- LISTS & LINKS
- The 100 Greatest Novels
- The Best of the Rest
- The Source Rankings
#1. Catcher In the Rye - J.D. Salinger
Two days in the life of a confused and disillusioned 16-year-old as he rails against the phoniness of the adult world.
Published: 1951
The Definitive List
Many lists of top-ranked novels have been published over the years, with remarkable inconsistency. In fact, of the fifteen published lists we used to create our composite ranking, not a single novel was listed among the top 100 on every list. Our list of The 100 Greatest Novels eliminates individual bias and reflects the collective ranking of the best books ever written.
#2. 1984 - George Orwell
Follows the life of a seemingly insignificant bureaucrat under a repressive, totalitarian regime.
Published: 1949
#3. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Social satire set in Long Island during the roaring twenties, a "rags-to-riches" story culminating in shattered dreams.
Published: 1925
Featured Author: Charles Dickens
Dickens contributed four of the top 100 novels, with three others cited on among the ten source lists used to create The 100 Greatest Novels.