By listing the four best books of each year since 1900, this list shows us how novels have evolved over time. We can see the emergence of new genres such as ecofiction and erotica; the impact of global events such as the world wars and the recent pandemic; how novels can instigate social and political change; and even smaller details such as the evolution of book jacket designs, which I love as a bibliophile and collector, with our current trend focused on colourful covers with bold lettering. That's why I love making lists more than completing them.
Just a few notes about the list: the first book in each row (so the first of the four) is the best book, in my opinion, of that year, and I have a separate list that provides just those books (see the attached link); the other three books are in no particular order; and I've only put two books for 2024 given we're only half-way through it. I hope you enjoy!
