My preliminary picks for the five most important authors of the 20th Century:
-J.R.R. Tolkien
-Edgar Rice Burroughs
-Agatha Christie
-Raymond Chandler
-H.P. Lovecraft
(A case could be made for H.G. Wells, except that his most important works were almost all written at the tail-end of the 19th century)
Serpent's Den 
Interesting list. Depends on what you mean by ‘important’. I’d go:
– G. K. Chesterton (At the top of the list, like Ella)
Then:
-J.R.R. Tolkien
– C.S. Lewis
On the plus side. On the negative side:
– H. G. Wells, for his Outline of History alone – poison.
– lot of contenders for this last spot in the Circle or Evil – Gramsci, Freire, John Money. The people responsible for the current bad ideas inflicting our world.
Your list is more fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
My idea of ‘important’ was in terms of “influence on the art of writing and storytelling”
LikeLike
Most important, or just plain best?
LikeLiked by 1 person
See the reply above: most important specifically in terms of their influence on writing and storytelling (just plain best would be a *lot* more complicated: e.g. would Agatha Christie win out for better puzzles and plots, or Dorothy Sayers for better prose and character work? Influence / impact on the art form is much easier)
LikeLike
Ah, so authors most import as authors.
LikeLiked by 1 person