The Greatest Author of the Twentieth Century

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 01-09-2002, 09:50 PM

Not that I would ever dispute this title, but I was wondering if this is an authentic label, or just an opinion of Tolkien fans. I have seen this said a lot since the movie came out. Does this stem from actual book sales? Is this just in a fantasy catagory, or author overall? What about guys like Stephen King? Anyway Tolkien is in my book.

Renille · 01-09-2002, 10:47 PM

I don't know about author, but I do know for a fact that LOTR was rated the best book of the century in 2000. My mom found that out for me on an amazon.com bookmark.

Ñólendil · 01-10-2002, 01:55 AM

Yes, it's been voted the best story of the century (of the Millenium in one poll) in several different surveys. Also, since the first publication of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings has sold more copies than any other book save The Bible. J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter has sold the fastest (bar The Bible), but noone's written a book that has sold more copies than Rings.

Last I heard the LR has sold over 8,000,000 copies world-wide.

Sauron's Nagging Wife · 01-10-2002, 11:40 PM

The public library in my parents' town was giving a free list of the Top 100 novels of the Century (but it doesn't say whose list it is. LotR didn't make it. #1 is Ulysses by James Joyce.

Kirinki54 · 01-11-2002, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sauron's Nagging Wife

The public library in my parents' town was giving a free list of the Top 100 novels of the Century (but it doesn't say whose list it is. LotR didn't make it. #1 is Ulysses by James Joyce.

__________________
"Will you stop fussing over that silly ring and come and eat your dinner before it gets cold?"

"So what´s for dinner? Fissssh....?"

Seriously, I think many lists exclude Tolkien books as being non-serious literature. Little do they know...

bropous · 01-14-2002, 12:54 PM

I had seen the listing of James Joyce's "Ulysses" as having been the greatest work of literature of the twentieth century as well, Sauron's Wife, and I could not disagree with that assessment any more heartily.

"Ulysses" could have been written by a five-year-old with a crayon. No punctuation. I have no comprehension how a work of "literature" can avoid the use of punctuation and be considered "serious."

As for whether The Lord of the Rings is the greatest work of literature of the twnetieth century, it is, in my EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMEDDCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO opinion. Tolkien didn't just create characters, he created an entire WORLD, fleshed out with a new mythology, languages, and a history. He broke new ground, established it for his own. Tolkien was an incredible scholar, a professor at Oxford and Leeds, a man for whom scholarship and research were sine qua non issues. Plus, and here is a salient issue, the man was HUMBLE. He himself would probably quail at his works being listed among the greatest in the twentieth century, but I think that an honest assessment of the amount of work which went into LotR would reach the same conclusion.

As for Stephen King, I care not for his writings. I find him a cheap knock-off of HP Lovecraft. Of course, it is so very easy for an "author" to get published by standing on the back of another who has created a TRUE work of imagination...

Spock · 01-14-2002, 02:38 PM

Why quibble? Even if JRRT is in the top ten it's a great acknowledgement from the establishment.

Kiri · 01-14-2002, 02:50 PM

Right now we're too close to one part of that century to really judge. Tolkien could be on the English-language short list, I'd say--but it's too soon to say anything more than that.

I'd say the best way to judge would be to ask in 2401. Anybody remembered by that time would be a good candidate.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 01-14-2002, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spock
Why quibble? Even if JRRT is in the top ten it's a great acknowledgement from the establishment.

Oh, I agree. I was just wondering if this title had popped up because of the movie, or if it was due to book sales or whatever. I think that there were many great writers of the twentieth century. None greater than he.

bropous · 01-14-2002, 03:20 PM

kiri, I wholeheartedly agree that the true test of the greatness of ANY author of the twentieth century will be who is still recognized, remembered and read in 2401. I for one hope that it will be the most treasured writings available on the Mars Colonies and out on the satellite cities of Tau Ceti!

SPOCK: Captain, dropping out of warp. Klingon warbird de-cloaking off the starboard bow.

