12 Novels Considered the “Greatest

Book Ever Written”

iterary critics, historians, avid readers, and even casual readers will all
have different opinions on which novel is truly the “greatest book ever
written.” Is it a novel with beautiful, captivating figurative language?
Or one with gritty realism? A novel that has had an immense social
impact? Or one that has more subtly affected the world? Here is a list
of 12 novels that, for various reasons, have been considered some of
the greatest works of literature ever written.
ny fan of stories that involve juicy subjects like adultery, gambling,
marriage plots, and, well, Russian feudalism, would instantly
place Anna Karenina at the peak of their “greatest novels” list. And
that’s exactly the ranking that publications like Time magazine have
given the novel since it was published in its entirety in 1878. Written
by Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, the eight-part towering work of
fiction tells the story of two major characters: a tragic, disenchanted
housewife, the titular Anna, who runs off with her young lover, and a
lovestruck landowner named Konstantin Levin, who struggles in faith
and philosophy. Tolstoy molds together thoughtful discussions on
love, pain, and family in Russian society with a sizable cast of
characters regarded for their realistic humanity. The novel was
especially revolutionary in its treatment of women, depicting
prejudices and social hardships of the time with vivid emotion.