We will be traveling back in time to the 1930s and look at some of the most important works of literature released this decade. Mant of these novels have been forgotten but not by literary circles. Keep reading to see the nine great American novels from the 1930s!

The original article by The Atlantic lists over a100 books spanning from the 1920s to the 2020s. Every book selected had to be published in the Unites States or intended to. That leaves out many books but still makes for an amazing list.

The original idea for The Great American Novel was proposed by writer John William DeForest in 1868. His goal was to paint the American soul. And The Atlantic tries to do just that with their list. The importance of these novels can’t be overstated and the fact we are talking about them still showcases how right Deforest was.

The 1930s was an interesting time as American came out of depression and would head into war during the end of the decade. And the novels adress that and so much more. For example, this was the time of hardboiled fiction novels and the peak of the golden age of mystery novels.

These nine novels can’t sum up a whole decade but it gives an idea of what the 1930s and the previous decade was like. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck makes you feel just how horrible the Great Depression really was. You can check out the full list below!

Great American Novels From the 1930s

Absalom, Absalom!

William Faulkner is an gifted writer and also had a novel make the list for the previous decade with The Sound of the Fury. Faulkner won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949 because of these twp novels. Absalom, Absolam follows the rise of Thomas Sutpen, a white man born into poverty with aspirations to be wealthy. The novel is considered one of, it not, the best southern novel of all time.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

When it was first published, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston was not received well. But over time, critics came around and now it is considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance. The novel was out of for almost 30 years and now is considered one of the most important works of American fiction.

The Big Sleep

The Big Sleep book review Raymond Chandler hardboiled crime detective novel great american novels of the 1930s
The Big Sleep: Book Review

The Hardboiled fiction genre thrived from the 1930s to the 1950s and Raymond Chandler was one of its most infuential writers. The Big Sleep captures the magic that swept the nation and made hardboiled fiction the go-to for many readers. Now, the genre is mostly forgotten but its impact can still be felt in many detective novels and movies that is has influenced over the decades.

The Grapes of Wrath

Easily the most recognized book on this list is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. And just like Faulker, this novel played an important part in him getting the The Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962. Without this novel, few Americans would have a grasp of how horrrible the Great Depression was for Americans all across the country.

Conclusion

These are the nine great American novels of the 1930s. Most of these novels may have been forgotten by many readers. But they shouldn’t be and capture the 1930s accurately. What did you think of these novels? Let us know in the comments below!

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