KIRK: Arrrgh! Servants of Sauron! Great enemies of the free peoples of Middle-Earth!

SPOCK: Fascinating....the DO bear a strong resemblance to Uruk-Hai...

[Okay, okay, okay, maybe I don't have the year right!]

Brimvalir · 03-25-2002, 05:47 PM

Tolkien beats King hands down

Arathorn · 03-26-2002, 01:01 AM

I don't see too many people living out King's nightmare stories almost ever day of their lives.

Of course I think the Professor is The GREATEST.

Mirkgirl · 03-26-2002, 01:20 AM

Well, it was some guy, he wrote about some tiny men and rings, can't remember the name now

MasterMothra · 03-26-2002, 02:29 AM

personnaly i think the totality of tolkiens works would warrant the title of the greatest fantasy writer of the century. i cant think of any other writings that achieved the same depth and detail than tolkien's books. thats why people have emmersed(sp) themselves in his works.

silmälasi · 03-27-2002, 03:11 PM

the world literature is such a vast subject that in my opinion there is no way that anybody could rate all the books that have ever been written. but the general opinion amongs those in some kind of position to know something about literature is that lord of the rings is one of the 100 most influential books ever written. Ps. i did not find james joyce`s ulysses very satisfying .humas are slaves to categorisation and statistics.

01-09-2002, 10:47 PM	#2
Renille Elven Lady of Speed-posting Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the cheese state Posts: 988	I don't know about author, but I do know for a fact that LOTR was rated the best book of the century in 2000. My mom found that out for me on an amazon.com bookmark. __________________ Oh the thinks you can think! Think and wonder and dream...far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there's another world there... (from Seussical the Musical. Listen to it...watch it...really.)

01-10-2002, 01:55 AM	#3
Ñólendil Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: California Posts: 60,865	Yes, it's been voted the best story of the century (of the Millenium in one poll) in several different surveys. Also, since the first publication of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings has sold more copies than any other book save The Bible. J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter has sold the fastest (bar The Bible), but noone's written a book that has sold more copies than Rings. Last I heard the LR has sold over 8,000,000 copies world-wide. __________________ Falmon -- Dylan

01-10-2002, 11:40 PM	#4
Sauron's Nagging Wife Enting Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great Tower of Mordor Posts: 68	The public library in my parents' town was giving a free list of the Top 100 novels of the Century (but it doesn't say whose list it is. LotR didn't make it. #1 is Ulysses by James Joyce. __________________ "Will you stop fussing over that silly ring and come and eat your dinner before it gets cold?" ~Legrace, the Lady of the Great Tower Read about the Lady Legrace

01-14-2002, 12:54 PM	#6
bropous EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMED DCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 1,176	I had seen the listing of James Joyce's "Ulysses" as having been the greatest work of literature of the twentieth century as well, Sauron's Wife, and I could not disagree with that assessment any more heartily. "Ulysses" could have been written by a five-year-old with a crayon. No punctuation. I have no comprehension how a work of "literature" can avoid the use of punctuation and be considered "serious." As for whether The Lord of the Rings is the greatest work of literature of the twnetieth century, it is, in my EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMEDDCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO opinion. Tolkien didn't just create characters, he created an entire WORLD, fleshed out with a new mythology, languages, and a history. He broke new ground, established it for his own. Tolkien was an incredible scholar, a professor at Oxford and Leeds, a man for whom scholarship and research were sine qua non issues. Plus, and here is a salient issue, the man was HUMBLE. He himself would probably quail at his works being listed among the greatest in the twentieth century, but I think that an honest assessment of the amount of work which went into LotR would reach the same conclusion. As for Stephen King, I care not for his writings. I find him a cheap knock-off of HP Lovecraft. Of course, it is so very easy for an "author" to get published by standing on the back of another who has created a TRUE work of imagination... __________________ "...[The Lord of the Rings] is to exemplify most clearly a recurrent theme: the place in 'world politics' of the unforeseen and unforeseeable acts of will, and deeds of virtue of the apparently small, ungreat, fogotten in the places of the Wise and Great (good as well as evil). A moral of the whole (after the primary symbolism of the Ring, as the will to mere power, seeking to make itself objective by physical force and mechanism, and so also inevitably by lies) is the obvious one that without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless." Letters of JRR Tolkien, page 160.

