‘Great’ writers who are no longer read (by so many)

[Bella Kemp]

Marvelous thread this, thanks! One that springs to mind would be A J Cronin whose novels like How Green was my Valley and The Stars Look Down became emblematic of the 20th century socialist British fiction that inspired many welfare reforms.

Another must be US crime fiction writer David Goodis. His short stories and novels written in the terse yet poetic style of the noir thriller went out of print in the US after his death in 1967 but remained popular in France. Nightfall (1947) remains one of the earliest and best examples of the use of forensic psychology in a plot resolution. It was later filmed in the low budget but acclaimed 1956 movie of the same name. His novel Down There (1956 aka Shoot the Piano Player) was famously filmed in François Truffaut’s 1960 new wave movie Tirez sur le Pianiste, starring Charles Aznavour – highly recommended.

An excellent contribution Constantbee. Like most here, I suspect, I came to know A J Cronin through Doctor Finlay, but back in the day when we had a proper library in town I read many of his other books. A quick look on the internet just now revealed that he was far more prolific than I remember and, astonishingly, was still publishing in the 1970s.
I have on my shelves a complete set of H.G. Wells and occasionally pick one up. His short stories are often wonderful, and certainly as Jayne mentioned The Time Machine and War of the Worlds are good reads, but most are dreary - who reads 'Marriage,' 'Tono Bungay' 'Peter and Joan' these days? I have never got beyond the first chapters of any of these. It may be that they improve greatly further on (as Jayne observed of Mr Polly). If anyone has trudged further and found glorious uplands do let me know.

[french frank]

Still read by enthusiasts, I'm sure, but what about WH Davies (Diary of a Supertramp; Young Emma could have been by Gissing), Compton Mackenzie (Sinister Street), Ivy Compton-Burnett (Parents and Children &c), JB Priestley (The Good Companions), Ronald Firbank (Valmouth &c), Ford Madox Ford (The Good Soldier), Angela Thirkell (August Folly) - all on my shelves but none read in decades. Were any of them 'great'? Possibly not, but some of their works could be called 'classics', certainly Firbank was 'great' and The Good Soldier is a classic.

Add: I did read Diary of a Supertramp quite recently - I remember mentioning it on 'What are you reading now?' Also GK Chesterton, other than Father Brown (The Man Who Was Thursday).

[Ein Heldenleben]

An excellent contribution Constantbee. Like most here, I suspect, I came to know A J Cronin through Doctor Finlay, but back in the day when we had a proper library in town I read many of his other books. A quick look on the internet just now revealed that he was far more prolific than I remember and, astonishingly, was still publishing in the 1970s.
I have on my shelves a complete set of H.G. Wells and occasionally pick one up. His short stories are often wonderful, and certainly as Jayne mentioned The Time Machine and War of the Worlds are good reads, but most are dreary - who reads 'Marriage,' 'Tono Bungay' 'Peter and Joan' these days? I have never got beyond the first chapters of any of these. It may be that they improve greatly further on (as Jayne observed of Mr Polly). If anyone has trudged further and found glorious uplands do let me know.

Amazingly I have read Tono Bungay . It’s “message” - the ease with which snake-oil merchants manipulate the market and public opinion is as timely as ever….

[Ein Heldenleben]

Still read by enthusiasts, I'm sure, but what about WH Davies (Diary of a Supertramp; Young Emma could have been by Gissing), Compton Mackenzie (Sinister Street), Ivy Compton-Burnett, (Parents and Children &c) JB Priestley (The Good Companions), Ronald Firbank (Valmouth &c), Ford Madox Ford (The Good Soldier), Angela Thirkell (August Folly) - all on my shelves but none read in decades. Were any of them 'great'? Possibly not, but some of their works could be called 'classics', certainly Firbank was 'great' and The Good Soldier is a classic.

