The Novel 100: A Ranking Of The Greatest Novels Of All Time.
– by Daniel S. Burt
Which novels are truly great and why? This unique reference profiles 100 of the “greatest” novels drawn from all cultures and periods of literature. Compiled in consultation with literary scholars, chosen novels include Don Quixote (Cervantes), Ulysses (Joyce), The Brothers Karamazov (Dostoevsky), Vanity Fair (Thackeray), Invisible Man (Ellison), Tess of the D’Urbervilles (Hardy), The Stranger (Camus), A Farewell to Arms (Hemingway), Their Eyes Were Watching God (Hurston), On the Road (Kerouac), Dracula (Stoker), and Gone With the Wind (Mitchell).
Each entry provides a plot summary and assessment, with an emphasis on details about the novel’s creation, critical reception, and contribution to literary history. Additional features include a chronology, a list of honorable mentions (“A Second Hundred”), and an index. Surveying those works that have defined and altered the novel as a genre, The Novel 100 is sure to engage readers in a spirited discussion of literary values. (less)