Defining the 20th century

The Guardian will run an eight-page supplement on 21 April to feature the "50 most groundbreaking books of the 20th century". Apparently, last year's "50 best film adaptations" was considered a great success, so the Guardian is now following up with titles that "defined specific decades of the 20th century". The supplement will feature a review of each of the 50 selected books, and "the public" will then vote for the winner, to be announced at the Hay festival.

What books would you say "defined" each decade of the 20th  century? Quite a challenge, I'd say. I'll have to go away and think about it. Possibly it would be easier to wait for the shortlist of 50 on 21 April.

Comments

[marydell]

It should be quite a list, and I'm looking forward to finding out what's on it.

Have you seen USA Today's list of most memorable books of the last 25 years? (http://www.usatoday.com/life/top25-books.htm) Although I wouldn't call the majority of the titles "quality" reading, it's one of the few book lists I've ever come across on which I've heard of every title.

[marydell]

It looks as though the second parenthesis interfered with the link. Here it is again:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/top25-books.htm

[kimbofo]

Thanks for this, Maxine. Will definitely keep my eye out for the supplement.

[Isabella]

That's something to look forward to!

Off the top of my head I'd say the 80s are well represented by American Psycho.

I wonder if the list will be English or international. I suspect the list would look quite different if compiled in the US, and different again in Canada, never mind outside the English-speaking world.

[Maxine]

Yes, I am sure you are right, Isabella. To Kill a Mockingbird, Grapes of Wrath, A Child in Time (McEwan), Howard's End, The Female Eunuch, Catcher in the Rye, The Selfish Gene (Dawkins) would be a start for my list. But maybe they are sticking to fiction?
Thanks for the link, Marydell. There seem to be so many of these "top 100", "greatest American novel", etc, lists, as soon as the controversy dies down over one, another one starts up.