Re: The best American author of the 20th century is....
 

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"To not answer your question, the best English language writer was Orwell, and I can make a strong case that The Great Gatsby is the best novel of the century."

OK we're in total agreement on Gatsby, but come on, Orwell's prose is at times horrible. I don't know what you mean by best English language writer. If you mean to praise specifically his language and his ability to weave words I strongly disagree.

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I can not disagree with this more. I recently picked up a book of his collected essays and they are absolutely brilliant in my opinion. I strongly recommend a read of his essays. You can see where a lot of ideas for 1984 come from but more importantly it is his very quest for improvement in the use of the written English language that is so evident. Discussions about subjects ranging from British breakfasts to the War jump out at you like noone you have ever read. As a novelist it is tough to rank him high but I'd agree with sfer's assesment of Orwell as the best English language writer.