Great Novels: The World's Most Remarkable Fiction Explored and Explained

by D.K. Publishing

Discover everything you ever wanted to know about the world's greatest novels.

From medieval romances and tales of chivalry found in the realist novels of the 19th century, to experimental modernist works and today's explorations of the self, Great Novels explores the finest novels from around the world and through time.

Tilt at windmills with Don Quixote, experience heartbreak with Tolstoy, discover the society in which Jane Austen lived, and delve into the complex rites of passage experienced by characters in modern novels. Find out what inspired writers to create their masterpieces, what their aims were, and how they set about writing them.

Dive deep into the pages of this inspiring book to

- Paintings, photographs, and artefacts that tell  the story of each novel and what inspired their authors
- Superb images of first editions and manuscripts
- The flavor of each novel through quotations and extended extracts 
- "Character maps" showing how characters relate to each other

 Covering the whole range of literary styles, Great Novels takes you into the pages of the world's seminal novels, ranging from the entertaining adventures of Cervantes' errant knight through to classics such as Great Expectations and Madame Bovary, to modern novels such as To the Lighthouse, The Outsider, Beloved, and Wolf Hall.

Stunning images of the original manuscripts, first editions, and authors are complemented by extracts and quotations, while illustrated features set the novels in their literary and historical context. Essential for people of all ages who love books, Great Novels provides a fascinating overview of how the novel has developed through the ages and celebrates the perennial pleasures of reading.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, History, Reference, Classics, Literature, Literary Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've slowly been reading parts of this book and while the write ups vary in depth and complexity, the information itself is decent, especially for those seeking a worthwhile introduction or to expand upon their literary knowledge. Beginning with The Tale of Genji (I did not know about this!!!) the book is broken up into chapters that correspond to years. For example, Chapter 1 discusses books published before 1800. Chapter 6 is from 1980 to the present. As with any DK publication the book is filled with supporting, top-notch images, fascinating primary sources, quotes, and literary connections to other events and locales. Of note is that DK has a group of 10 consultants that range from British and American literary experts, professors, authors, and historians who oversaw this title's development.

[Noreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to an audio book. A hard copy would be an interesting reference for updated “World Literature” bucket list.

Enjoyed the descriptions and type of writing.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those coffee table books I actually read. It made me feel good about myself because I had read so many of the books it discusses. I have most of them on my home bookshelves, along with many of the featured novels I have yet to read, so I gathered as many as I could for the pictures below, which is admittedly a show off move but will also give you an easy way to see many of the titles “explored and explained.”

Because I was a British Studies major in college and have a Master’s degree in English, it may not be surprising that I had read so many of the early works included. But that also speaks to the bias of the selectors and contributors who are almost all professors and lecturers and writers, engrained and ensconced in the same literary traditions I was schooled in. Not all of the authors represented in this collection are white European/American/Western males, but they outnumber the several women and few Asian authors. (And, of course, any selection like this raises questions: Why Conrad's The Secret Agent and not Heart of Darkness? Why nothing by Vonnegut or Cormac McCarthy?)

The collection is organized chronologically and divided into six chapters, starting with "BEFORE 1800" (which includes 9 novels) and ending with "1980–PRESENT" (which has 21). Each chapter ends with a two page spread of runner up novels (usually 9 or 10) which are explained only with text. The featured novels all get two pages (a few warrant four) and are presented more visually (which is not surprising as this is a DK publication). These novels are summarized and their significance and influence is explained. But there is a lot to look at including pictures of the authors, illustrations, and pictures or drawings of related locations or people. A few have photos from film versions but almost all include a page of the original manuscript, be it handwritten or typed, which shows scribbles, doodles, and the crossed-out and added words of the author's editing. Information about historical context, cultural tie-ins, and literary movements is often included in side notes.

I enjoyed revisiting some of the novels I read many, many years ago, like Tristram Shandy, The Red and the Black, and The Tin Drum. I evaluated what the contributing editors said about novels I taught early in my teaching career, like Great Expectations, Huck Finn, The Scarlet Letter, Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Catcher in the Rye. And I appreciated whatever new I could glean from their overviews of novels I taught every year for many years, like Crime and Punishment, The Sound and the Fury, and One Hundred Years of Solitude.

The best thing about this book was the memories it brought back to me. The next best thing was how it prompted me to look at every book in my house. I gathered all of them that were featured in this collection and piled them up for the pictures below. The third best thing might be the in-my-face reminder that I have a lot of reading yet to to. I'll stop writing and get to it.

[Warren Tutwiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice graphical overview of famous - or at least famously-unique, in one way or another - novels throughout the ages, some of which I've read and loved, some I've read and detested, some I have absolutely no interest in whatsoever, and some that I had never heard of, or have only now piqued my interest. Altogether worth reading (and admiring the artwork) for those who want to have a sweeping overview of novels throughout history. It should be noted, however, that the definition of "novel" used here is that of "literary merit" and thus excludes all fantasy and science fiction, at least until the magical-realist movement in the mid-20th century made such material "acceptable" to literati.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

More books about books please

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remarkable?

I read maybe 15 of the books listed. Heard of another 15 or 20 but never heard of the majority of the books listed. I did stick to reading to the end but I did struggle.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several of the other DK books in this vein and enjoyed them, maybe more so than this one. The Usual Suspects are here -- Gatsby, Middlemarch, Midnight's Children -- but there are many books from distant lands I'm willing to bet are unfamiliar to you, even if your bookish. The most interesting thing about this collection for me were the handwritten drafts of the novels, some tidy and neat and others crossed out and written over, all unique and a tiny portal into the author's mind. When technology takes over, the handwriting disappears, and that's a shame. Book people like to trace the development of a writer's ideas. Now, the breadcrumbs are lost thanks to all our labor-saving devices. In any case, if you enjoy all things books, you'll probably like this.

[Mary J Starry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always interesting to read what "someone" thinks the best of "anything" is. This book was fun because it included an overview of what each book is about, why it's included in the list, and then quotes and drawings. If a movie was made from the book, it includes photos of that as well. I've read many of these books, but there were plenty I'd never heard of, especially those from the 70s and 80s. I must have been too busy with college and being a mother to keep up with literature!

[Amy Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one I read cover to cover. Most of the books listed here would be great prize winners and those of some repute. I have read many of them but there were many one would find in Nancy Pearls doorways 3 or 4.

[Erikka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool reference work with a lot of different cultures and genres represented.

[Leslie Jonsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A biased look at various important books from earlier times to today throughout the world. I would like to know who selected what books to include.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cool read. A book about books is what all book lovers want/need.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference for classics and other books. Books that I should have read but never did or will.

[Alberto Tebaldi · Rating 2 out of 5]

great illustrations as per every DK book, but here too many masterpieces compressed in too little explaining. I could not take much in.

[Steve In Ludlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful thumbnail sketches of books which I might read. Many, however, do come across as hard work...