The Conformist by Alberto Moravia

The novel explores the life and psyche of a government official during the 1930s Fascist Italy, who is driven by a desire to belong and be considered "normal" at any cost. Tormented by his own perceived abnormality and a traumatic past, he becomes obsessed with conforming to the societal norms dictated by the fascist regime. In an attempt to prove his allegiance and suppress his own feelings of inadequacy, he agrees to carry out a political assassination. The narrative delves deep into themes of identity, the nature of conformity, and the moral compromises made by individuals under oppressive political systems.

The 4814th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 87

Since this book was first published in 1951, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 87.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.