01-14-2002, 02:38 PM	#7
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	Why quibble? Even if JRRT is in the top ten it's a great acknowledgement from the establishment. __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

01-09-2002, 09:50 PM	#1
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	The Greatest Author of the Twentieth Century Not that I would ever dispute this title, but I was wondering if this is an authentic label, or just an opinion of Tolkien fans. I have seen this said a lot since the movie came out. Does this stem from actual book sales? Is this just in a fantasy catagory, or author overall? What about guys like Stephen King? Anyway Tolkien is in my book.

01-14-2002, 02:50 PM	#8
Kiri Hobbit Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 42	Right now we're too close to one part of that century to really judge. Tolkien could be on the English-language short list, I'd say--but it's too soon to say anything more than that. I'd say the best way to judge would be to ask in 2401. Anybody remembered by that time would be a good candidate.

01-14-2002, 03:20 PM	#10
bropous EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMED DCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 1,176	kiri, I wholeheartedly agree that the true test of the greatness of ANY author of the twentieth century will be who is still recognized, remembered and read in 2401. I for one hope that it will be the most treasured writings available on the Mars Colonies and out on the satellite cities of Tau Ceti! SPOCK: Captain, dropping out of warp. Klingon warbird de-cloaking off the starboard bow. KIRK: Arrrgh! Servants of Sauron! Great enemies of the free peoples of Middle-Earth! SPOCK: Fascinating....the DO bear a strong resemblance to Uruk-Hai... [Okay, okay, okay, maybe I don't have the year right!] __________________ "...[The Lord of the Rings] is to exemplify most clearly a recurrent theme: the place in 'world politics' of the unforeseen and unforeseeable acts of will, and deeds of virtue of the apparently small, ungreat, fogotten in the places of the Wise and Great (good as well as evil). A moral of the whole (after the primary symbolism of the Ring, as the will to mere power, seeking to make itself objective by physical force and mechanism, and so also inevitably by lies) is the obvious one that without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless." Letters of JRR Tolkien, page 160.

03-25-2002, 05:47 PM	#11
Brimvalir Elven Warrior Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: California Posts: 103	Best Author Tolkien beats King hands down __________________ Swords are of no more use here ... All that is gold does not glitter nor are all those who wander lost......

03-26-2002, 01:01 AM	#12
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	I don't see too many people living out King's nightmare stories almost ever day of their lives. Of course I think the Professor is The GREATEST. __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures...

03-26-2002, 01:20 AM	#13
Mirkgirl Sapling Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6	Well, it was some guy, he wrote about some tiny men and rings, can't remember the name now

03-26-2002, 02:29 AM	#14
MasterMothra Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: utumno and angband Posts: 241	personnaly i think the totality of tolkiens works would warrant the title of the greatest fantasy writer of the century. i cant think of any other writings that achieved the same depth and detail than tolkien's books. thats why people have emmersed(sp) themselves in his works. __________________ "........and his name is Melkor, Lord of All, Giver of Freedom, and he shall make you stronger than they."- sauron talking to ar pharazon.

03-27-2002, 03:11 PM	#15
silmälasi Hobbit Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: finland Posts: 17	literature the world literature is such a vast subject that in my opinion there is no way that anybody could rate all the books that have ever been written. but the general opinion amongs those in some kind of position to know something about literature is that lord of the rings is one of the 100 most influential books ever written. Ps. i did not find james joyce`s ulysses very satisfying .humas are slaves to categorisation and statistics. __________________ shadow dweller

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