---
title: "The Disappearance of the Modern Literary Great"
description: "If you were asked if you have ever heard the names Ernest Hemingway or George Orwell, most people would likely say “yes.” The authors represent two of the most…"
url: https://www.independentpress.com/article/the-disappearance-of-the-modern-literary-great
date: 2026-06-26
categories: ["Literature"]
author: "Matthew Leonard"
---

# The Disappearance of the Modern Literary Great

![The Disappearance of the Modern Literary Great ](https://images.ctfassets.net/ewtdlsoyixc1/ef0fIhj2wpeOjw1amKXSA/7b411e5c15154c3ef78a591295cd5b81/photo-1590412701565-55de7fad7cab.avif)

If you were asked if you have ever heard the names Ernest Hemingway or George Orwell, most people would likely say “yes.” The authors represent two of the most influential and celebrated writers of the 20th century. Their names stand not only as writers but as trendsetters and visionaries of their respective times, writing literature that has remained culturally relevant for decades. 

Ernest Hemingway was a forefather of American literature who drew on his life experiences and service in World War I to write some of the greatest novels of all time. George Orwell championed democratic socialism, exploring the dangers of totalitarianism, the brutality of imperialism, social inequalities, and the absurdity of social class. 

Hemingway’s [_A Farewell to Arms_](https://files.libcom.org/files/farewelltoarms01hemi.pdf)_ _(1929) and Orwell’s [_Animal Farm_](https://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/orwellanimalfarm.pdf) (1945) are timeless novels that seemingly everyone has read. Whether in a classroom or displayed at the front of a bookstore, they are books that have become ingrained in American culture. Certain books in literary lore are read, not simply because they are exceptional works of literature, but because they are embedded within a country's cultural identity. We are taught from a young age that books such as [_The Catcher in the Rye_](https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Catcher-in-the-Rye) (1951) by J.D. Salinger and [_To Kill a Mockingbird_](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird)_ _(1960) by Harper Lee are iconic pieces of literature that _must_ be read like rites of passage. 

The abundance of literary masterpieces produced in the 20th century is exemplified by the lack of literary masterpieces produced in the 21st century. More than a quarter of the way through the 21st century, it remains difficult to think of a book that has and will continue to be remembered as a timeless literary classic. It can be argued that some works of literature do not find immediate fame and require time to carve out their place in literary history. It is possible that a 21st-century literary masterpiece already exists, only it will take a few years, possibly decades, before it is recognized for its greatness. While this may be the case, there are many examples of 20th-century books, such as Hemingway’s _A Farewell to Arms_, which were revered immediately after publication. 

The perceived lack of _great _modern novels and novelists can partially be attributed to the declining prominence of literature in the modern era. While there are contemporary authors who are quite popular, few have reached the point of becoming a household name. The author who most likely comes to mind is J.K. Rowling, creator of the [Harry Potter series](https://www.harrypotter.com/discover/books), though her popularity truly began before the turn of the 21st century. 

It’s hard to come up with a literary great like Kurt Vonnegut, Hunter S. Thompson, or Stephen King from the 21st century, someone whose writing continues to influence and inspire modern literature. Kurt Vonnegut's post-World War II writing, such as_ _[_Slaughterhouse-Five_](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Slaughterhouse-Five) (1969), blended satire and sci-fi with social critiques. Vonnegut’s work mirrored the growing anti-establishment sentiments that spread throughout the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, helping propel him into the limelight. Hunter S. Thompson’s countercultural writing rejected the traditional standards of American storytelling. Thompson’s [_Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas_](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fear-and-Loathing-in-Las-Vegas-by-Thompson) (1971) was a novel unlike anything that had preceded it, following a narrator on a drug-fueled rampage. The novel helped popularize Gonzo journalism, creating a cult-like following more interested in Thompson than his writing. Stephen King, arguably the most commercially successful American writer of all time, helped shape the modern horror genre as we know it by framing his work around the social tensions that emerged from the post-Vietnam War era. With books such as [_The Shining_](https://stephenking.com/works/novel/shining.html) (1977) and [_Pet Sematary_](https://stephenking.com/works/novel/pet-sematary.html) (1983), King shifted the horror genre away from gothic monsters to realistic, unsettling stories that could occur in anyone’s hometown. 

During their careers, Vonnegut, Thompson, and King did not appeal to literary trends or common expectations. Their countercultural appeal allowed them to become much more than mere writers; they were literary icons. Vonnegut was a social critic; Thompson was a rebel; King was a visionary. It is not their writing styles or creative prowess that made them renowned, but rather their ability to write stories that could transcend generations. 

One thing is clear: the motivations behind why and how authors write have shifted. During the respective eras of Vonnegut, Thompson, and King, authors were motivated to create material they enjoyed and believed would be successful. Now, the publishing industry is more commercialized than ever, placing increased pressure on modern authors to prioritize profit rather than quality. The allure of millions and literary stardom has overshadowed the drive to write literature that can transcend generations. 

Many 21st-century authors have become captivated by the promise of Hollywood profits, leading them to write material that feels less like a novel than a screenplay. The contemporary literary world has become a testing ground for the motion picture industry. In just the last few years, best-selling novels [_It Ends with Us_](https://www.colleenhoover.com/products/it-ends-with-us) (2016) by Colleen Hoover, [_The Housemaid_](https://www.freidamcfadden.com/books/the-housemaid-series/) (2022) by Freida McFadden, and [_Project Hail Mary_](https://andyweirauthor.com) (2021) by Andy Weir have all been adapted for the big screen. Despite their commercial success, none of these three books feels like a genuine literary masterpiece. The motivation behind the author’s writing may be the unsung factor that helps certain literature become transcendent. 

Technological evolution in the 21st century has also influenced the conversation. Vonnegut, Thompson, and King all wrote during an era when novels were a much larger part of daily American culture. Before the rise of the internet and social media, novels stood as a prime source of entertainment during downtime. Mobile phones, laptops, headphones, and streaming services now represent just a few of the channels people can turn to for entertainment. As a result, reading in the 21st century has become more of a niche leisure activity rather than a common routine. Digital entertainment has simplified the reading process; many people would rather watch a _TikTok_ recap that summarizes an entire book in minutes than actually take a few days to read it. The writing process has also changed; artificial intelligence platforms can now generate entire books in mere seconds. 

At the same time, the number of novels published every year in the United States continues to increase. In 1970, [36,071](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/us-book-production) books were published in the United States. In 2025, driven by a surge in self-publishing and the use of AI writing tools, over [four million](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/99943-book-output-topped-4-million-in-2025.html) books were published in the United States. On paper, it would appear that the literary field is doing better than ever. In reality, the sheer number of books being published in the United States, many of them written with generative AI, has diluted the literary field. In the modern literary world, essentially anyone can write and publish a book. In past centuries, the ability for authors to publish their work was more restricted, meaning significantly fewer writers had the opportunity to see their books officially for sale in stores. Less competition in prior decades made it easier for innovative writing to stand out. 

Whether a result of the changing motivations of authors, the evolution of technology, or the advent of the digital age, it is clear that the 21st century has yet to produce a generational author or a definitive literary classic. It is precisely this lack of modern literary greatness that has caused the literary field to fade into the background of American society. As a result, contemporary literature has begun to operate more as a testing ground for Hollywood productions than a proving ground for great writers. While great literature may very well have been produced in the 21st century, the [addictive use of social media](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/addictive-use-social-media-not-total-time-associated-youth-mental-health) platforms and the [shallow plots](https://www.dw.com/en/is-netflix-making-us-stupid/a-75876174) of contemporary streaming platforms have made it almost impossible to find.