There is always talk of a new author's desire to write "the great American novel", but, in truth, hasn't it been done? Many times?

What are some nominees for this volume? I'll start with an obvious selection for this particular board. How about Dandelion Wine? It is certainly a great American novel.

Others?

Winesburg, Ohio.

The Magnificent Ambersons.

Lake Wobegone Days.

Moby. Friggin. Dick.

Catcher in the Rye.
To Kill a Mockingbird.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Let me think...

quote:

Originally posted by philnic:
To Kill a Mockingbird.

Good - I was hoping this marvellous work wouldn't go left out for too long. It's easily in my top five.

I'm glad the Britisher felt compelled to add to the thread (and greatly so!).

quote:

Originally posted by fjp451:
Let me think...

K.

The Road Cormac McCarthy.

I would have to include these as the most memorable and for their vivid images and lasting lessons of Americana:

Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
On the Road, Jack Kerouac
Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain
My Antonia, Willa Cather
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Killer Angels, Michael Shaara
Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry
Call of the Wild, Jack London

Moby-Dick or The Whale, Herman Melville
The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand
Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut
(Great American Short Novel) Illusions, Richard Bach

And Death is A Lonely Business, Ray Bradbury.

quote:

Originally posted by Linnl:
Moby-Dick or The Whale

Well, which one?

quote:

Originally posted by fjp451:
Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry

I would have come back and done it had you not.

An epic American narrative. We had this on our senior read list for quite a while. Here are a couple of classic scenes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVBjBClBSao

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...s7L0&feature=related