The Greatest Portuguese, British "Magical Realism, Fiction" Books Since 1900

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Magical Realism

Magical realism is a literary genre that weaves elements of fantasy into realistic settings, creating a narrative that exists in a harmonious balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary. In magical realist literature, the supernatural is not presented as something to be questioned or explained, but rather as an accepted part of everyday life. Characters might encounter ghosts, engage in telepathy, or experience time in non-linear ways, yet these occurrences are treated as mundane aspects of the world. This genre often explores complex themes such as identity, time, and the interconnection of reality and illusion, blurring the lines between the conceivable and the incredible. Magical realism is rooted in Latin American literature but has become a beloved and diverse genre worldwide, offering readers a lens through which the complexities of life are viewed with wonder and a subtle touch of magic.

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  1. 26. The Ground Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie

    This novel is a sweeping epic that reimagines the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in the contemporary world of rock music. It tells the story of a famous music couple, their rise to fame, and their turbulent romance, which is narrated by a lifelong friend and photographer. The narrative weaves together themes of love, myth, and music while exploring the cultural and political landscapes of the 20th century. As the couple navigates the complexities of their relationship and the pressures of their public lives, a catastrophic event tests the limits of their bond and the ground beneath their feet.

    The 6629th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 27. The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie

    This novel intertwines the history of the Mughal Empire in India and Renaissance Florence through the journey of a yellow-haired stranger who claims to be a lost relative of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great. The stranger tells a tale of a hidden princess, a woman known only as the Lady Black Eyes who possesses magical powers and whose story involves a great artist and the notorious warlord, Argalia. The plot explores themes of power, love, and identity while blending history, mythology, and magic in a richly layered narrative.

    The 7064th Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 28. The Guyana Quartet by Wilson Harris

    "The Guyana Quartet" is a collection of four novels that delve into the complex tapestry of Guyanese history and culture, blending myth, dream, and reality to explore themes of colonialism, identity, and the interconnection of human experiences. Through lyrical prose and a non-linear narrative structure, the quartet presents a richly layered vision of a land marked by the convergence of diverse ethnic groups, the scars of oppression, and the struggle for self-definition. The novels interweave the lives of a wide array of characters, from indigenous peoples to European colonizers, as they navigate the challenging landscape of a country in the throes of transformation.

    The 7168th Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 29. Ghostwritten by David Mitchell

    Ghostwritten is a complex, interconnected narrative that spans the globe, featuring nine different characters in nine different locations, including a cult member in Okinawa, a jazz buff in Tokyo, a British investment banker in Hong Kong, an old woman running a tea shack in China, a transmigrating spirit in Mongolia, a ghostwriter in London, a physicist in Ireland, a late-night radio DJ in New York, and a noncorporeal entity in a global network. Each story is seemingly separate, but as the novel progresses, the connections between them become more apparent, creating a web of incidents and interactions that span space and time.

    The 8050th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 30. Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi

    Mr. Fox is a novel about a writer who is challenged by his imaginary muse to stop killing off his female characters. This leads to a series of stories within stories, where reality and fantasy blur. The writer, his wife, and the muse navigate through these narratives, exploring themes of love, identity, and the power of storytelling. The novel is a mix of fairy tale, romance, and mystery, with a metafictional twist.

    The 8475th Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 31. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

    In a parallel 1985 where literature is taken to extremes, a literary detective named Thursday Next navigates a world where the boundaries between reality and fiction are blurred. When a criminal mastermind begins kidnapping characters from classic novels, Thursday must enter the pages of Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" to pursue the villain and restore the beloved story to its rightful course. Her journey is fraught with danger, wit, and a touch of romance, as she contends with a time-traveling father, a pet dodo, and the complexities of her own life entwined with the fictional landscapes she protects.

