Thomas Berger

One of America's most underrated novelists -- via the New York Times. Best known for writing "Little Big Man," he could write in any genre with ease, making sardonic points about society and mankind in general along the way. His Carlo Reinhart novels, "Sneaky People," "The Feud," "Regiment of Women," "Killing Time," and on and on . . . superb work. Pick up anything of his and you will enjoy it.

Great quote from him in the New York Times obituary: "I should like the reader to be aware that a book of mine is written in the English language, which I love with all my heart and write to the best of my ability and with the most honorable of intentions -- which is to say, I am peddling no quackery, masking no intent to tyrannize, and asking nobody's pity. (I suspect that I am trying to save my own soul, but that's nobody else's business.)"