What is "the great American novel"?

[Ben Lamb]

Misogyny, narcissism, and selfish blather.

If you are going to include any of the beat writers, just as well throw Hunter S. in the pot too.

I mean, that's about as American as you can get.

OTR was more than that though. It was the awakening of the counter-culture. It helped define post-war America in a way that the lost generation did after WW1. Whether that was Burrorughs, Williams, Keruoac, Ginsberg, or any of them - their voice was born out of the respite that VE and VJ brought. Kesey was a direct descendent of that, as is McMurtry to a certain degree. The evolution of American literature took a massive step forward when that ridiculous scroll of booze and meth hit the printing press.

The Dharma Bums was pretty damned good too.

 

[44hunter45]

I mean, that's about as American as you can get.

OTR was more than that though. It was the awakening of the counter-culture. It helped define post-war America in a way that the lost generation did after WW1. Whether that was Burrorughs, Williams, Keruoac, Ginsberg, or any of them - their voice was born out of the respite that VE and VJ brought. Kesey was a direct descendent of that, as is McMurtry to a certain degree. The evolution of American literature took a massive step forward when that ridiculous scroll of booze and meth hit the printing press.

The Dharma Bums was pretty damned good too.

What were once vices are now lifestyles.

 

[Irrelevant]

Kesey was a direct descendent of that, as is McMurtry to a certain degree. The evolution of American literature took a massive step forward when that ridiculous scroll of booze and meth hit the printing press.

Both of whom studied creative writing under stegner at Stanford

 

[Exhausted]

No one has said it yet?

 

[Ben Lamb]

What were once vices are now lifestyles.

Giaus Flavius Fornicatus, Pompeii Italy, August 22, 79 AD.

 

[SAJ-99]

My take is that it has to define Americans as being uniquely different than people from other locations and also in the process define the American experience

The Gangs of New York?

 

[mdhunter]

It’s hard to pick a favorite. I just read Lonesome Dove a couple of months ago. I enjoyed the plot etc., the writing style was very different and took a while to get used to. My English teacher might have used the word “prose” to describe it.

Anyhow, when I have time to burn and a story to hear, Michener is my go to. If you want to read him, start with Chesapeake My second favorite was Texas.

 

[Nameless Range]

My take is that it has to define Americans as being uniquely different than people from other locations and also in the process define the American experience

Thinking of it this way I lean even more toward Lonesome Dove or Huck Finn. The port of origin of Moby Dick could’ve been Yorkshire, England and the story wouldn’t change much.

The details of each are American as hell, and when it comes to themes, I don’t know if there’s such thing as an American theme separate from a human one that could exist elsewhere. I also think we have a bias toward older novels, because we’ve all read them, but I bet there’s some contemporary ones that are fantastic few have read.

For Lonesome Dove which I recently reread, some themes of being a person of action, of risk, of pride, and of exploration before “ the bankers and the lawyers get it” - those are fairly strong American themes to me. At least when we are at our best.

@noharleyyet was spot on though when he said it is totally subjective.

 

[Sheltowee]

I mean, that's about as American as you can get.

OTR was more than that though. It was the awakening of the counter-culture. It helped define post-war America in a way that the lost generation did after WW1. Whether that was Burrorughs, Williams, Keruoac, Ginsberg, or any of them - their voice was born out of the respite that VE and VJ brought. Kesey was a direct descendent of that, as is McMurtry to a certain degree. The evolution of American literature took a massive step forward when that ridiculous scroll of booze and meth hit the printing press.

The Dharma Bums was pretty damned good too.

Dharma Bums is damn fantastic.

 

[Irrelevant]

The details of each are American as hell, and when it comes to themes, I don’t know if there’s such thing as an American theme separate from a human one that could exist elsewhere.

Having read only a few foreign novels I disagree. There is a brashness and bravado and greed that seems uniquely American in it's flavor. Yes love, hate, and loss are all very human and humbling, but those aren't what come to mind when I think GAN.

I do think your two examples fit the mould.

 

[SAJ-99]

Hard to argue against Huck Finn, but maybe To Kill a Mockingbird is right up there.

 

[mtmuley]

Having read only a few foreign novels I disagree. There is a brashness and bravado and greed that seems uniquely American in it's flavor. Yes love, hate, and loss are all very human and humbling, but those aren't what come to mind when I think GAN.

I do think your two examples fit the mould.

The events of Lonesome Dove in a way shaped America. Western movement. mtmuley