Whilst enjoying one of my favorite afternoon snacks (a hefty helping of Jeanette Parker), a great idea was hatched. It began, as many great ideas do, with a question: "If you could sit down and talk with any dead author, who would it be?" This question - simple, yet profound - was voiced by my sweet companion, as we were perusing the shelves of Borders. We threw out a few names, then decided such a topic was most definitely blog-worthy. Gentle Readers, after much deliberation, I give you my list of Top 10 Dead Authors I Want To Meet.
Runners-up: George Orwell, Truman Capote, Kurt Vonnegut, Edgar Allen Poe, Jack Kerouac, ee cummings, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Sylvia Plath.
10. Jonathan Swift - What can I say? I love satire... and the idea of eating children (just kidding, CPS!)
9. Jane Austen - I would love to have tea & chat & gossip with Jane. I imagine it would be very similar to my conversations with Jeanette. Maybe the three of us could get together sometime.
8. Shakespeare - I know, so predictable. But seriously, the man was a genius. How could I not want to meet him?! He revolutionized writing, the English language, drama, poetry... what piece of work is that man!
7. John Milton - Speaking of poetry, sweet bliss. Paradise Lost has been known to bring tears to my eyes.
6. Um, this one is possibly cheating, but Anne Frank - she did, after all, write something that was published! But just consider that conversation, and understand why I made this selection.
5. Langston Hughes - I love work from the Harlem Renaissance. Plus, we would get to meet in a smoky jazz lounge and listen to Ella Fitzgerald while we chatted.
4. Mark Twain - Time talking to him would just be a riot. We'd probably take a ferry down his beloved Mississippi.
3. Robert Frost - Quite possibly my favorite poet of all time, possibly because my dad loves him and would quote his poetry while I was growing up. I just think he makes beautiful observations about nature, the countryside, and life in general.
2. C. S. Lewis - I definitely thought that he would be first, and I'm still not sure whether I'm completely comfortable putting him second. What can I say about Clive? Brilliant, poignant, eloquent, humorous... did I mention brilliant?
1. Roald Dahl - Perhaps an odd choice for the esteemed position as the number one dead author that I would like to meet, but I absolutely love this man and his writing. Even as an adult, I love his children's stories - they are just as delightful upon every re-reading! And in case anyone didn't know, September 13th (his birthday) is Roald Dahl Day - mark your calendars.
Also, I just decided that the apostle Paul is definitely an author and would actually be number 1. So, I guess he's 1A, and Dahl is 1B.
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To sit alone in the lamplight with a book spread out before you, and hold intimate converse with men of unseen generations - such is a pleasure beyond compare. ~Kenko Yoshida
Beautiful list...I should have put Jonathan Swift down...and I completely didn't even think of Edgar Allen Poe...although, that would probably leave me depressed. Roald Dahl...brilliant. BFG was one of my most cherished books...I'm going to go back and edit my list and put him as an honorable mention.
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