Do you know these authors? Which?

[FanofdeBeauvoir]

I just want to know how many people know them. :D

From the ones you know, which are your favorites and why?

[PeterL]

Jonathan Swift was one of the greatest writers of the English language. His best writings were "A Modest Proposal" and his piece on the compensation of Marlborough, which has no title, because it was published in The Tatler.

BTW, you misspelled Bertrand Russell's name.

[Desolation]

Sartre is one of my favorite writers, although I like his novels and plays more than his philosophy.

I started reading Schopenhauer recently, and I love a lot of his ideas and statements.

Swift is a great satirist.

[FanofdeBeauvoir]

BTW, you misspelled Bertrand Russell's name.

But there's no how editing a poll. :blush:

[PeterL]

But there's no how editing a poll. :blush:

Yes, that is why one does not make errors while setting them up.

[FanofdeBeauvoir]

Yes, that is why one does not make errors while setting them up.

Ouch...

[Mathor]

Ouch...

no sweat, just ask one of the mods to fix it for you. they can do ANYTHING...well, mostly.

[mayneverhave]

I know who "Sartre" is, but who's this "Jean-Paul Sartre"?

[Paulclem]

I know who "Sartre" is, but who's this "Jean-Paul Sartre"?

The same

[amalia1985]

Jean-Paul Satre's plays are among my favourites.

[Paulclem]

I liked Nausea and Iron in the Soul, but I think I read them too young. You know when you're reading a book when you're younger, (with me a lot younger), and you realise it's good, but you're not getting the depth of it.

[Pecksie]

I especially like Simone de Beauvoir.

Clarice Lispector is IMHO quite overrated.

[promtbr]

IClarice Lispector is IMHO quite overrated.

Really? There are a fair amount of respected authors who hold her in pretty high regard. Never read her personally, but I have practically every novel of hers available in translation and just need to get through several (hundred) other novels first..

Is Machado De Assis similarly overated?


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[JCamilo]

I am voting just to create some unbalance in the poll :D

[stlukesguild]

Yes, Swift is a master of satire and English prose. I quite like what I've read by Machado de Assis... but that has been admittedly limited to a single book.

[Paulclem]

Not many of those authors - so many books, so little time...

[JCamilo]

Well, focusing only in the brazilian names, I would avoid Orígenes Lessa. Sometimes funny, but nothing else. Lispector is a good writer, introspective and dense. However, I doubt how she can be overrated since not even in Brazil she is praised beyond for example Cecília Meirelles. Euclides – this is his 100th years anniversary, is aN interesting author because the importance of Sertoes (Side note to Stlukes, the only Brazilian book I saw Borges complimenting) but it is a more journalistic work. His personal life mimicries Pushkin, he also died in duel against a younger military officer with whom his wife was having an affair.
Érico is the main representative of the southern region of brazil, in many aspects he is a far-west writer – strong people, a lot of space, and fights. José de Alencar is some short of a forefather of a legitimate Brazilian literature. He managed to create romances with Indians and mix with Portuguese, Iracema is one of the main female Brazilian characters. However, his later romantism is guilty of excess. Anyways, my favorite Brazilian novel is a work that he wrote Encarnação (Incarnation), that predates Dorian Gray and many aspects of the psychological horror narrative of Henry James. Mario Quintana is a sensible and simple poet. Good translator also.
I left behind those who are (together with the not mentioned Gonçalves Dias) the best Brazilian authors.
Monteiro Lobato is to brazil what Andersen is too Denmark. A keen writer of children fantasies, but with a level of social criticism that make him a great dish for adults. Some of the most notable creations such as Emilia or Visconde are present in his books. He was also a important critic and thinker.
Machado is the central name of Brazilian literature. Just like the others the fact he was Brazilian is an accident. A prolific writer (he was a good poet, several criticism, translation of French and English authors, newspapaer chronicles, romances, short stories), he was somehow a realistic writer, with psychological tendencies. Something in the line of Flaubert and Dostoievisky. With a sharp humor no different of Voltaire and Borges. He was also able to pull out fantasies such as Bras Cubas, a story narrated by the dead main character and his short stories are brilliant.
Castro Alves is a typical romantic poet. Died young too. Typical. But he was good. Some of his poems are on pair with the best English or French poets of his time. His most famous is a long poem about a slavery ship – he is a frontrunner for the fight against slavery.
Drummond is a modern poet. In my opinion richer than Neruda. Perhaps the only who had something that Fernando Pessoa could envy. Mostly in free verse, Drummon talked mostly about Saudade, which seemed to be a faint voice.
Guimarães Rosa is notable. His exploits with Language (oral) make him as incomprehensible as Joyce. He often explored local language to deal with local themes with the subtle of magic realism. He had several experiences with the text, form of book, etc.
Eça is Portuguese, but a great name of Realism in the end of XIX century. Sharp and ironic, it is worth to give a try on his books.

