The 19th century novelist poll

[English assassin]

Does what it says on the tin. Who do you like and why

If you don't like my choices feel free to post your preferred author, I've just stuck in the ones I like (mostly).

(Edit: Oops. That sounds a bit poncey. For the record then I have never got on with the Russians for a start, but they had to be there. Likewise a few of the others.)

[King Edward]

I havent read anyonf them really, but victor hugo's house on Guernsey is 10 mins walk away from mine.

[Beirut]

Edgar Allan Poe.

He da man!

Everything about his writing was fantastic. His ideas, his language, his sentence structure. He wrote about horror using the most beautful flowing words.

He's right up there with Shakespeare.

[R'as al Ghul]

I've read most of the above. I think I favour Poe from all the choices but
I wouldn't call him a novelist, since he wrote only one novel "The death of Arthur Gordon Pym".
He is better known for the "invention" of the short story, his short stories and numerous brilliant articles.
I don't care much for Austen or the Brontes. They are important for literature history, but I don't like to read them.
Twain, I like very much for his witty style. Best scene in Huck finn is the comment on pigs and churches. He says that in contrast to men, who only go to the church once a week, pigs are more intelligent as they favour the coolness of the church building every day.
Conan Doyle wrote some nice stories, entertaining but not really "detective" literature. Nice characters nevertheless.
I've read some works by Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky and particulary like Dostoyevskys short stories.
Hermann Melville's work is very interesting with Moby Dick and Bartleby being his best works. I also read his south sea novels, they're interesting but not that well written. The ones I left out I have only a general idea on their work (okay I read Christmas Carol) and their importance.

Since the question was whom I favour, I've voted Poe.

[Quietus]

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes creator (his non-sherlock stuff are excellent as well). ~:cool:

I like Edgar Allan Poe too (though not not nearly as much as SACD), most notably on the short story "A Cask Of Amontillado" (fine use of words). I've read most of his stories and he's a very good user of words. ~:)

[Paul Peru]

I voted for Langhorne Clemens, Chickens and Hugo, because I read buckets of their stuff when I was a kid, and enjoyed it immensely. Especially "A Sale of Two Titties" by Chickens.

Then I voted Dostoyevsky cause it make me look into lekshell. Or so they say.

Then I threw in a Gah! for the old nazi Hamsun, though he kept on witing well into the 20. He done write well.

[tibilicus]

Gah to many good ones !

[Arrowhead]

Gah.

[mfberg]

I liked GAH the best, specifically the second novel GAH in the original Lithuanian.

[Craterus]

Who wrote Robinson Crusoe? And also I liked Jekyll and Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (he's also missing from the list) .

Sorry, I know about Robinson Crusoe author, it was in the back of my mind. Defoe.

[Gushnasaph]

It is not well known, Gah is short for Gushnasaph.
Even I am unawares.

[Craterus]

Had to go for Dickens and Gah! My other option wasn't listed so I signified him with the good ole' GAH!

[Big_John]

twain, poe, doestoyevsky.. melville is second.

[Proletariat]

To anyone not voting for Tolstoy, you have read Anna Karenina, right?

[Mouzafphaerre]

-
Any of the Brontes
Edgar Allen Poe
Leo Tolstoy
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Victor Hugo
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Herman Melville
gah
:bow:
-

[hrvojej]

The poll is a bit anglocentric. For the 19th century, I prefer the Russians myself. ~:)

[GoreBag]

I voted for Langhorne Clemens, Chickens and Hugo, because I read buckets of their stuff when I was a kid, and enjoyed it immensely. Especially "A Sale of Two Titties" by Chickens.

Then I voted Dostoyevsky cause it make me look into lekshell. Or so they say.

Then I threw in a Gah! for the old nazi Hamsun, though he kept on witing well into the 20. He done write well.

"But...I can't read!"

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Well I voted Poe but my favorite and Im amazed hes not on the list is H G Wells with Jules Vernes not far behind,or dosent sci fi count as novels? Another of mine is Edgar Rice Burroughs.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

I have not read enough of any of these authors work to vote anything but Gah!

[R'as al Ghul]

Well I voted Poe but my favorite and Im amazed hes not on the list is H G Wells with Jules Vernes not far behind,or dosent sci fi count as novels? Another of mine is Edgar Rice Burroughs.

I agree, Wells is one of the most brilliant authors of his time.
Almost all his novels, including the outstanding Invisible man, one of my all time favs, were published before the end of the 19th century.
Verne also belongs in this period, whereas Burroughs novels are filed under 20th century.


And also I liked Jekyll and Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (he's also missing from the list) .
He should really be on the list. Stevenson was one of the first authors, besides Poe, who wrote about the unconscious. He experimented a lot with drugs and was considered a lunatic by his servants, whom he sometimes ordered to hoist him into bed in a kneeling position, face on the cushion. ~D Nevertheless, Jekyll and Hyde was written in a few days.

[Gushnasaph]

Annie of the Brontës

[Beirut]

Well I voted Poe but my favorite and Im amazed hes not on the list is H G Wells,

Did you ever read his book The Outline of History? What an amazing piece of work. Not just history but history with Wells's insights and opinion thrown in. Priceless!

One of my three top books for sure.

[dessa14]

have any of you read "The heart of darkness", or "Nostramo", conrad is the greatest writer of the turn of the century.
thanks,
dizzy

[Adrian II]

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes creator (his non-sherlock stuff are excellent as well). ~:cool: Hey Quietus, I remember you are a great fan of Sir Conan Doyle. We exchanged SACD web sites not too long ago.
Have you made the Baker Street pilgrimage yet? ~;)

[Adrian II]

What a poll by the way. I voted Gah! for lack of options, not ideas. Zola and Stendhal, Dickens and Chekhov, dear God there's so much. What an incredible period for both literature and music.

[English assassin]

I know, it is incredible really isn't it?

Apologies for the anglocentricism, I did do my best, but...

Also HG Wells certainly was not left off because he wasn't good enough, I am a big fan of his. All I can say is it maybe because I think his short stories are better than his novels (IMHO he is one of the best short story writers ever, but yes, I know, that didn't stop me listing Poe did it.)

One of the things that strikes me about 19C lit is the vast range, you have a mix of books dealing with very modern psychological themes, social commentary, pure entertainment, all of which can still be read today. Though I suppose if you distill 100 years of work the books that make it through would have to be pretty good. I wonder who will survive from our century...

Oooh, i feel a poll coming on.

[Adrian II]

Oooh, i feel a poll coming on.Why not? be sure to include Philip Roth!
~;)

[English assassin]

Why not? be sure to include Philip Roth!
~;)

Hmm, I had a go at Sabbath's theatre (?) but found it hard work. OK, as its you.