What is "the great American novel"?

[Irrelevant]

And give me some examples.

 

[Hem]

Waiting with baited breath from @noharleyyet

 

[Hem]

Twain
Steinbeck
Fitzgerald

Take your pick.

 

[Nameless Range]

There’s probably a ton of possible answers, but the first one that comes to mind for me is Lonesome Dove.

 

[mtmuley]

There’s probably a ton of possible answers, but the first one that comes to mind for me is Lonesome Dove.

Was gonna say that. mtmuley

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Another vote for Lonesome Dove

 

[Charlie Bob]

I enjoyed Michener , Texas and Chesapeake come to mind .

 

[WildWill]

Twain
Steinbeck
Fitzgerald

Take your pick.

Id add Hemingway.

 

[noharleyyet]

Cormac (Blood Meridian)
Papa Hem (Farewell To Arms)
McMurtry (Lonesome Dove quatrology, Leaving Cheyenne, *Terms of Endearment)
F Scott (The Great Gatsby)
Faulkner (Sound and the Fury)
Tennessee Williams (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof- Play)
Tom Wolfe (Bonfire of the Vanities)
John T Nichols (New Mexico Trilogy)
Abbey (Monkey Wrench Gang)

….surface scratch list
*Terms of Endearment is up there for me, especially the screen adaptation

 

[shannerdrake]

I’m not one to argue with noharleyyet on matters pertaining to the written word.

But I’d also add Huck Finn, Last of the Mohicans, and my wife pointed out we are all flirting with misogyny for failing to list Little Women (although a true literary masterpiece I admit I’ve never read it).

I’d also throw in Grapes of Wrath and/or Mice and Men. As well as The Red Badge of Courage.

 

[Hem]

I posed the question to my English teacher wife, hence^.
Personally, I include Hemingway and Jack Londen. I also think Ken Keseys " Sometimes a Great Notion" is right up there.