What Books Would Americans Classify As "World Class Literature"? (novels, human)

[Visvaldis]

I'm very curious.

[StarlaJane]

I'm not really sure an American would use the term "World Class Literature." But I imagine that it would entail anything that is considered a classic, like The Grapes of Wrath, To Kill a Mockingbird,
Anna Karenina, etc.

[kevxu]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

I'm very curious.

I'm wondering if you mean what books by American writers Americans would consider "World Class," of if you are simply asking what books from anywhere Americans would consider books of worldwide importance.

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by kevxu

I'm wondering if you mean what books by American writers Americans would consider "World Class," of if you are simply asking what books from anywhere Americans would consider books of worldwide importance.

Any books.

[maciesmom]

I would imagine the answers would be as varied as the readers. Americans are individuals just like anyone else.

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

I would imagine the answers would be as varied as the readers. Americans are individuals just like anyone else.

True, but I 'd like to read some book titles in this thread.

[IndigoLight]

I feel that you still didn't answer the question Visvaldis:
do you want book titles from American writers that Americans consider "world class" or
do you want book titles from any writers that Americans considers "world class"?

If you want "any books", there are already enough threads recommending great books, just take a look and start making a list.
I did

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by IndigoLight

I feel that you still didn't answer the question Visvaldis:
do you want book titles from American writers that Americans consider "world class" or
do you want book titles from any writers that Americans considers "world class"?

If you want "any books", there are already enough threads recommending great books, just take a look and start making a list.
I did

I don't know why it's so difficult to name book titles that Americans consider as world class literature.
Yes, other people, besides Americans, write books.
I don't care much for the recommendation for great books. I seldom read fiction and have no interest in romance novels, spy thrillers, or murder mysteries.
However, some works of fiction can be regarded as world class literature.
I am interested to know what books Americans consider as world class literature.
I can name several. But I'm interested in the American selections.

[kevxu]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Any books.

Thanks. Well, here are some of my nominations, all fiction:

In Search of Lost Time, Marcel Proust - This series of books is work, but well worth it...the observation of social change and decay are laced with a great deal of wit. There are several English translations, I tried three and felt that the Penguin Books translation using a different translator for each book is the most readable.

The Tale of Genji, Murasaki Shikibu - I have read it three times and prefer the translation by Royall Tyler. Unless a Westerner has some familiarity with the Japan and the period the book is set in it is a good idea to read The World of the Shining Prince by Ivan Morris before beginning.

The Third Policeman and At-Swim Two Birds, Flann O'Brien.
Thérèse Desqueroux, François Mauriac
Snow Country, Yasunari Kawabata
Dubliners, James Joyce
Tess of the Dubervilles or Return of the Native, Thomas Hardy
The Golden Ass, Apulius
The Plague, Albert Camus
All the Names, José Saramago (most people would probably say Blindness instead of this one.)
Hunger, Knut Hamsen
East of Eden or Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
The Buddha Tree, Fumio Niwa
Lie Down in Darkness, William Styron
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Berlin Alexanderplatz, Alfred Döblin
The Devil to Pay in the Backlands, João Guimarães Rosa
The Hour of the Star, Clarice Lispector
Nana, Emile Zola
U.S.A., John Dos Passos
Sister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser
The Dwarf, Par Lagerkvist
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe
A Death in the Family, James Agee
Winesburg, Ohio, Sherwood Anderson
The Twyborn Affair and Riders in the Chariot, Patrick White
Daisy Bates in the Desert, Julia Blackburn...........

[Halo_in_reverse]

Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham

This book captures all the pathos of someone who has dreams but just can't quite fufill them. I've got roughly 40 pages left of a 675 page book and I can honestly say that this book is tying my other all time favorite book - The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.