    The 9083rd Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 32. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

    "Bone Gap" is a captivating novel that blends elements of mystery and magical realism. The story is set in the small, quirky town of Bone Gap, where everyone knows each other's business, yet sees only what they want to see. The narrative follows Finn, a young man who is the only witness to the abduction of Roza, a beautiful stranger who had become an integral part of the community. Finn's struggle to have his account believed by the townspeople, due to his own peculiar way of perceiving the world, forms the crux of the tale. As Finn delves deeper into the mystery of Roza's disappearance, the novel explores themes of love, beauty, and the invisible forces that bind human lives together.

    The 9237th Greatest Book of All Time
  8. 33. Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

    In "Boy, Snow, Bird," a young woman named Boy Novak escapes her abusive father in New York City to settle in a small town in Massachusetts, where she marries a widower and becomes stepmother to his daughter, Snow. After giving birth to her own daughter, Bird, who is dark-skinned, it is revealed that her husband and stepdaughter are light-skinned African Americans passing as white. The book explores themes of identity, beauty, and the damaging effects of racism as Boy grapples with her feelings towards Snow and Bird, and the societal implications of their different skin tones.

    The 9679th Greatest Book of All Time
  9. 34. The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye by A. S. Byatt

    "The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye" is a collection of five fairy tales written by A. S. Byatt. Each story explores themes of desire, power, and the consequences of making deals with supernatural beings. The title story follows a young woman named Gillian who discovers a djinn trapped in a bottle and must navigate the consequences of setting him free. The other tales include a retelling of "Cinderella" and a story about a woman who becomes obsessed with a painting of a bird. Byatt's writing is rich in detail and explores the complexities of human nature through the lens of fantastical storytelling.

    The 10540th Greatest Book of All Time
  10. 35. Iron Council by China Miéville

    "Iron Council" by China Miéville is a captivating novel set in the fantastical world of Bas-Lag. The story follows a group of rebels and outcasts who form the Iron Council, a revolutionary movement fighting against an oppressive regime. As they navigate through treacherous landscapes and encounter various creatures, the Iron Council seeks to overthrow the government and create a utopian society. The book explores themes of revolution, loyalty, and the power of collective action, offering a thrilling and thought-provoking journey through a richly imagined universe.

    The 10652nd Greatest Book of All Time
  11. 36. Lifelode by Jo Walton

    "Lifelode" is a fantasy novel set in a magical world where humans and non-humans coexist. The story follows the lives of a group of people living in a rural community called Applekirk, where they share a deep connection with each other and the land they inhabit. The narrative explores themes of love, loyalty, family, and the complexities of relationships. As the community faces various challenges, including a threat from outside forces, the characters must come together to protect their way of life.

    The 10700th Greatest Book of All Time
  12. 37. The PowerBook by Jeanette Winterson

    "The PowerBook" is a unique blend of reality and virtual reality, exploring the themes of love, identity, and storytelling. The narrative follows an e-writer who writes stories for people on demand, and one of her clients, a woman who wants to escape her relationship and start anew. The book is filled with stories within stories, all of them interconnected, taking readers on a journey through Paris, Capri, and the Internet, while challenging the traditional notions of time, gender roles, and the boundaries between the real and the imagined.

    The 10800th Greatest Book of All Time
  13. 38. Thursbitch by Alan Garner

    The book follows two parallel narratives. The first is set in the 18th century, focusing on a packman named Jack Turner who is mysteriously found dead in the valley of Thursbitch. The second narrative is set in the present day, where a woman named Sal and her friend Ian explore the same area, finding themselves mysteriously drawn to the mystery of Jack's death. The narratives intertwine as the boundaries between past and present blur, revealing the mystical and spiritual significance of the valley. The story explores themes of time, memory, and the enduring power of place.

    The 10822nd Greatest Book of All Time
  14. 39. The Chymical Wedding by Lindsay Clarke

    "The Chymical Wedding" is a novel that intertwines the lives of two poets in the 1980s with the historical tale of the alchemist, Sir Edward Kelley and Queen Elizabeth I's astrologer, John Dee. The modern day poets are researching the historical figures and find their lives mirroring the tumultuous relationship of Kelley and Dee. The novel explores themes of love, betrayal, alchemy, and the transformative power of the human spirit.

    The 10842nd Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

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If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

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