The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West
"The Day of the Locust" is a novel set in 1930s Hollywood, portraying the dark side of the American dream through the lives of its desperate characters. The protagonist, a young artist from the East Coast, finds himself disillusioned by the superficiality and decay of Hollywood society, which is filled with failed actors, charlatans, and lost souls. The narrative culminates in a violent riot, symbolizing the destructive power of frustrated dreams and the harsh reality of the American dream.
The 326th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1939
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 160-180
- Words
- 50,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 4th on Quintessential American Fiction, According to the Rest of the World (Literary Hub)
- 51st on 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction (Larry McCaffery)
- 56th on The 100 Greatest Novels (greatbooksguide.com)
- 73rd on The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels (Modern Library)
- 84th on 100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 (Counterpunch)
- 886th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century (New York Public Library)
- The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)
- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels (TIME Magazine)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- The Great American Novels (The Atlantic)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)