The Best Novels
Last updated: July 26, 2024
Which are the best novels ever written? These lists focus on classic novels from around the world, either written in English or that have been translated into English. These are the kind of books that may have featured on your school reading list if you grew up in a country or studied its literature as a student, but may not be familiar with if you didn't.
Possibly the Platonic ideal of a novel remains Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace or his slightly shorter and more tragic work, Anna Karenina. Less well-known in English are the much earlier Asian classics, including the Story of the Stone, from China, and The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting at the Japanese imperial court, in the 11th century.
The Best Russian Novels, recommended by Orlando Figes
They’re among the finest novels ever written, often vast in their scope and ambitious in their subject matter. Some are long, others can be read in an afternoon. They’re also one of the best ways of understanding Russian history. Historian Orlando Figes, author of The Story of Russia and Natasha’s Dance, recommends his favourite Russian novels, from the 19th century to today.
The Great American Novel, recommended by Lawrence Buell
Albeit an object of satire and overreach, the ‘Great American Novel’ remains a vital concept in American literature, encouraging writers to capture the essence of national culture and history, argues Lawrence Buell, Professor of American Literature Emeritus at Harvard University. He talks us through the origins of the phrase and nominates five novels as contenders.
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1
Mourning a Breast
Xi Xi and Jennifer Feeley (translator) -
2
The Drunkard
Liu Yichang, Charlotte Chun-lam Yiu (translator) -
3
Atlas: The Archaeology of an Imaginary City
Dung Kai-cheung and Anders Hansson & Bonnie S. McDougall (translators) -
4
The Borrowed
by Chan Ho-Kei & Jeremy Tiang (translator) -
5
The Kite Family
Hon Lai-chu and Andrea Lingenfelter (translator)
The Best Hong Kong Novels, recommended by Wong Yi
The Best Hong Kong Novels, recommended by Wong Yi
Hong Kong’s fiction scene punches above its weight, and it’s not all political allusion. From magical realism to detective fiction, award-winning writer Wong Yi recommends her five favourite novels from a city depicted in fictional form as simultaneously claustrophobic and cosmopolitan.
Novels Set in Nigeria, recommended by Chioma Okereke
Nigeria is a vast, vibrant, and highly diverse country that offers endless inspiration for fiction writers. Here, the novelist and poet Chioma Okereke—whose new book Water Baby unfolds in Makoko, an extraordinary floating slum in Lagos—recommends five fascinating novels that are also set in Nigeria.
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1
Where You Come From
Saša Stanišić, Damion Searls (translator) -
2
Glorious People
Sasha Marianna Salzmann, Imogen Taylor (translator) -
3
Ada's Realm
Sharon Dodua Otoo and Jon Cho-Polizzi (translator) -
4
In the Belly of the Queen
Karosh Taha, Grashina Gabelmann (translator) -
5
Monsters Like Us
Ulrike Almut Sandig, Karen Leeder (translator)
The Best 21st-Century German Novels, recommended by Katy Derbyshire
The Best 21st-Century German Novels, recommended by Katy Derbyshire
There’s always been a fondness in the English-speaking world for novels about German history, but recently the books being translated into English have become much more diverse and interesting, says award-winning translator and publisher Katy Derbyshire. She introduces us to some her favourite German novels from recent years, taking us beyond Germany to Bosnia, Donbas and even Ghana.
The Best Novels from Pakistan, recommended by Safinah Danish Elahi
Over the past five years, Pakistani novels have become much more focused on people’s lived experience in Pakistan—rather than just catering to the expectations of an international audience, argues novelist, lawyer and publisher Safinah Danish Elahi. She picks five of her favorite novels from Pakistan, four of them published very recently.
The Best Novels in English, recommended by Robert McCrum
Journalist Robert McCrum spent two years selecting the best novels ever written in English. Here he narrows it down to just five: a perfect introduction to the best fiction the English language has to offer.
The Best Indian Novels, recommended by Radhika Jha
Like all great books, India’s best novels are worth reading not just because of what they show about India, but what they reveal about the human condition. Here Radhika Jha, author of four critically acclaimed books, talks us through five important Indian novels and novelists and explains why it’s so important that fiction isn’t just about personal experience.
Five of the Best European Classics, recommended by David Campbell
Europe may be made up of many cultures but its component parts share an artistic and literary sensibility, says Everyman’s Library publisher David Campbell. Here, he recommends five European classics that everyone should read at least once in their life, including “the greatest novel ever written” and some lesser-known masterpieces.
The Best 20th-Century American Novels, recommended by David Hering
The story of America is not one of a manageable unified nation, says novelist and critic David Hering. It may, however, be the story of America’s dream — which is why many of the best American novels have a distinctly dreamlike quality. He picks out five of the best American novels of the 20th century, from 1905 through to 1987.