Trying to decide your favourite character is one thing but attempting to rank 100 that have been most influential is certainly a challenge not to be underestimated. Lucy Pollard-Gott’s, The Fictional 100, chronicals the worlds greatest characters from literature and legend and is full of interesting facts, pictures and quotes. So while you try to decide on your number one, here is what the author has to say.

…about your book

What was your inspiration to write this book?
Many biographical dictionaries have appeared ranking historical persons, and I thought that fictional characters merited the same treatment–“biographies” of their lives. I wanted to follow characters from their birth in one or more works of fiction or legend, first telling their stories in the fictional world and then tracing their influence in other works of fiction, in film, art, music, and in the world at large.  I also wished to explore as much as possible the psychological aspects of the characters that have become most influential.

Was it difficult ranking your chosen characters in order?
Of course, there is some uncertainty built into any ranking process. Because of the multiple avenues through which a character’s influence can be expressed, no single measure can provide an automatic standard for assessing rank, but instead multiple sources of influence must be coordinated and weighed. Some of the factors contributing to a higher rank include persistence over a longer time, versatility (dispersion of the character in a variety of different works in different media), complexity (characters which continue to spur debate), and international appeal. Equally well-informed people may disagree on the ranks I’ve settled on. A good rule of thumb is that a character’s rank could move up or down by a factor of three and still be consistent with my assessment. For example, I ranked Hamlet first, and many people would too, but few people would likely leave him out of the top three. Don Quixote, at third, could rank as high as first or as low as ninth, but it would be surprising if he dropped off the top ten altogether. And so on down the list.
I also took some care that the ranks within geographical subsets make sense: Hamlet is the top character in British literature, Huckleberry Finn in American literature, Genji for Japanese literature, Odysseus for the ancient Greeks, and so on around the world.

Which author do you think created the most influential characters overall?
It is hard to get ahead of Shakespeare for influential characters! Eight of his characters made my list, and they all excel in the hallmarks of influence. Even in translation to other languages, the poetry and dramatic power that Shakespeare brought to bear have made his characters robust, versatile, exciting, perplexing, and widely popular. He also knew how to choose among fruitful characters that others had created to get the most out of their stories and personalities.

…just for fun If you were to invite 5 fictional characters round to dinner who would they be?
Sherlock Holmes, Emma Woodhouse, Genji, Superman, and Cinderella. Sherlock Holmes would surely confound the other guests by his astute appraisals of them.  I would love to offer him a mystery or two and, what’s more to the point, I’d like to see which of the many actors has come closest to capturing the “real” Sherlock. (Is it Jeremy Brett or Benedict Cumberbatch?) Emma would be a lovely addition to any party, especially a picnic, and could be counted on to speak honestly and with the best of intentions. If she happened to come out with a gaffe, she would sincerely regret it and surely make amends. If the radiant Prince Genji came to dinner, I would probably impose on him to play the koto and to compose some lovely waka poetry for the occasion, since these are among the arts at which he is unsurpassed. Superman would be equally welcome as himself or as Clark Kent.  Cinderella would no doubt be a charming guest and make sure everyone went home by midnight!

All authors are asked which book they wish to read on a desert island but in the spirit of your work, which character do you think would be the most influential to help you survive living on a desert island?
Long John Silver suggests himself, because of his experience on Treasure Island, but I would choose Odysseus. On his voyage home from Troy, he landed on a series of islands, which might have been easier if they had been deserted—at least he would have encountered fewer dangers and foes! But dealing with loneliness would be one of the obstacles to healthy survival. Odysseus faced loss of comrades and persevered through many and varied hardships, keeping the thoughts of his home, wife, and son in mind. He would be a resourceful companion and have great stories to tell!

Which character do you most identify yourself with?�
I feel the greatest affinity for Jean Valjean. I admire the kind of ideal person he grew to be—selfless, compassionate, forgiving, generous.

…and finally Are you working on anything new you can tell us about?
Yes, I’m doing the research for a historical novel set in medieval France. I’m looking forward to creating some fictional characters of my own, after admiring the fictional folks already populating the imaginary landscape and chronicling their real-world influence.

What are you reading at the moment?
I am savoring Shirleyby Charlotte Brontë in tandem with The Tenant of Wildfell Hallby her sister Anne. It is fascinating to compare their voices. Both authors have such acute perceptions of their characters, it is almost painful to watch the characters squirm under the Brontë lens. If I had to cite a contrast, I’d say that Anne, as narrator, has the hotter temper and the sharper tongue! Her subject does lend itself to more outrage.
I’ve also been reading more biographies—some for research and some that just grabbed me, such as Katie Whitaker’s A Royal Passion, described as a biography of the marriage of Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France. The new research Whitaker offers, painting a more sympathetic portrait of Henrietta as wife and of them both as a couple, appealed to me very much. And I’m curious to start Trying to Please, the new memoir by John Julius Norwich, whose stylish narrative histories never fail to draw me in.
Finally, there are always new things to read about the further adventures of the characters on my list—they keep popping up in the news! 

Read The Fictional 100 Review here

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