1922 Books
From bestselling novels to critically acclaimed works, 1922 was filled with captivating stories that have stood the test of time. In this list, we highlight the most popular books of 1922, celebrating the titles that topped the charts and won the hearts of book lovers everywhere.
Siddhartha
Written by: Hermann Hesse
Outline: Herman Hesse's renowned novel has captivated and inspired countless individuals across generations. The story follows a wealthy Indian Brahmin who abandons his privileged life to pursue spiritual enlightenment, as Hesse seamlessly blends diverse philosophies, including Eastern religions, Jungian archetypes, and …
Ulysses
Written by: James Joyce
Outline: Ulysses, a modernist novel by James Joyce, is considered one of the most important works of modernist literature, chronicling the daily experiences of Leopold Bloom in Dublin and drawing parallels with Homer's Odyssey. The novel's innovative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and …
The Velveteen Rabbit
Written by: Margery Williams Bianco
Outline: Nursery toys possess a unique and profound magic, which is only truly understood by the wise and experienced, like the Skin Horse. Margery Williams' classic tale explores how love and experience can make toys, and people, become "real." This timeless …
The Beautiful and Damned
Written by: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Outline: F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 novel, The Beautiful and Damned, solidified his place among great American novelists, chronicling the reckless marriage of Harvard-educated Anthony Patch and his wife Gloria as they await his grandfather's inheritance, succumbing to the corrupting influences of …
The Waste Land and Other Poems
Written by: T.S. Eliot
Outline: T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land," published in 1922, faced harsh criticism initially, with many dismissing it as a hoax. However, the poem later gained recognition as one of the most influential works of the 20th century, and Eliot was awarded …
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Written by: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Outline: F. Scott Fitzgerald, renowned for his novels, was also a gifted short story writer, as evidenced by his memorable tale "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," a witty and fantastical satire about a man who ages in reverse, experiencing life's …
The Waste Land
Written by: T.S. Eliot
Outline: T.S. Eliot's renowned poem "The Waste Land" interweaves the legend of the Holy Grail with a portrait of early 20th-century British society, and has become the author's most celebrated work. Eliot, a prominent 20th-century poet and literary figure, was awarded …
The Enchanted April
Written by: Elizabeth von Arnim
Outline: Four women find solace and self-discovery in a medieval Italian castle, leading to a transformative experience that inspires a craze for tourism and adaptations in various media.
Babbitt
Written by: Sinclair Lewis
Outline: Babbitt, a satirical novel, critiques the emptiness of middle-class life and the social pressure to conform in American culture and society. The controversy surrounding Babbitt played a significant role in Lewis being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930.
Captain Blood
Written by: Rafael Sabatini
Outline: Peter Blood, an Irish physician and former soldier, is wrongly convicted of treason and sentenced to indentured slavery in the Caribbean. He escapes and becomes a renowned pirate captain, but his love for a woman is hindered by his criminal …
The Worst Journey in the World
Written by: Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Outline: Apsley Cherry-Garrard, the youngest member of Scott's ill-fated expedition to the South Pole, provides a detailed and firsthand account of the journey, including the discovery of Scott and his men's corpses, which he memorializes through his insightful narrative.
Selected Stories
Written by: O. Henry
Outline: The "Barnes & Noble Classics" series offers affordable, high-quality editions of classic literature, featuring new introductions, biographies, and other scholarly content. O. Henry, a renowned short story writer, is known for his humorous and ironic tales that provide insights into …
Jacob's Room
Written by: Virginia Woolf
Outline: Virginia Woolf's novel "Jacob's Room" follows the life of a sensitive young man, Jacob Flanders, through a series of vignettes from his childhood to his death in the war, with a focus on his psychological experiences rather than plot or …
What happened in 1922?
Discover what the world looked like in 1922: