In 1868 writer John William DeForest introduced the idea of the ‘great American novel’ – a work that succeeded in ‘the task of painting the American soul’. Now, the editors of ‘The Atlantic’ have published a list that offers a wider, deeper and weirder take on the idea. Author and senior editor Gal Beckerman talks us through the 136 books chosen by the magazine. He tells us about the fascinating selection process and how ‘The Atlantic’ is returning to its founding principles and defending democratic values.
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AK Blakemore
Avi Shlaim
Zeinab Badawi
Christos Tsiolkas
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Tom Baragwanath
Wanjiru Koinange and Angela Wachuka
Helen Russell
Denise Dorrance
Jane Cholmeley
Tabitha Lasley
Michael Cunningham
Alice Haddon and Ruth Field
Paul Caruana Galizia
Daisy Goodwin
Maureen Freely
Cat Bohannon
The best of 2023: Lydia Sandgren
The best of 2023: Calder Walton
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