The Andrew Klavan Show The Authors Whose Work You Need To Read
Jan 1, 2026
Dive into the fascinating insights of renowned writers who shaped a worldview! Explore how Dostoevsky's moral lessons led to a deeper faith. Discover the chivalric ideals of Chandler's Marlowe amid corruption. Reflect on the stylistic brilliance of Hemingway and Fitzgerald, while appreciating Shakespeare's understanding of human nature. Klavan praises Dickens for character development and Austen for consistent greatness. He also discusses the dark implications of atheism as seen through de Sade, and cherishes childhood memories with Twain.
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Dostoevsky Changed His Moral Compass
- Andrew Klavan credits Dostoevsky with ending his moral relativism and pointing him toward a moral standard rooted in consciousness and free will.
- He calls Dostoevsky a prophet and recommends Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov.
Philip Marlowe As A Role Model
- Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe gave Andrew a male role model who combined toughness with chivalry in a corrupt world.
- Klavan modeled his life on Marlowe's ideal: "down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean."
Hemingway's Style, Not His Growth
- Klavan praises Hemingway as an unparalleled prose stylist whose early short stories and novels remain powerful.
- He also observes Hemingway didn't mature personally despite his stylistic brilliance.