I seldom see Gail Godwin's name come up here: "The Good Husband", Father Melancholy's Daughter", and "The Finishing School." I find her themes universal and strong and her style nuanced and graceful.

Here is the rest of my list, some major, a few minor:
Nadine Gordimer
Tim Parks
Peter Mayle
Knut Hamsun
Paul Bowles
Paul Theroux
Isak Dinesen
Alan Paton
Evenlyn Waugh
Katherine Mansfield

Naturally, I will add that George Gissing should be required reading. (There ya go, Martin... another 25p in your pocket for me mentioning Gissing.)

PAM

After looking it over, I too am surprised at some of the authors who don't show up here in discussions. E.g. -- Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Katherine Mansfield. I would add Iris Murdoch.

Sarah Canary - Maybe Toni Morrison isn't mentioned because she's written so few books? Loved her novel "Song of Solomon." Read it in the '80s, and still remember the woman who didn't have a navel ... people said that she was un-human because of that. So she wore --always -- a tiny metal box dangling from a chain earring. ... It contained her birth certificate.

Bookmom, I like Michener a lot. My favorites are Hawaii and Centennial.

William Styron - I have considered reading Sophie's Choice, but did not think I could bear the pain of it.

Gail Godwin - I picked up Father Melancholy's Daughter when it first came out, didn't finish it, and just dismissed her from my attention. Perhaps I will give her another try. In your opinion would that be the best book to start with?

Nadine Gordimer - Never gave her a try. I dislike political novels intensely and had the impression her work is all very political. Am I being unfair?

Tim Parks - Forgive me but I never heard of him until you listed him.

Peter Mayle - I read A Year in Provence, or at least most of it. Meh. Now, his two comic sex education books for children are very amusing.

Knut Hamsun - Another writer I don't know.

Paul Bowles - Just one, The Sheltering Sky. A vivid picture of destructive ennui. Very glad I read it, not at all interested in reading any more.

Paul Theroux - Again, just one, The Kingdom By the Sea. Really disliked this book. All through the book he sneered so eloquently and dismissively at working class people and what he saw as their shallow pursuits that I wanted to just smack him. Anyway, he is one of my husband's absolute favorite writers. Tom has read all his travel books. Tastes differ.

Isak Dinesen - thought about it, never tried any of her books, Even bought one and later gave it away.

Alan Paton - I read Cry the Beloved Country when I was barely 15, too young to appreciate it fully, but I was moved nonetheless.

Evelyn Waugh - I mostly think of Evelyn Waugh when I am making the argument about how many girls' names used to be boys' names.

Katherine Mansfield - read several short stories in various lit classes over the years, but no novels.

The other suggested neglected authors follow here:

Never tried David Lodge or George Gissing.

Used to read Taylor Caldwell back in high school.

I really thought I had read something by Graham Greene, but when I looked at a list of titles none of them were familiar. Must have been Graham Something-Else.

Read about half of Toni Morrison's Beloved, but found it too painful to finish.

No Iris Murdoch. Have always meant to give her a try. So many books, etc.

Read a lot of James Michener once upon a time. Eventually got tired of his formula, however well done. And I admit he did do it well.

Neil Gaiman - I've read most of his novels. Clever and enjoyable for the most part. I didn't like The Anansi Boys as well as American Gods or Neverwhere. Saw the movie of Stardust but haven't gotten around to reading the novel yet, though I do plan to.

Janet Holt Giles - read her books when I was in high school as well right about the time I was reading Taylor Caldwell.

Did I miss anyone?

Rosefolly

If I may add another name, I am surprised how rarely Thomas Hardy is mentioned.

Perhaps that is why neither of these authors have been recently mentioned.

I should add that there is now a thread here on George Gissing. As Tim says, we did discuss recently the work of Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen).

Rosefolly - So odd you mention you were 15 when you read "Cry the Beloved Country". When I was 15 it was assigned to my high school English class. I was way too young for it. Didn't read it, and still haven't. I also have an aversion to fiction books that have a heavy political agenda... and that's even if I agree totally w/ what they are espousing.