America has culture. It has soul. It has spirit.
The Carter Family represent one aspect of Americana. Bluegrass/country.
Billie Holiday is another artist contributing to America's musical heritage. Jazz.
Muddy Waters. Blues.
Bill Haley and His Comets. Rock and Roll.
America has tons of things! I continue to discover them, little by little, like a slow turtle.
ReplyDeleteWon’t talk about American music, which is great but not a recent discovery.
As far as literature, I recently discovered Walt Whitman (great and absolutely nuts at the same time, incredibly modern for his time: he's been a good companion during my last trip to the USA).
And a bit less recently this amazing American novelist, James A. Michener, with his Tolstoyan sagas (vast books of more than a thousand pages) describing the history - sometimes since prehistory - of many US states like Colorado (Centennial), Maryland (Chesapeake), Texas, Alaska etc. All of them great and inspiring novels (I liked Chesapeake best).
A European can learn a lot from his books, showing with great prose and richness of details how all happened. Not at all easy for us to understand such a different world. We need enlightened guides. As far as my personal taste, James A. Michener is such a guide.
All the best
I must confess I'm not the biggest literature guy but I do read whenever I get the chance. Ever consider Jack Kerouac (60s counter culture stuff) and Saul Bellow?
ReplyDeleteI was referring to recent discoveries. Kerouac I know and appreciate a lot, also Salinger, Jack London, Philip Dick etc. Saul Bellow not yet.
ReplyDeleteBtw, how come you are not a literature guy ... I mean, it could be useful if you want to have success as a writer. Not for copying, naturally. Basically I believe every art is taught by example. Like soccer. If you watch many games you get a lot from champions and theirs tricks.