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Most widely known character?

27 replies

MsAmerica · 13/11/2013 23:37

I was just reading some Sherlock Holmes, and in an introduction, it was said that the New York Times lauded Holmes as "the most widely known character in English fiction since Pickwick." No date on that, unfortunately. Don't even know if it meant fiction by an English author or fiction in the English language. But it surprised me. Pickwick?

What would you say would be the most widely known character? If it had been the time of Arthur Conan Doyle's death in 1930, I might have guessed David Copperfield. These days, I would have to say, sadly, Harry Potter. What do you think?

OP posts:
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riskit4abiskit · 13/11/2013 23:57

Mr darcy
willy wonka

I guess it would change with every generation?

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Louise1956 · 14/11/2013 14:47

I would guess it is still Sherlock Holmes. there can't be many people who don't know who he is.

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StealthPolarBear · 14/11/2013 14:49

Robin Hood
Or a fairy tale character - cinderella, little red riding hood

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couch25cakes · 14/11/2013 20:55

Harry Potter?

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WereTricksPotter · 14/11/2013 20:58

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MrsHowardRoark · 14/11/2013 21:10

Dracula?

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Smartiepants79 · 14/11/2013 21:24

James Bond?
Frankenstein?

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OverAndAbove · 18/11/2013 17:41

I was going to say Mr Darcy, but looking at the above, surely Harry Potter?!

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StealthPolarBear · 18/11/2013 17:56

More than Cinderella, really?

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ZacharyQuack · 19/11/2013 10:44

Frodo or Bilbo Baggins

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MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 21/11/2013 22:05

The Hobbit? (Although I personally do not like Tolkien's books).

Harry Potter, perhaps.

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ILetHimKeep20Quid · 21/11/2013 22:09

Bridget Jones Grin

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AnneEyhtMeyer · 21/11/2013 22:16

Cinderella isn't an English character though, Stealth.

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StealthPolarBear · 21/11/2013 22:40

Ah good point. Can I raise Robin Hood again?

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StealthPolarBear · 21/11/2013 22:41

or Santa. He's from Hull, didn't you know?

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StealthPolarBear · 21/11/2013 22:41

or the watership down bunnies

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AnneEyhtMeyer · 21/11/2013 22:52

Robin Hood is a good one.

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ZacharyQuack · 22/11/2013 05:28

Jesus

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DuchessofMalfi · 22/11/2013 05:37

Scarlett O'Hara/Rhett Butler? That's two but they are well known as a couple Grin

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ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 22/11/2013 05:51

Gandalf

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MorgauseIsNotBlinking · 22/11/2013 06:18

Scrooge, I'd say.

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DrankSangriaInThePark · 22/11/2013 06:19

Romeo and Juliet.

After Harry and Voldie.

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Arabesque1 · 22/11/2013 12:52

Scarlett O Hara/Rhett Butler are from American fiction.

Romeo and Juliet is a good suggestion.

How about Alice in Wonderland?

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AnneEyhtMeyerInSilver · 22/11/2013 12:57

Romeo & Juliet were originally in an Italian folk tale, weren't they?

Jesus is not an English invention.

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RudolphLovesoftplay · 22/11/2013 13:00

How about Scrooge? Alice from Alice in wonderland? Any character that's been Disney'd :)

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