I am thinking:
William Shakespeare
Charles Dickens
James Joyce
I am thinking an American author but I can’t decide between Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe, or Herman Melville.
I’d put Twain over both Poe and Melville.
I thought you said “English language.”
Ayn Rand.
::ducks::
I’d put Milton in before Joyce, or maybe Henry James. Twain’s a good fourth, IMO.
I’d put Twain in of the 3 mentiond in the OP. I’d probably replace Joyce, too, but I’m not sure with whom. Maybe Poe.
Shakespeare and Twain are mandatory, in my opinion.
I could probably be persuaded for a large number of choices for the other 2 - in particular I’m not particularly fond of putting Dickens there.
How about Steinbeck? One of the very best American authors in my opinion.
Dickens is the Teddy Roosevelt of literature.
Hemingway, instead of Joyce (definitely not James) perhaps.
For me, any Mount Rushmore of English language literature that didn’t include Shakespeare and Dickens would be a travesty.
Personally, I’d have Steinbeck there (as the US representative) + one other, possibly from somewhere other than the UK or the US to try to keep it as internationally representative as possible.
Shakespeare and Twain absolutely. I’m comfortable with Dickens. Then we need one more.
If I were choosing it’d probably come down to Hemingway or Steinbeck. I think I’ll take Steinbeck, since Hemingway is a divisive choice.
So in order of importance: Shakespeare, Twain, Dickens, Steinbeck. I’m not married to the last one though.
And, just like with U.S. presidents, women are apparently not welcome.
How about T.S. Eliot?
Why don’t you propose one? It’s not like the stonecutters are already setting up the scalfolding.
Twain, Shakespeare, Whitman, and for a little sex appeal, Austen.
No love for Stephanie Meyer?
George Eliot
Shakespeare and Dickens for definite, plus probably Twain and Austen. It’s not just about them being good, but ‘big’ very well-known authors that quite a lot of people do think are good and have had some significant influence on other writing. Only four does make it difficult, though. There are cases to be made for a lot of authors other than Twain and Austen. Maybe after this thread you could start a poll with the most-suggested writers.
A real literary Mount Rushmore would be kinda cool.
Mary Shelly for the women authors, maybe? Aphra Behn for an outside shot?
And at the risk of getting off track…who ends up on the Stone Mountain of Literature? Meyer, Clancy, and Burroughs?
Shakespeare/Dickens/Hemingway/Joyce
On the bench:
Twain
Austen
Steinbeck
Somebody modern - maybe Rushdie (his name would be a helpful reminder) or maybe even Rowling
Melville
Fitzgerald
Faulkner
Orwell
Poe
Hawthorne
Woolf
Tolkein