# The most widely read classic American novel **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789 "2006-04-07T23:11:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/21 "2006-04-08T02:26:05Z")
I’d also nominate “The Red Badge of Courage.” I’ve read all the OP’s novels except “The Sun Also Rises.” ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/22 "2006-04-08T02:42:11Z")
The Sun Also Rises - NO Catcher in the Rye - Started, but never finished. Too irritating. The Great Gatsby - YES The Color Purple - NO Catch-22 - YES To Kill a Mockingbird - YES - standard school text in Australia The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - NO Slaughterhouse-5 - NO I’d suggest that Gone with the Wind is a contender. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/23 "2006-04-08T02:55:04Z")
Yes, I’ve read all the titles in the OP. Except for the Color Purple and Catcher in the Rye, all were assigned reading in high school. My gut tells me To Kill A Mockingbird is the front runner for the title, and I think Of Mice and Men is a good addition to the slate. I have a bias, though, because I also think TKAM is the closest thing to a _perfect_ American novel that’s out there. I also suspect that The Sun Also Rises would get a split vote due to the number of teachers that asign For Whom the Bell Tolls or other Hemingway titles instead, likewise Huck Finn is going to have some bleed over to Tom Sawyer. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/24 "2006-04-08T03:06:19Z")
Catcher in the Rye The Great Gatsby The Color Purple To Kill a Mockingbird (BTW, I grew up in the States.) My instinct would be that To Kill a Mockingbird would be the most widely read. (But I’m biased - it’s my favorite book.) ---
**Author:** ![RachelChristine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RachelChristine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RachelChristine)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/25 "2006-04-08T03:21:15Z")
I’ve read Gatsby, Catch-22, Mockingbird, and Huck Finn. Catch-22 was not assigned reading (just for fun!), Gatsby was for a 12th grade honors class, and the other two I was assigned in Jr. High. Just my own personal experience of what I’ve seen kids reading over the years, my guess would be TKaM, with Huck or even Tom Sawyer being a really close second (although I don’t know if my husband has ever read either of those two Twains. I don’t know if he was ever assigned them!). The Sun Also Rises Catcher in the Rye The Great Gatsby The Color Purple Catch-22 To Kill a Mockingbird The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Slaughterhouse-5 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/26 "2006-04-08T03:24:26Z")
How classic these are is extremely debatable, but some I would add to your list: _Da Vinci Code_ (40 million copies worldwide; I’m not sure how many U.S.; _Mockingbird_ has sold about [30 million](http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/wire.ssf?/base/news/1141295179280990.xml&coll=2) and Huckleberry Finn about [7.5 million](http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/enam482e/reviews/pruitt.html) ) _Peyton Place_ (sold out its initial printing within two weeks [unheard of for an unknown author] and went on to sell millions upon millions of copies) ## _Valley of the Dolls_- a “literary” Norma Desmond, it sold 20 million+ copies before going out of print for several years and being forgotten by most people who read it and unheard of by most people born after its release. _The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin_- the author himself acknowledged it had a fictional content to some degree so I’m counting it as a novel. It has not been out of print in more than 250 years and is still required reading. Here is a list of “bestselling novels of the twentieth century” from WORLD ALMANAC, all of which have sold more than 20 million copies. The list is from 1999 before Harry Potter was quite the “oh sweet butterbeer!” sensation it is now (though it had sold in the millions). Italics mine and indicating not American authored. 1. The Valley of the Dolls - Jacqueline Susann 2. Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Bach 3. The Exorcist - William Blatty 4. Jaws - Peter Benchley 5. God’s Little Acre - Erkstine Caldwell 6. Catch-22 - Joseph Heller 7. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee 8. \*A Woman of Substance - Barbara Taylor Bradford 9. The Thorn Birds - Colleen McCullough\* 10. Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell 11. Peyton Place - Grace Metalious 12)\* Animal Farm - George Orwell\* 12. The Carpetbaggers - Harold Robbins 13. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger 14. The Godfather - Mario Puzo ---
**Author:** ![VegemiteMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/df788c/32.png) [@VegemiteMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegemiteMoose)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/27 "2006-04-08T03:51:01Z")
The Sun Also Rises -No (well, I started it…) Catcher in the Rye -Yes The Great Gatsby -No The Color Purple - No (Movie only) Catch-22 -Yes To Kill a Mockingbird -Yes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn -No Slaughterhouse-5 -Yes Hmmm, where’s the love for John Irving? **The World According to Garp** , **A Prayer For Owen Meany**? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/28 "2006-04-08T03:58:37Z")
