Great American Novel

:For the Philip Roth book, see The Great American Novel (Roth).

Related Topics:
Philip Roth - The Great American Novel (Roth)

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The "Great American Novel" is the concept of a novel that perfectly represents the spirit of life in the United States at the time of its publication. It is presumed to be written by an American author who is knowledgeable about the state, culture, and perspective of the common American citizen. Although the title is not a formal award, it is considered to be a prestigious title for a novel, and is thus seen as a worthwhile goal for writers to attempt to achieve. The phrase derives from the title of an essay by nineteenth-century novelist John William DeForest.

Related Topics:
Novel - United States - Nineteenth-century - John William DeForest

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Though the term is singular, many novels have been given this title over time. In fact, few will claim there is one single Great American Novel. Two of the earliest contenders for this title are Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Several 20th century works have also emerged as worthwhile subjects for this discussion, including such highly respected novels such as John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, and Jack Kerouac's On the Road. Even controversial novels ranging from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye to Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero have sometimes also received this title from critics and scholars.

Related Topics:
Herman Melville - Moby-Dick - Mark Twain - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - 20th century - John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath - F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby - Jack Kerouac - On the Road - J.D. Salinger - The Catcher in the Rye - Bret Easton Ellis - Less Than Zero

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When referring to first-time writers, many people state that their ultimate goal is to write "the Great American novel," illustrating the somewhat idealistic nature of the phrase.

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