The following list was inspired by the list of the "100 Greatest English Language Novels" that was compiled and released in 1998 by the editors of the Modern Library. I say "inspired," although I deplored the specific contents of the Modern Library list, which struck me as being way, way out of touch with the nature and significance of 20th century fiction. Just to cite the most obvious way to determine just how far apart my own evaluations are from those of the Modern Library editors, I'll note here that my own list includes five "Top 10" works that were not included in the Modern Library list at all–i.e., GRAVITY'S RAINBOW, THE PUBLIC BURNING, Beckett's TRILOGY, Stein's THE MAKING OF AMERICANS, and Burrough's NOVA TRILOGY. But let's dispense with any further remarks about the ludicrousness of the Modern Library List, or self-congratulatory remarks my own list is, and cut to the chase:
