pre-war Japan had its problems with the english speaking world, that might have been a reason. Still, I really don't see where the universal appeal is missing - my local book store seems to offer more english than german classics, and in regard to modern novels ... putting aside greatness here ... the shelves seem positively flooded with Twilight, Shades of Gray, Harry Potter, the Generic Grishamnovel etc. not much French or Russian around, though Scandinavians are pretty popular. Whatever public favour amounts to when it comes to quality is another question. I really haven't encountered anyone believing that English Literature didn't offer top tier novels before. maybe people tend to be more critical with things they are closer connected to?
Great Novels In English: Are There Any?
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Originally posted by Demetrius View PostI really haven't encountered anyone believing that English Literature didn't offer top tier novels before.
It is true that pre-war Japan had problems with English speaking nations but my impression about English literature is also from the time when I worked in a bookshop back in the 70s when I was familiar with publishes’ lists.
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Statistics have their problems, so has Wikipedia; There are a great number of people with English as their first language, maybe more than the french, certainly more than the russians or germans, probably less than the spanish. It is not impossible that the books in english language have been sold almost only in the UK, USA, Kanada etc. But I doubt it.
le Monde polled a number of french regarding good 20th century books
Naturally, it is leaning towards the french end. But the 20 or so English works beat the other languages by a mile - and its a myriad of novels.
and a poll of some 250000 Germans http://suite101.de/article/zdf-unser...#axzz2FjYgimHV
Naturally, Germans like German books, but by my count 28 English books/novels (4 Russian, 3 French), quite a few of them 'classics' along the lines of Austen, Bronte or Salinger
In the end, I really don't see it, whether its about quantity or quality or universal appeal.
edit: missed Tolkien in first place so 29
and just for fun
6 English, 1 Chinese, 1 Portugese, 1 Dutch and 1 Holy
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Tristram Shandy, Tom Jones, Joseph Andrews, Austen, Wuthering Heights, Dickens, Middlemarch, Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, The Scarlet Letter, Hardy, The Rainbow, Sons and Lovers, Women in Love, Joyce, Woolf, Under Western Eyes, The Secret Agent, A Passage to India, The Sound and the Fury, The Great Gatsby, Chandler, The Sea, The Sea, The Black Prince, The Magic Toyshop, Nights at the Circus, Midnight's Children, Beloved, Money, London Fields, Chatterton, Sexing the Cherry, Art and Lies, Larry's Party, The Stone Diaries, Mao II, Underworld, Hotel World, Pratchett, Darkmans ...[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]
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Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View PostTristram Shandy, Tom Jones, Joseph Andrews, Austen, Wuthering Heights, Dickens, Middlemarch, Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, The Scarlet Letter, Hardy, The Rainbow, Sons and Lovers, Women in Love, Joyce, Woolf, Under Western Eyes, The Secret Agent, A Passage to India, The Sound and the Fury, The Great Gatsby, Chandler, The Sea, The Sea, The Black Prince, The Magic Toyshop, Nights at the Circus, Midnight's Children, Beloved, Money, London Fields, Chatterton, Sexing the Cherry, Art and Lies, Larry's Party, The Stone Diaries, Mao II, Underworld, Hotel World, Pratchett, Darkmans ...
The more I think about it, the more it seems fatuous to assert that, say, Bleak House suffers in comparison with any novel written elsewhere in the world."...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Thropplenoggin
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Originally posted by Caliban View PostWhich one?
now back "on task you lot" ................
This could, of course, be a lateral opening into a discussion of the nature of what one might consider to be an appropriate use of the word "great" ? but I doubt it !
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Originally posted by Caliban View Post
The more I think about it, the more it seems fatuous to assert that, say, Bleak House suffers in comparison with any novel written elsewhere in the world.
Reminds me of a long easter holiday as a student.........I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
I am not a number, I am a free man.
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Originally posted by teamsaint View Postand anybody who argues should have a copy dropped on their head. That'll learn 'em .Last edited by Nick Armstrong; 17-08-13, 12:40. Reason: Very belated elimination of shocking grocer's apostrophe"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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