Showing posts with label The Great American Novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Great American Novel. Show all posts

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

What is the Great American Novel – and does it still matter?


One of the questions I’m endlessly fascinated by when it comes to literature is The Great American Novel.

It is so evocative, and carries such weight. It's more than a slogan — it signals ambition, scope, and the desire to say something profound about the American experience. But what exactly is it? Where did the term come from? Why do writers still chase it and why are we still talking about it.