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Writewords Forums » Favourite Writing » Who`s the greatest living author?
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This 40 message thread spans 3 pages: [1]  2   3  > >  
  Who`s the greatest living author?  Anna Reynolds at 14:48 on 23 February 2007
 

Who is the greatest of them all? When the Guardian referred to Martin Amis as 'Britain's greatest living author' last week, one reader was so outraged she threatened to emigrate -or worse.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2019583,00.html

What do you think?

  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  nessiec at 15:55 on 23 February 2007
 

That's a really good question. So many different sorts of authors, for so many reasons.

JKR, for encouraging children to read
Jacqueline Wilson
Margaret Forster
Cormac McCarthy
Joyce Carol Oates
Ali Smith
Lionel Shriver

to name but a few.

  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  Anna Reynolds at 18:17 on 23 February 2007
 

Ah, but if it's Britain's greatest living author, then quite a few of these (admittedly very fine) authors can't qualify.
I would nominate;
Jackie Kay
Ali Smith
Jeanette Winterson (she'd probably be my number one)
um... there must be some men... but they are all irish, John McGahern but he's just died, blimey, hard isn't it?
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  NMott at 18:42 on 23 February 2007
 

John Le Carre
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  Account Closed at 18:51 on 23 February 2007
 

JKR? Is that a joke?

JG Ballard, has to be.

JB
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  ashlinn at 21:06 on 23 February 2007
 

Ishiguro? I've only read The Remains of the Day by him but I'd seriously consider giving it to him just for that.

  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  NMott at 21:11 on 23 February 2007
 

JKR for children's fiction? Yup, I'll second that.
Plus Michael Morpugo.
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  geoffmorris at 21:15 on 23 February 2007
 

Me?
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  NMott at 22:15 on 23 February 2007
 

living author, geoff


  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  Colin-M at 08:44 on 24 February 2007
 

Philip Pullman. I think Kazou Ishiguro would definitely be up there too.

For sheer success, you could argue (reluctantly) Jeferey Archer (sorry, sorry, sorry).

Colin M
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  nessiec at 16:19 on 24 February 2007
 

Of course 'greatest living author' doesn't necessarily mean the person who has written the greatest books...hence my inclusion of JKR.
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  Colin-M at 17:28 on 24 February 2007
 

JKR is a very fine example, and I totally support the nomination because as you say, her influence to get people reading is breathtaking, and whatever you think of her writing, her basic idea, written the way it was just worked. Even if you argue that it wasn't her basic idea, she obviously delivered it better than other writers because half of her publicity was down to word of mouth - so she did something right!

Colin
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  NMott at 17:47 on 24 February 2007
 

It is a shame it has to be living authors. Top of my list of dead'uns would be Oscar Wilde, and Agatha Christie.
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  Colin-M at 17:51 on 24 February 2007
 

Bram Stoker. Some people call it pulp, but you can't argue the influence that Dracula has had on literature, movies, music and fashion.
  Re: Who`s the greatest living author?  NMott at 00:32 on 25 February 2007
 

Oh, well if you're having Dracula, I'm having Mary Shelley & Frankenstein.
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