English Mysteries Club discussion

How do you define greatest? I'm certainly a fan of Dickens, and he wrote a lot so he'd be a good desert island choice. I guess I'm just not comfortable with absolutes :P

For sheer genius of prose and finding just the perfect words for any situation, for bringing laughter and joy to all, I would side with P.G.Wodehouse. Greatness is a tough term with any number of subjective criteria. Eventually it's all about personal choices. The likes of Dickens and Scott have perhaps proven to be must influential but I have net very few who read and retread them for the joy of just reading while Wodehouse is a staple read of many many readers. All this is based on personal opinions and observations of course.

Imsathya wrote: "For sheer genius of prose and finding just the perfect words for any situation, for bringing laughter and joy to all, I would side with P.G.Wodehouse. Greatness is a tough term with any number of s..."

I love Wodehouse!! But I think a reading diet of just Wodehouse would be unsatisfying...

What a hornet's nest you've disturbed Jean-Luke, I can already see the myriad posters falling over themselves to champion their favorite authors.

But seriously, for me this is my first and last post here. What I've not said says much about what I think of this topic. I wish good luck to all future participants in the debate.

What do you mean by writer? Novelists, poets,essayists, dramatists.. There cannot be absolutes... but many greats and I have read many such. What about Shakespeare, Milton,Tolstoy? You go back to them again & again, at various stages of life.

That's a very subjective question, of course. Having said that, I would have to go with Dickens. He's always been my favorite.

I love Dickens, but not all his novels.Somehow I can't proceed more than two chapters of Nicholas Nickleby. Its been sitting on my shelf for years, I've honestly tried but couldn't.:-(

Surely it has to be Shakespeare.

Yes I suppose, certainly Shakespeare But then there's a great writer in my mother tongue, who is a part of our ethos.

There are very few "great" authors that I have the brain power for or the patience for reading over 400 pages. I like Jane Austen.

Ellen wrote: "There are very few "great" authors that I have the brain power for or the patience for reading over 400 pages. I like Jane Austen."

Ooh I love Alexandre Dumas (père more than fils) - The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers I can read again and again...

Dickens!

Has to be Dickens - he has it all. Superb plots, humorous characters, social conscience...I can forgive him his little foibles because what he produced spoke to us all.

Great as in vividly evoking a time or place gone by? Or sheer volume, or still mainstream reading? Chaucer, Dickens, Austin, Pepys, Maughm, Dumas, all have the power to recreate forgotten times. Shakespeare proved an enduring entertainer. Now anyone who reads has millions to choose from and 'great' writing is endured at schools. The book that had the most profound effect on me was a once-off, so wouldn't qualify - To Kill A Mockingbird.

E.J,. I agree and disagree with you with a smile about TKAM. I love it, too, and I think it can be called great not only because it is so widely read but also because it has influenced so many people.

What a big ask.
I don't think George Gissing is the greatest
writer of all time but I don't know what I'd
do if I didn't have access to his books (probably
curl up in a ball and die)!!
Also Fyodor Dostoevsky is a writer whose books
have had a profound effect on me.

Shakespeare - he guided us through all human emotions and taught us that all our actions have consequences - four hundred years ago.

Thank you for this, Mike. I like the Shetland Island series very much. Do you have any idea how we can watch the TV series in America?

Our library service used to host a 100 favourite authors poll - at that time, Catherine Cookson invariably came out top! I'm currently making a quilt based on my 100 favourite novels, and there are 2 of Dickens' in there - plus a couple of Thomas Hardy's and George Eliot's. I certainly wouldn't like to pick one as being the best though - they are all brilliant in their different ways. It's a bit like asking a parent to pick their favourite child!

Karen wrote: "Our library service used to host a 100 favourite authors poll - at that time, Catherine Cookson invariably came out top! I'm currently making a quilt based on my 100 favourite novels, and there are..."

What a nice idea for a quilt! I would love to see a photo of it when you finish, if you are willing to share :)

Thanks Leslie. Think I may be some time!! I've only done the first ten blocks (and the whole thing will need to be quilted eventually). I've put the pics on my blog. Not sure I should post a link as it isn't relevant to the discussion, but the blog address is in my profile link. So far, it has been fun!

Karen wrote: "Thanks Leslie. Think I may be some time!! I've only done the first ten blocks (and the whole thing will need to be quilted eventually). I've put the pics on my blog. Not sure I should post a link a..."
It is a great idea. Are you piecing each block in pieces to show a scene from the book?

No, one block has a picture that 'represents' the story eg Miss Haversham for Great Expectations, a mountain/tree/ring for Lord of the Rings. Gormenghast is the castle with little silhouetted people. I'm trying not to overcomplicate it and I'm sure some books will be harder to represent than others, but it's a fun challenge for me.

The quilt sounds wonderful. I would love to see a photo of it when you're finished.
I have to agree with the people who believe Charles Dickens is the best author who ever lived. He is not only a great writer but his books are accessible and readable for nearly any reader. James Joyce is always rated as a "great author" but how many people actually read his books? In my view a great author must be an author who is read and loved by many people.