Review
Greatest-list books inevitably spark discussion, and this fascinating work is no exception. Literary scholarsPlath, Sinclair, and Cunatt define their hundred greatest novel- and short story-characters as time-honored favorites that have influenced culture or have become significant literary models. They consulted previous lists and then polled 100 writers, professors, librarians, teachers, and book lovers to make an inclusive list that covers classics, children's books, contemporary literature, and genre fiction. Organized alphabetically by character name, each two-page entry lists the title and author of the character's first appearance, date published, and a memorable quote. These very readable essays analyze what is important about the character and why readers are fascinated by them. They also discuss the character's portrayal in movies—Sherlock Holmes, for example—and the character's lasting impact on culture, such as the way Scrooge is shorthand for a miser. The editors expect debate over the contents: why was Philip Marlowe chosen over Sam Spade, Mr. Darcy instead of Elizabeth Bennett, or Winnie-the-Pooh and not Mr. Toad? Students, librarians, and readers will enjoy the lively debate this book generate. ― Booklist
The 100 Greatest Literary Characters includes well-known characters both lovable and less agreeable (among the latter, Alex from A Clockwork Orange). To create the list, the authors polled 100 writers, professors, librarians, teachers, and book lovers. Characters are arranged alphabetically, and the entries run two to three pages and conclude with a brief works cited. Familiar characters like Alice in Wonderland, Don Quixote, and Jane Eyre are included, but more contemporary characters are well represented—e.g., Big Brother in Nineteen Eighty-Four, Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, and Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. All of the characters included made a lasting impression far beyond the pages of fiction, hence becoming unforgettable and immortal. An appendix lists each of the three authors' top ten characters. This volume, and the works cited in particular, will prove useful as a starting point for research. ― Choice Reviews
About the Author
James Plath is R. Forrest Colwell Chair of English at Illinois Wesleyan University, and the author of six books, most recently John Updike’s Pennsylvania Interviews (2017).
Gail Sinclair is scholar-in-residence and executive director of the Winter Park Institute at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. She is the coauthor of Key West Hemingway: A Reassessment (2009).
Kirk Curnutt is the chair and professor of English at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He is the author or coauthor of 17 books, among them Understanding Gay Talese (2019) and William Faulkner (2017).