The Good Soldier is a great book. But not as good as the Parade’s End trilogy which , imv, is one of the key 20th century texts. Of the others only read Supertramp . Think that was read widely at boy’s schools in the 60’s and 70’s - hence the band ? Of the list of once famous and now not what about J.C Powys and brother T.F. . I’ve read the latter’s Mr Weston’s Good Wine and J.C’s Wolf Solent and that’s about it . Has any one read J.C.‘S lengthier works ? Tried but gave up.,l

[french frank]

The Good Soldier is a great book. But not as good as the Parade’s End trilogy which , imv, is one of the key 20th century texts. Of the others only read Supertramp . Think that was read widely at boy’s schools in the 60’s and 70’s - hence the band ? Of the list of once famous and now not what about J.C Powys and brother T.F. . I’ve read the latter’s Mr Weston’s Good Wine and J.C’s Wolf Solent and that’s about it . Has any one read J.C.‘S lengthier works ? Tried but gave up.,l

Yes, Parade's End too, though I don't actually have it. Yes, to Mr Weston's Good Wine- and who is the chap whose name I confuse with Havergal Brian, who wrote a huge work called, er, Mythologies or Illuminations or something? It may not have been published/finished.

[Katzelmacher]

The Good Soldier is a great book. But not as good as the Parade’s End trilogy which , imv, is one of the key 20th century texts. Of the others only read Supertramp . Think that was read widely at boy’s schools in the 60’s and 70’s - hence the band ? Of the list of once famous and now not what about J.C Powys and brother T.F. . I’ve read the latter’s Mr Weston’s Good Wine and J.C’s Wolf Solent and that’s about it . Has any one read J.C.‘S lengthier works ? Tried but gave up.,l

I attempted to read Wolf Solent last year but gave up just before page 300. I was getting no pleasure out of it whatsoever, though the beginning (on the Waterloo steps) had promise. No interest in reading Glastonbury Romance on the basis of that one negative experience.

[Katzelmacher]

Amazingly I have read Tono Bungay . It’s “message” - the ease with which snake-oil merchants manipulate the market and public opinion is as timely as ever….

I can remember reading Tono Bungay around 2002. The details are now sketchy but I can remember enjoying it. An adventure story with lashings of satirical science fiction.

In fact, I’ve liked all the Wells I’ve read - the usual suspects, plus Ann Veronica and The Sleeper Awakes, as well as First Men In The Moon.

[Sir Velo]

The Good Soldier is a classic.

As a Joseph Conrad aficionado I had high expectations of The Good Soldier. Thinking of it again, I am reminded of Groucho Marx's famous quip to an aspiring novelist: "I didn't stop laughing from the moment I picked up your book to the moment I put it down. One day I intend to get round to reading it!"

I'm afraid the later 20th century has not been kind on Ford. The overwrought subject matter fails what Eliot called the "objective correlative" test, descending into pure bathos and obscurity. It is unfortunately a positive example as to why Ford was never able to come out of Conrad's shadow.

[muzzer]

An overdue mention for the Backlisted podcast, also at www.Backlisted.fm, which will be of interest to all posting on this thread.

[french frank]

Somerset Maugham? I see there have been three films made in the 21st century (incl 2000!) but his popularity could hardly be what it once was. The titles are memorable; the ones I have: Of Human Bondage, Cakes and Ale, The Razor's Edge, Liza of Lambeth, The Moon and Sixpence. Is he worth reading again?

Wish I could think of that chap's name. Was the title 'Heredities'? Surfing completely unproductive.

[DoctorT]

Maugham’s short stories are always wort a read.
Does anyone read Robert Louis Stevenson these days?

[Historian]

Does anyone read Robert Louis Stevenson these days?

Yes, 'Kidnapped' was the last one. There's been some discussion about his travel writing on another thread.

Agree that Maugham's short stories are good, was less convinced by 'The Moon and Sixpence', but that's just my reaction.

[DoctorT]

Yes, 'Kidnapped' was the last one

Glad someone else likes ‘Kidnapped.’ I’ve loved it for about 50 years, since being introduced to it by my late father

[johncorrigan]

Glad someone else likes ‘Kidnapped.’ I’ve loved it for about 50 years, since being introduced to it by my late father

Both 'Kidnapped' and 'Treasure Island' took on a new meaning for me when reading it out loud to the kids. It felt like they were made for it - the language took on new life in both. Didn't read 'Jeckyl and Hyde' to them, mind you...too scary for me.

[gradus]

Glad someone else likes ‘Kidnapped.’ I’ve loved it for about 50 years, since being introduced to it by my late father

Me too, still a favourite. Catriona, the follow-up less so.