Most Influential Brits Who Never Lived

Influential but has never lived?????
They have an effect on every facet of modern life. And the characters featured in a US book, The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived, have one thing in common - they are all creations of fiction.
Topping the list is a home-grown American character, the Marlboro Man - a macho cowboy who emerged in the 1950s as an advertising creation to help sell cigarettes. Marlboro Man's biggest influence on society has been to cause the death of millions from cancer.

At no. 2 is Big Brother from George Orwell's novel 1984, the face of government control, while at no. 3 is King Arthur, who the book's three authors say embodies for many the ideal monarch or leader. Santa Claus is in at no. 4 because he "makes us believe we are entitled to goodies just for living in an affluent society and governs our entire economy for the last quarter of the year".
Shakespeare scores twice in the top ten, with Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet, while Sherlock Holmes and Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde are also there. And so too is Dr Frankenstein's Monster, from the mind of Britain's Mary Shelley. Germany is represented by Siegfried, the warrior hero of Teutonic nationalism who the authors say was responsible for propelling his country into two world wars.

James Bond is at no. 51 for "combining intrigue, sex and British suavity with the highest technologies of our modern age". And there is even space for the Loch Ness Monster at no. 56, described as "the most fabulous animal in the world: Nessie's influence on the cash flow of Scotland has been significant".

THE TOP TEN
1. The Marlboro Man / 2. Big Brother / 3. King Arthur / 4. Santa Claus / 5. Hamlet /
6. Dr Frankenstein's Monster / 7. Siegfried / 8. Sherlock Holmes / 9. Romeo & Juliet /
10. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
Tags: Fiction, Book, Marlboro, Influence, Big Brother, King Arthur, Santa Claus, Hamlet, Frankenstein, Siegfried, Sherlock Holmes, Romeo & Juliet, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, James Bond, Loch Ness Monster