of best sellers, some still in print, some part of academic curriculum, lots of controversy/banned books etc :lol:

*shrug* I'd go with Margaret Atwood... Lucy Maud Montgomery gets a lot of recognition too, but I personally like Atwood better. Sure she's political, but she's our best known and most widely read author (again, after Montgomery).

[the facade]

I wouldn't count out Strindberg as a runner for Sweden.

[OrphanPip]

*shrug* I'd go with Margaret Atwood... Lucy Maud Montgomery gets a lot of recognition too, but I personally like Atwood better. Sure she's political, but she's our best known and most widely read author (again, after Montgomery).

Haha, last time I was in PEI there was Japanese on all the tourist signs. Apparently, they teach Anne of Green Gables in Japanese schools and it's a hugely popular classic for children there.

Personally, I would go for Davies or Laurence for most of English Canada. Mordecai Richler is probably more representative of Anglophone Quebecois, I can't help but smile when I see how much Montreal has changed since the period described in his novels. Atwood is definitely the best known Canadian author outside of Canada though.