Nine Great American Novels

Explore nine must-read American novels that define literature. Discover classic and contemporary masterpieces from iconic U.S. authors in this curated list.

american books novels
Moby-Dick Cover
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Moby-Dick

by Herman Melville

Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read First published in 1851, Herman Melville’s masterpiece is, in Elizabeth Hardwick’s words, …
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The Great Gatsby Cover
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The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A mysterious American millionaire tries to recapture the sweetheart of his youth, which results in tragedy.
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Absalom, Absalom! Cover
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Absalom, Absalom!

by William Faulkner

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER • Family drama and the legacy of slavery haunt this epic tale of an enigmatic stranger in Jefferson, Mississippi—from one of the …
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ID: 1596091754
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Invisible Man Cover
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Invisible Man

by Ralph Ellison

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In this deeply compelling novel and epic milestone of American literature, a nameless narrator tells his story …
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ID: B000BXJ1HO
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Death Comes for the Archbishop Cover
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Death Comes for the Archbishop

by Willa Cather

From one of the most highly acclaimed novelists of the twentieth century: a truly remarkable book" (The New York Times), an epic story of a …
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ID: 0451526473
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Play It As It Lays Cover
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Play It As It Lays

by Joan Didion

A ruthless dissection of American life in the late 1960s, "Play It As It Lays" captures the mood of an entire generation. Joan Didion chose …
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