Penguin Island by Anatole France

"Penguin Island" is a satirical novel that tells the story of a fictional land, Penguin Island, which is mistakenly baptized by a nearsighted missionary monk who believes the penguins are people. The novel then traces the history of this civilization, drawing parallels with French history and satirizing its politics, religion, and social mores. The narrative also incorporates elements of fantasy, such as penguins transforming into humans, and uses these elements to critique and lampoon human society and its institutions.

The 1613th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 229

Since this book was first published in 1908, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 229.0.

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.