Question of the Week
Question of the Week #59: Authors Speak
This week we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr., a man famous for his
social contributions and his oratorical gifts--his "I Have a Dream" is
surely one of the best speeches in history.
Which author (living or dead) would you most like to hear speak or read his or her work?
Replies (19)
Posted by
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jane Austin
Jan 19, 2010 2:19 pm
by JHT43 -
Having recently read a Penquin Bio of Charles Dickens, I would have to say he would be my first choice. He was a huge success on his speaking tours and people would cry, laugh faint and otherwise respond enthusiastically to his marvelous readings. He also often acted out the scenes from his novels(acting out scene where Bill kills Nancy from "Oliver Twist" early always wrung him out and left the audience gasping.) Yeah, Charles Dickens would be my choice!
Jan 19, 2010 4:16 pm
by Faundance5 -
Mark Twain. I was watching a documentary about him on PBS some months ago and they were saying that, while living in San Francisco, he used to go around giving talks on his life and travels. He also gave a famous speech on women's suffrage ("Votes for Women"). Considering how much I love his writing, I can only imagine what a great speaker he must have been.
Jan 19, 2010 6:04 pm
by OpinionatedLady -
I would love to hear Edgar Allen Poe read The Raven.
Jan 19, 2010 6:34 pm
by moengey -
Jane Austin
Jan 20, 2010 2:31 am
by xueriii -
Elizabeth Berg
Jan 20, 2010 9:24 am
by psmithez -
Without a doubt, William Faulkner. I have heard his nobel prize acceptance speech, and there is nothing better than that southern accent. Chills.
Jan 20, 2010 10:57 am
by kara113 -
I would love to hear Oscar Wilde speak.
Jan 20, 2010 11:37 am
by Lolabean -
H. P. Lovecraft.
One thing though, I've listened to a lot of audio books and I have to say that, with very few exceptions, most of the authors I've listened to do a terrible job of reading their material. Examples: Stephen King and Issac Asimov. The main exception, Harlan Ellison, does a great job.Jan 20, 2010 3:28 pm
by Golem100 -
Oscar Wilde
Jan 20, 2010 5:21 pm
by ipek9 -
James Ellroy, of course. I saw him last week reading excerpts from his latest novel, "Blood's a Rover", and he's incredible. What an actor!
by Frisepoulet -
Sydney Sheldon
Jan 21, 2010 6:40 pm
by My_Swan -
God read the Bible.
Jan 21, 2010 7:45 pm
by donnalynn -
I'll bet Patricia Highsmith would be a great interpreter of her own work. Likewise Carson McCullers.
Jan 21, 2010 9:55 pm
by chucknyc -
I would love to hear Dr. Suess read "Green Eggs and Ham".
by jarmeyer -
Helen Keller.
@donnalynn - I second that!Jan 25, 2010 1:00 pm
by saturntv -
Langston Hughes
Jan 25, 2010 3:47 pm
by tracey323 -
Lord Byron-he was such a sensation you want to see what all the fuss was about. Plus you know you wouldn't be bored.
by dreamdust -
Shakespeare! *swoon*
Feb 17, 2010 6:36 pm
by emilyyoung