incredible things about literature

In your opinion, the most influential and/or brilliant novel ever written, and why.

The books in the poll are optional, pick one, but I’d like to hear what you guys think.

1984 is an amazin bk - very political
but quite scary too...

I voted LOTR because Tolkien's books spawned an entire genre, which still relies on his books for almost all fantasy elements. Not only that, but Tolkien was an absolute genius. I actually don't like the LOTR books, but you have to respect a guy who came up with entire languages and histories for entire cultures.

But, I almost voted 1984. Whenever someone starts talking about red light cameras, 1984 is always mentioned. Plus, 1984 has become synonomous with overly opressive government.

I only know the 2nd and the last

Lord of the Rings.

'Nuff sed.

Where was Atlas Shrugged?

LotR. Of course, I've only read two of the books on that list.. *smiles innocently*

1984. i've read that book so many time's its not even funny.

Firestarter wrote:Lord of the Rings.

'Nuff sed.

I agree with Fire

More grown up now, and so my vote of the ones listed goes to To Kill a Mockingbird. I never realized until relatively recently the historical impact that it had.

Edit

Apparently, my spelling skills are devolving.

I love, love, love Jane Eyre. See? Look at how it's structured:

In the beginning: There is no love whatsoever, until she learns about it in a very harsh and cruel boarding school in a very unexpected source.

In the middle: She finds a wild and highly unreasonable and illogical love through Mr. Rochester.

In the second part of the middle: She finds a very logical and reasonable love, yet it doesn't have the same passion in it.

In the end: She finds a reasonable love that is tempered down and yet is still passionate.

Plus, the plot in general... and the cross-dressing... and everything else. I love it so much!

Jane Eyre isn't an option.

How dare you disrespect a poll that's run for 8 years in this way.

I second Jane Eyre. Luff that book <3 Like, my fav of the Victorians.

Most Influencial: Uncle Tom's Cabin. It had a bigger influence on the eradication of slavery than any other work if its time or ever. Abraham Lincoln greeted Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1862 by saying "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war."

On a worldwide scale, however, it's tough to tell. I want to say Plato's The Republic, but I don't think that can pass as a novel, even if it's written as a dialogue.

Most Brilliant: Kafka's The Trial, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, Toni Morrison's Beloved, Conrad's Heart of Darkness...the list goes on. Brilliance can be measured in so many ways that it isn't always easy to gauge it in a top-notch novel.

How about A Tale of Two Cities? I would not regard it as Dickens best but the influence of that story is difficult to argue with.