The Sun Also Rises: No Catcher in the Rye: Yes (required reading for school, Yr 10, 30 yrs ago.) The Great Gatsby: Partly The Color Purple: No Catch-22: No To Kill a Mockingbird: Yes (required reading etc) Still my favourite book!! The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Excerpts only. Slaughterhouse-5: I think so, but many years ago. Of Mice and Men: Yes Grapes of Wrath: Partly ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/29 "2006-04-08T05:21:33Z")
I’ve read all but _The Color Purple_ and _Catch-22_. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/30 "2006-04-08T07:27:17Z")
_No:_ The Sun Also Rises The Color Purple _Yes:_ Catcher in the Rye The Great Gatsby Catch-22 To Kill a Mockingbird The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Slaughterhouse-5 _plus_: Moby Dick In Cold Blood ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/31 "2006-04-08T10:53:05Z")
The Sun Also Rises - YES, for college Catcher in the Rye - YES, for high school The Great Gatsby - YES, once for high school and once for college The Color Purple - YES, for college Catch-22 - YES, by my own choice To Kill a Mockingbird - YES, by my own choice The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - YES, once for high school and at least once more by my own choice Slaughterhouse-5 - YES, by my own choice ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/32 "2006-04-08T12:20:51Z")
The Sun Also Rises - NO Catcher in the Rye - YES The Great Gatsby - NO The Color Purple - YES Catch-22 - NO To Kill a Mockingbird - YES The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - YES Slaughterhouse-5 - YES ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/33 "2006-04-08T14:41:41Z")
[ul] [li]The Sun Also Rises - No[/li][li]Catcher in the Rye - Yes[/li][li]The Great Gatsby - Yes[/li][li]The Color Purple - No[/li][li]Catch-22 - Yes[/li][li]To Kill a Mockingbird - Yes[/li][li]The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Yes[/li][li]Slaughterhouse-5 - No[/li][/ul] I’d like to see Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind on the list. I couldn’t get into it, but I think it is justly viewed as one of the great American novels. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/34 "2006-04-08T15:02:58Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > I’d like to see Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind on the list. I couldn’t get into it, but I think it is justly viewed as one of the great American novels. Really long, not very well written nor very accurate historically AFAIK. I’d be amazed if very many living Americans have read it. If you have, please chime in though, as those who’ve read THE SCARLET LETTER or any other suggestion can add to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/35 "2006-04-08T15:11:33Z")
The Sun Also Rises Y Catcher in the Rye Y The Great Gatsby N The Color Purple N Catch-22 Y To Kill a Mockingbird Y The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn THE American Novel Slaughterhouse-5 Y ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/36 "2006-04-08T15:12:46Z")
The Sun Also Rises- NO Catcher in the Rye- NO The Great Gatsby- YES The Color Purple- NO Catch-22- YES To Kill a Mockingbird- YES The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- YES Slaughterhouse-5 Others: Gone with the Wind- YES Of Mice and Men- YES Grapes of Wrath- YES Tom Sawyer- YES The Old Man and the Sea- YES Of Mice and Man- YES Scarlett Letter- YES Moby Dick- NO The Turn of the Screw- NO Grapes of Wrath- YES ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/37 "2006-04-08T15:15:32Z")
Woops, I’m obviously a moron and didn’t preview. The list for others should actually look like this: Others: Gone with the Wind- YES Of Mice and Men- YES Tom Sawyer- YES The Old Man and the Sea- YES Scarlett Letter- YES Moby Dick- NO The Turn of the Screw- NO Grapes of Wrath- YES ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/38 "2006-04-08T15:24:31Z")
The Sun Also Rises **NO** Catcher in the Rye **YES, multiple times** The Great Gatsby **YES, multiple times** The Color Purple **NO** Catch-22 **YES, multiple times** To Kill a Mockingbird **YES, multiple times** The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn **YES, probably more times than any other book I’ve read, maybe 8 - 12 times in my 45 years (and as you can surmise, I’m a big re-reader)** Slaughterhouse-5 **YES** Your list needs Dickens represented. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/39 "2006-04-08T15:27:28Z")
Oops! I forgot about the _American_ characterization. Forget that knucklehead Dickens. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/40 "2006-04-08T15:28:41Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Your list needs Dickens represented. Were the two cities Pittsburgh and San Diego? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789.md?page=3)