Terry Pratchett. His Discworld series combines fantasy elements with sharp satire. The books are set in a flat, disc - shaped world carried on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. Through various characters and storylines, Pratchett satirizes many aspects of society, such as politics, religion, and human nature.
Lewis Carroll. His 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' can be seen as a form of fantasy satire. The absurd situations and characters, like the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts, can be read as satirizing the rigid rules and strange behaviors in Victorian society, as well as the often - illogical nature of human thinking.
John le Carré is a very famous English writer of spy novels. His works often delve deep into the complex world of espionage, with detailed characterizations and intricate plots. For example, 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' is a classic that showcases his ability to create a tense and morally ambiguous world of spies.
These writers tend to have a sharp eye for human nature. They can spot the flaws and foibles in people and then exaggerate them in their fantasy settings for satirical effect. For example, in 'Gulliver's Travels', Swift shows how people can be petty and power - hungry. The English writers of fantasy satirical novels also like to break the norms. They don't follow the typical storytelling rules. Their stories can be very episodic and disjointed, which reflects the chaotic and often illogical nature of the real - world situations they are satirizing.
Some satirical novels worth mentioning are 'Candide' by Voltaire. It mocks the idea of Leibnizian optimism. 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde has elements of satire, especially towards the upper - class society's vanity and immorality. 'Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison, while mainly about race, also has satirical elements regarding society's view of the individual.
A great example of a satirical novel is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. It satirizes the military bureaucracy during World War II. The 'catch - 22' situation in the book shows the absurdity of the military rules where a pilot can be declared insane for wanting to stop flying dangerous missions, but if he requests to be grounded, that is taken as proof of his sanity.
Isaac Asimov is another. He wrote numerous science fiction works in English. His Foundation series, for example, is a masterpiece. Asimov had a great command of the English language and his works often explored complex scientific concepts, ethics, and the future of humanity. His works are like an 'Olympic' display of intellectual and creative prowess in the field of science fiction.
'The Tin Drum' by Günter Grass can also be considered in this category. It satirizes the German society during and after the war. The protagonist, Oskar, with his refusal to grow up, is a symbol of the resistance against the madness of war and the post - war moral decay.
Some classic satirical novels are 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll. It uses a lot of absurd situations and characters to satirize the rigid rules and strange logic in Victorian society. 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes is another important one. It satirizes the chivalric romances of the time, following the deluded Don Quixote on his quests. Also, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde can be seen as a satirical take on the hedonistic and immoral values of the upper - class society of the time.
One well - known satirical American novel is 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain. It satirizes the society of the South, especially the institution of slavery and the hypocrisy of the so - called civilized people. Another is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. This novel satirizes the military bureaucracy and the absurdity of war. 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell (although he was British, it has strong relevance to American and global politics) is also a great satirical work. It uses animals on a farm to represent different political classes and shows how power can corrupt.
One well - known writer of historical novels is Hilary Mantel. She is famous for her 'Wolf Hall' trilogy which vividly recreates the Tudor period in England. Another is Ken Follett. His 'The Pillars of the Earth' is a great historical novel that details the building of a cathedral in the Middle Ages. And then there's James Michener, who wrote large - scale historical novels like 'Hawaii' that span long periods of time and cover many aspects of the history of a place.
T. H. White is a well - known writer of arthurian novels. His 'The Once and Future King' is a classic that reimagines the Arthurian legend in a vivid and engaging way.