10 Best Authors Like Hemingway That You Need to Read Now!

Discover our guide to authors like Hemingway that will satisfy your hunger for literature gold in the style of one of the best authors in history.

Ernest Hemingway is one of the best-known authors and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and beloved writers of the 20th century. His literary style, known for its straightforward, minimalist prose and emphasis on themes of masculinity, violence, and the search for meaning, has significantly impacted contemporary American literature. This is likely why many readers seek authors like Hemingway, even today.

Hemingway frequently depicted the brutal realities of war, love, and grief in his writings, and his characters were flawed, complicated people trying to find their place in a harsh and sometimes ruthless world. Hemingway’s influence endures, as his writing continues to move and inspire people worldwide, despite his sudden death by his hand in 1961.

Best Authors Like Hemingway Ranked

1. Raymond Carver, 1938-1988

Raymond Carver was an American short story writer and poet, often associated with the literary movement of minimalism. He is known for his spare, straightforward prose and focus on the lives of ordinary people in small-town America. His most famous works include What We Talk About When We Talk About Love and Cathedral, which are highly influential in contemporary American literature. Carver’s minimalist writing, use of short sentences, and focus on everyday experiences and dialogue evoke Hemingway’s iconic style.

“Go ahead,” the man said. “It’s my yard. You can dance if you want to.”

Raymond Carver, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love

2. Cormack McCarthy, 1933 –

One of the 20th century’s most significant American authors is Cormac McCarthy. He’s a prominent American author, dramatist, and filmmaker known for his grim, sometimes brutal portrayals of life on the American frontier. His straightforward language style and objective method of portraying life are reminiscent of Hemingway. And like Hemingway, McCarthy writes clearly, and straightforwardly, emphasizing vivid descriptions of the natural world and humanity’s difficulties in challenging circumstances. The Road, which received the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, is among his best-known works.

“Where you’ve nothing else construct ceremonies out of the air and breathe upon them.”

Cormack McCarthy, The Road

3. John Steinbeck, 1902 – 1968

John Steinbeck was an American novelist and Nobel Prize winner in literature. He is best known for his works that capture the struggles of the working class in America during the Great Depression, such as The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck’s writing often dealt with themes of social justice and the human condition. Born in Salinas, California, Steinbeck spent much of his childhood working on his family’s farm, an experience that would later inform much of his writing. Steinbeck’s sparse, direct prose and emphasis on working-class characters and settings make him a natural fit for comparison to Hemingway.

“When June was half gone, the big clouds moved up out of Texas and the Gulf, high heavy clouds, rainheads.”

John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

4. Richard Yates, 1926 – 1992

Richard Yates was an American novelist and short story writer best known for his novel Revolutionary Road, which explores the disillusionment and discontentment of middle-class American life in the 1950s. The themes of isolation, failure, and the erosion of the American ideal were frequent subjects of Yates’ literary works.

Born in New York City, Yates had a tumultuous relationship with his parents during his formative years and struggled with excessive drinking and smoking, which became recurring motifs in his writing. His writing style, characterized by understatement and an emphasis on masculinity and existentialism, has drawn comparisons to Hemingway’s.

“At the door he paused to withdraw and examine the pink-blotched hand from his pocket, half expecting to find it torn to a pulp of blood and gristle.”

Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

5. F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1896 – 1940

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American novelist and short story writer widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald’s most successful novel, The Great Gatsby, is a classic of American literature. Fitzgerald’s writing often explored the themes of youth, love, and excess, and his works are often associated with the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties.

Hemingway was his contemporary, and they had a love-hate relationship. While Hemingway respected Fitzgerald’s talent, he openly criticized Fitzgerald’s writing style and personal life. Despite their differences, the two writers maintained contact and maintained correspondence throughout their lives. 

“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

6. Truman Capote, 1924 – 1984

Truman Capote was an American writer best known for his non-fiction novel In Cold Blood and his novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Capote’s writing often blended fact and fiction. In his lifetime, he was known for his flamboyant personality and high-profile social life. A lesser-known fact is that Capote was childhood friends with Harper Lee, who helped him research the murders that became the basis for In Cold Blood. Capote’s attention to detail, understated language, and focus on everyday events and relationships all resemble Hemingway’s writing.

“Hold on,” he said, gripping my wrist. “Sure I loved her. But it wasn’t that I wanted to touch her.”

Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

7. James Salter, 1925 – 2015

American novelist and short story writer James Salter are renowned for his eloquent style and examination of masculinity, love, and mortality. Before starting his literary career, Salter was a fighter pilot in the Korean War, and his wartime experiences heavily influenced his work. 

One of Hemingway’s books, the Old Man and the Sea is frequently compared with James Salter’s The Hunters. The protagonist of The Hunters, a fighter pilot fighting nature alone during the Korean War, is similar to the one in Hemingway’s book. The novel’s direct prose, focus on physical sensations, and exploration of themes like mortality and masculinity evoke the style of Hemingway’s writing.

“They had fought down there, on foot, taking weeks to move the distance he went in an hour.”

James Salter, The Hunters

8. Denis Johnson, 1949 – 2017

American author and poet Denis Johnson was renowned for exploring addiction, spirituality, and the human condition. One such book is Tree of Smoke, a National Book Award Winner. Johnson usually wrote about individuals on the periphery of society, and his works frequently dealt with themes of violence, atonement, and the quest for purpose in life. Johnson’s writing, like Hemingway’s, was distinguished by its clarity and directness and its emphasis on the conflicts of flawed, nuanced individuals. Johnson’s concentration on flawed individuals is suggestive of Hemingway’s work.

“He kept his vision on the spot where he’d seen it among the branches of a rubber tree, putting his hand out for the rifle without altering the direction of his gaze.”

Denis Johnson, Tree of Smoke

9. Jim Harrison, 1937 – 2016

Jim Harrison was an American novelist and poet known for his vivid depictions of nature and rural life and his exploration of themes like love, death, and the human condition. Harrison grew up in Michigan and spent much of his life in the Upper Midwest, drawing inspiration from the landscape and wildlife. His best-known works include Legends of the Fall. Harrison was also a prolific poet and essayist, widely regarded as one of America’s greatest writers. Harrison’s love of nature and rustic settings, his exploration of male relationships and the struggle for meaning in life, and his use of simple language and imagery are similar to the themes that Hemingway explored.

“Everyone wishes a measure of mystery in their life that they have done nothing in particular to deserve.”

Jim Harrison, Legends of the Fall

10. Stephen Crane, 1871 – 1900

Stephen Crane was an American writer and journalist best known for his novel The Red Badge of Courage, which vividly portrays the experiences of a young soldier during the American Civil War. Crane’s writing style, which emphasized vivid descriptions of the physical world and the inner lives of his characters, has been compared to Hemingway’s.

Both writers were known for their minimalist style and exploration of themes like masculinity, courage, and the struggle for meaning in a chaotic world. While Crane predates Hemingway for several decades, the way he wrote and the subjects he wrote about are all similar to Hemingway. Hemingway once said that The Red Badge of Courage was one of the finest books of American literature. Looking for more? Check out our round-up with the best Sri Lankan authors!

“He lay down on a wide bunk that stretched across the end of the room.”

Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage