11 Best American Authors You Must Read 

Thanks! I agree with your choice of the best American writers, but perhaps Jack London worth an honorable mention, if not included on the list.

Billy Budd is really good

My favorite american writer is Jack London. But I'm European and this author seems to be loved more here than in America. Am I right ?

I am a student from Indonesia, and currently I am studying literature. Its very visible once you read the text, when explaining

I'm always surprised that James Fenimore Cooper never seems to make any of these lists, despite the fact that he was one of the first prominent truly 'American' authors and that so many of his books are still in print. I suspect one reason for his decline in the eyes of many is due to Samuel Clemens' incredibly unfair attack on him, in which he almost entirely misrepresented Cooper's work. I know it is difficult to narrow down the list when selecting only eleven authors, and Cooper certainly shouldn't be put ahead of many on the list, but he helped put American authors on the map, and he really does deserve at least some recognition. Anyway, it was a good list, but maybe think about adding Cooper as an honorable mention at least.

I think James Fenimore Cooper, Washington Irving, or Nathaniel Hawthorne would be considered the true contenders for the Father's of American Literature not Mark Twain; Twain was certainly more popular and wrote more, but it's of course debatable the Father of American Literature title is his.....over-all great video.

Hi Bryan, I've watched and really enjoyed all your great books videos, and I must say we have remarkably similar taste. This is the only one for which I feel compelled to suggest a few additions. To me one of the most moving and best structured classics and one with some of the most evocative language is Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. I was surprised, since our preferences match up so well, not to see Henry James on the list. The Portrait of a Lady, The Ambassadors and The Americans I believe are among the greatest psychological novels ever. I'd also include Richard Wright, especially for Native Son. Perhaps you later felt Harper Lee deserves to be on the list for the magnificent, moving To Kill a Mockingbird since you included it in your more recent Classic Literature video.

I’ve read almost every novel and short story by F Scott Fitzgerald. He had a magic way with words that is rare with most authors. The Great Gatsby is my favorite novel. “So we beat on, boats against the current, bourne back ceaselessly into the past.

NICE VIDEO

Good video. Edgar Allan Poe gets left out all to often. Also, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter, which has been called the best novel ever written by an American. And lesser known Nathanael West, who wrote among the modernists.

Poe, Roth, McCarthy, Delillo, Wallace

I just read Sun Also Rises by Hemmingway. I believe you're wrong. Hemingway's book capitulated him to being the most prominent American author. It was banned in some locations...Fitzgerald on the other-hand was not born wealthy but had an infatuation with a younger upper class girl while at Princeton who picked a man with money. He said he the third and fourth most important things, looks and intelligence, but not the most important an animal magnetism and money (to paraphrase). This became a great theme for his tragic life. And yes, The Great Gatsby was not well received at the time!

Pynchon. Absolutely MUST be on such a list. I would add Poe as well.

For those interested in American literature, one would consider Ambrose Bierce. In a crowded field, I don’t suggest he’s unfairly omitted from this list, but a too 20, certainly.

Review some Thomas C. Stuhr Lesser known American author. 💀💀💀

You missed Pulitzer Prize winner Ralph Ellison “Invisible Man”.

Edgar Allen Poe William Gilmore Simms Zane Grey Louis Lamour Charles Portis

Never heard of Toni Morrison. Is she really a classic?

Mr. Cormac McCarthy was better than any of these admittedly great authors, even Faulkner and Hemingway. David Foster Wallace should get some credit as well.

Washington Irving must be read by anyone trying to get a view of American literature.

I'd get rid of Melville. He's famous only for Moby Dick and pretty much nobody readsbanything else he ever did. And even Moby Dick is very split between people loving and hating it. There are definitely other authors more deserving of this list.