Modern Classics: Must-Read Cult Writers of the 21st Century

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The classics of world literature are always timely and up-to-date. However, today in the literary world there is a whole galaxy of writers who are quite capable of competing with the great writers of the past. Their works allow you to enjoy the excellent language and at the same time make you think about the meaning of life. The list compiled by the literary critic Lisa Birger includes the most worthy authors of our time.

Donna Tartt

The American writer published her first book in 1992. It became an instant bestseller and has been translated into many languages. Readers were waiting for new works from the author of The Secret History, but Donna Tartt was in no hurry with the release of the next book. Another novel by the writer "Little Friend" was released only 10 years later. After him, there was also a lull. In 2013, The Goldfinch was released, which brought Donna Tartt the Pulitzer Prize and broke every sales record imaginable.

The author is not only a master of words, but also an adherent of the best traditions of the classic novel.

Zadie Smith

Unfortunately, only three of the seven novels written by the English novelist have been translated into Russian. And her works are really worthy of attention. Zadie Smith's first novel "White Teeth", published in 2000, was called the first literary sensation of the new millennium and was awarded the Costa Prize (the most significant literary prize in Great Britain). be tolerant of each other's differences.

Tom Stoppard

A Czechoslovak Jew by origin and a great English playwright, he has always attracted attention with a peculiar look, as if reflecting different realities. In his plays, it is difficult to see the line between the past and the present. The author builds the chain of events in such a way that the past seems to be the present, and today's realities are similar to the affairs of bygone days. At the same time, different eras are quite harmoniously intertwined in one act.

The Russian-speaking reader should undoubtedly pay special attention to the trilogy "The Shore of Utopia", which tells about Russia in the 19th century. Russian thinkers appear as real martyrs of the spirit, worried about the fate of the country. However, they are completely different from abstract philosophers. Rather, these are the most ordinary people, with their passions, weaknesses and desires.

Tom Wolfe

The legendary American journalist in his works appears as a fierce fighter against an imperfect social system. He denies everything and everyone, not trying to come to terms with what looks so ridiculous.

The novel Bonfires of Ambition depicts New York of the 1980s in all its glory, where good and evil, black and white collide; in the Battle for Space, the rivalry between Russians and Americans in the field of space, with its many victims, is described without embellishment. Wolfe's latest works do not have such a resounding success as his early books, but the nihilism that appears in them fascinates and makes you try the situation on yourself.

Leonid Yuzefovich

The Russian writer has been faithful to history for many years. It was he who became the founder of such a genre as historical detective. In his novels, the hero is not fictional, but quite real, who actually existed detective Ivan Putilin, the head of the detective police of St. Petersburg.

The most recognizable feature of the author is his amazing attention to the smallest detail. Leonid Yuzefovich in the most amazing way knows how to create a work of art, completely neglecting the author's fiction. His works are accurate in describing the events that took place, but at the same time they do not at all look like a boring narrative.

Special attention should be paid to the author's ability to show the inevitability of history, which, over time, can equalize whites and reds, democrats and conservatives.

Michael Chabon

The Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer who grew up in a Jewish family became a true revolutionary in literature. His works surprisingly combine a complex detective plot with the lightness of a comic strip, and the charm of Jewish humor masterfully sets off the historical tragedy of the Jewish people.

Michelle Houellebecq

His novels are a dystopia with criticism, an attempt to show the perniciousness of replacing moral values with momentary desires. Many of the ideas proclaimed by Michel Houellebecq may seem very controversial, but they, like a mirror, reflect modern life with all its shortcomings, perhaps somewhat exaggerated.

Jonathan Coe

The novels of the British writer are so fascinating that it is impossible to tear yourself away from each one from the first to the last page. In them, you can find the answer to the question of what brought society to its current state, while the inimitable sarcasm and adherence to the traditions of English satire amaze with their stylish combination.

Antonia Bayette

The academic degrees and literary awards of the English writer are endless. The Booker Prize winner for the novel Possess in her books speaks to her readers in a language he understands, raising exciting problems and looking for solutions. Sometimes it is difficult to determine which genre her next novel belongs to: romantic, detective or historical. It seems that they all intertwined, creating a completely inimitable style of presentation.

In today's world, it is not easy to follow trends in literature. A huge number of books are published annually, the general public only learns about those in the promotion of which a lot of money has been invested. And yet, among a huge amount of reading material, it was noted by critics and gained popularity among readers.