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Which writers are our Living National Treasures?

» Michael_Dirda | Today I commented on a post--in the old thread titled Key Books of the Literary Imagination--that urged that two of Jacques Barzun's books be added to the collective list. As I wrote, I began to think about the category of Grand Old Men (and Women) of Letters. It's wonderful to realize that some of our great scholars and writers, now in their 80s, 90s or even older, are still with us and still, in some cases, producing books. We really should have Living National Treasures as they do in Japan. Barzun, who is--I believe--a centenarian would be on this list, but also the great Dostoevsky biographer Joseph Frank, the polymath Martin Gardner, the wonderful English editor and memoirist Diana Athill, the beloved children's author Beverly Cleary (creator of Henry Huggins and Ramon Quimby) and--the baby of the group--the enormously learned scholar and bibliographer of fantasy literature, E.F. Bleiler. But these are just a few. Who else would you nominate to be a Living National Treasure?


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Discussions	Started by	Posts	Latest Post
Which writers are our Living National Treasures?	Michael_Dirda	9	1 day ago by MirelleGrace
Your ideal (literary) dinner party	Michael_Dirda	41	17 minutes ago by Iconodule
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Do you ever grow weary of books?	Michael_Dirda	38	2 days ago by babsy1
Key Books for the Literary Imagination	Michael_Dirda	24	3 days ago by Michael_Dirda
Favorite Letter Collections	Michael_Dirda	40	3 days ago by lheffelkcrrcom
Who Should Obama Pick to Represent Arts and Literature?	Michael_Dirda	23	3 days ago by MirelleGrace
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