Who are the greatest American authors of all time? That list is extremely subjective, though it can be broken down a bit easier by focusing on some of America’s favorites from the 20th century, which is fairly easily deciphered based on best-selling lists. There are some books that had such an impact they managed to shape the country, according to the Library of Congress exhibition, The Books That Shaped America. A few include L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), Jack London’s The Call of the Wild (1903) and Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind (1936). But are these authors some of America’s favorites of the century?
Jack London, 1876 – 1916
Jack London was a late 19th-century and early 20th-century American novelist and an innovator in what would later be known as science fiction. Of course, his most famous works include The Call of the Wild, set in Canada’s Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush, one of the books noted as shaping America. It was so popular that his story was adapted to film in 1935 in addition to other cinematic adaptations since. London wrote White Fang, published just a few years later in 1906 as a companion novel to his best-known work. He penned multiple short stories as well, like The Sea Wolf, a psychological adventure based in the San Francisco Bay Area which was also adapted for motion pictures.
Danielle Steel, 1947 –
One of the most renowned American fiction authors of all time, in 2011, Forbes reported that Danielle Steel’s novels had spent more than 390 consecutive weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list, with 22 adapted for television. Best known for romance and drama, though she’s also written children’s books and poetry, all of her novels have been bestsellers. Her work has been translated into 28 languages and has readers in some four dozen countries across the globe. In 2016, Business Insider ranked her wealth at $15 million.
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., 1922 – 2007
Often ranked among America’s top authors of all time, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s works like Cat’s Cradle, Breakfast of Champions, and especially, the darkly satirical, best seller Slaughterhouse-Five, has made him a favorite among readers. Born and raised in Indianapolis, the city honored his wit and wisdom by creating the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, a fantastic cultural and education resource. If you plan on moving to the city, you may be able to find an ideal place near the institution among the many condos for sale in Indianapolis, allowing you to take advantage of it anytime you like.
Vonnegut published 14 novels, five non-fiction works, and three short story collections during his lifetime and was also known for his humanist beliefs. When he died in 2007, the New York Times headline referred to him as the “counterculture’s novelist.”
Stephen King, 1947 –
While some have questioned whether King is actually a “great” writer, there is no doubt that he’s one of the most popular authors of the 20th century and beyond. One of the best-selling authors of all time, his horror, supernatural, suspense, fantasy and sci-fi books have sold over 350 million copies, many of which have been made into TV series, miniseries and films. In the four decades or so since his first novel, Carrie, he’s published more than 50 books, all of which have been international bestsellers. There are over 100 television programs and films based on his work to date, and at the age of 70, he still shows no signs of slowing down.