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American authors have made an enduring impact on English language and literature. Iitially the work of American authors was a reflection of the colonial experience and tended to be of historical or religious works. American fiction is generally believed to have made its appearance only after the American War of Independence. Amongst the first great American authors was Washington Irving, author of classics like ‘Rip Van Winkle’ and ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’.
The nineteenth century saw American authors of fiction coming into their own. This period saw great authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe is, in fact, credited with inventing the detective story.
The period post the Civil War saw the birth of realism in American novels brought about by some of the greatest authors of all time. One of these authors was Mark Twain whose vivid portrayal American life in novels like ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ and ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ made them instant classics. Other notable authors who belonged to this tradition include Louisa May Alcott, William Howells, Stephen Crane and Frank Norris.
The beginning of the twentieth century was dominated by authors like Henry James and Edith Wharton, whose works stood out for their impressive characterizations. Other great authors of this period like Upton Sinclair, Jack London, Theodor Dreiser and Sinclair Lewis focused on the social conditions of their time. Two of America’s most well-loved authors – Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald - belonged to this period. Their books which include ‘A Farewell to Arms’, The Sun Also Rises’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’ are considered amongst the greatest classics of all time. Mid-twentieth century saw the rise of African-American literature. This period is also highlighted by the works of authors like John Steinbeck, William Faulkner and Margaret Mitchell.
The latter part of the twentieth century saw authors like Norman Mailer, Vladimir Nabokov, Kurt Vonnegut, J D Salinger, Joseph Heller and Thomas Pynchon experimenting with the form and style of the traditional novel. Other great authors from this period are John Updike, John Cheever and Philip Roth. This period also saw the rise of diversity amongst authors resulting in the popularity of works by authors such as Saul Bellow, Toni Morrison and Amy Tan.
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