[Paulclem]

The problem with literature courses in the UK is that too little world literature is taught and appreciated. The English speaking world's attitude to language is similar, and recently the uptake of language courses for teens has gone down! We have a strong literary canon, but I'm sure we miss out on world literature.

[kelby_lake]

Never heard of many of those.

[TheFifthElement]

Curious how Sartre has less votes than Jean-Paul Sartre :D

Of the ones I voted for I wouldn't say I have a favourite. Philosophically I think Bertrand Russell speaks most closely to my voice. De Beauvoir is excellent and The Woman Destroyed is well worth the read. I'm reading Sartre's The Wall at the moment and his tight prose makes me give up and put down my pen...so I hate him!!!

[FanofdeBeauvoir]

no sweat, just ask one of the mods to fix it for you. they can do ANYTHING...well, mostly.

God, I put Sartre twice as well. :flare: Dammit.

[FanofdeBeauvoir]

Really? There are a fair amount of respected authors who hold her in pretty high regard. Never read her personally, but I have practically every novel of hers available in translation and just need to get through several (hundred) other novels first..

Is Machado De Assis similarly overated?


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Neither is overrated, Clarice Lispector is a very subjective author, so many dislike her for it. And Machado de Assis has written a lot of masterpieces, like Dom Casmurro and Brás Cubas.

[FanofdeBeauvoir]

Well, focusing only in the brazilian names, I would avoid Orígenes Lessa. Sometimes funny, but nothing else.

I guess you didn't read The Disintegration Of Death and O feijão e o Sonho. These are serious and interesting works.

[mal4mac]

The problem with literature courses in the UK is that too little world literature is taught and appreciated. The English speaking world's attitude to language is similar, and recently the uptake of language courses for teens has gone down! We have a strong literary canon, but I'm sure we miss out on world literature.

Rubbish. I wanted to take an evening course in American Literature and, voila, my local University was giving one, along with litearture courses based around other countries.. What you say might be true about English Literature courses, but that's why they're called *English* Literature courses...

Anyway, who needs courses. Most of the world's literature is available in your nearest UK bookstore...

I don't know another language, but that hasn't stopped me reading literature from many countries in translation.

[JCamilo]

I guess you didn't read The Disintegration Of Death and O feijão e o Sonho. These are serious and interesting works.

Yes I have. I found O feijão e o Sonho funny (Swift is funny and serious at sametime). Interesting is a good word for him. Nothing much else.

[Paulclem]

What you say might be true about English Literature courses, but that's why they're called *English* Literature courses...

Yes you're right, but I didn't say that, so it's ok.

I too studied some American literature - North American, and European literature. I didn't see any S American or Asian. perhaps, as it was a while ago, the situation has changed for the better.

Anyway, who needs courses. Most of the world's literature is available in your nearest UK bookstore...

True. I'll come to you if I need to know anything more.

I found the courses I did really expanded my knowledge, and took my reading to another level. I don't know if this is a common experience.

I don't know another language, but that hasn't stopped me reading literature from many countries in translation.

I won't put what I originally thought about this.

The question often arises about the quality of translation. i think it would be better to read in the original, but I too am virtually monolingual. I don't know much more about translation, just that I am bound by it.

[promtbr]

Well, focusing only in the brazilian names

How about Osman Lins...Queen of the Prisons of Greece and Avolovara ?

I have several well read aquaintances who recommended those two novels.



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