Best 20th Century Literary Criticism Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: May 11, 2023

* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

The 20th century saw a boom in literary criticism, with numerous books published on various aspects of literature. These books offer insightful analyses and interpretations of classic and contemporary works of literature. From the feminist perspective to postcolonial criticism, there is a book for every literary approach. Some notable works include "The Anxiety of Influence" by Harold Bloom, "Literary Theory: An Introduction" by Terry Eagleton, and "The Death of the Author" by Roland Barthes. These books are a must-read for literature enthusiasts and students alike.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

The Great Gatsby: The Original 1925 Edition (A F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel) Cover#TOP 1
The Great Gatsby: The Original 1925 Edition (A F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel)
ftb score rating icon9.8
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel) Cover#TOP 2
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel)
ftb score rating icon9.7
The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture Cover#TOP 3
The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture
ftb score rating icon9.5

Top 10 20th Century Literary Criticism Books

The Great Gatsby: The Original 1925 Edition (A F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel)

Fitzgerald, F. Scott
Apr 27, 2021
The Great Gatsby: The Original 1925 Edition (A F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel) Cover
The Great Gatsby: The Original 1925 Edition (A F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel)
ftb score rating icon9.8
FTB Score

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic novel set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, depicting the narrator's interactions with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and Gatsby's obsession to reunite with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. The novel explores themes of social class, inherited wealth, and the cynical attitude towards the American dream. With a final title desired by the author as "Under the Red, White, and Blue," the novel has become a literary masterpiece and a contender for the title of the Great American Novel. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature and fiction.

The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel)

Fitzgerald, F Scott
Sep 1, 2022
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel) Cover
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel)
ftb score rating icon9.7
FTB Score

The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition is a classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, set in the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties. The story explores themes of decadence, idealism, social stigmas, patriarchal norms, and the negative effects of unencumbered wealth in capitalistic society. The book is a cautionary tale, revealing the darker side of the American Dream. The protagonist, Gatsby, is a compelling character, embodying the hope and romantic readiness that is rare in any other person. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature and fiction books.

The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture

Thorsson, Courtney
Nov 14, 2023
The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture Cover
The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture
ftb score rating icon9.5
FTB Score

The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture by Courtney Thorsson is a compelling book that tells the story of a group of Black women writers who met informally in the 1970s and transformed American literature. The author draws on original interviews, correspondence, and close readings of their works to explore the group's everyday collaboration and profound legacy. The book highlights the organizing and community building that nurtured Black women's writing, demonstrating that The Sisterhood offers an enduring model for Black feminist collaboration. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Black feminist literature and its impact on American culture.

Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter

Morson, Gary Saul
May 16, 2023
Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter Cover
Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter
ftb score rating icon9.4
FTB Score

This literary criticism book by Gary Saul Morson delves into the deep philosophical questions posed by Russian writers throughout the centuries. From the debate on good and evil to the search for life's essence, Morson explores the intellectual debates that have shaped Russian literature. He also highlights the characteristic theme of Russian culture: the aspiration to relieve profound suffering can lead to either heartfelt empathy or bloodthirsty tyranny. Overall, this thought-provoking journey into inescapable questions is a wise and authoritative read for those interested in Russian literature and philosophy.

Peter Pan (Illustrated): The 1911 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations

Barrie, J. M.
Bedford, F. D.
Miles, Catherine
Feb 7, 2023
Peter Pan (Illustrated): The 1911 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations Cover
Peter Pan (Illustrated): The 1911 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations
ftb score rating icon9.3
FTB Score

Peter Pan (Illustrated): The 1911 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations is a beautifully designed edition of J. M. Barrie's classic children's novel. The book features 13 high-quality illustrations by F. D. Bedford and a fun quiz about the story and characters of Peter Pan. This timeless tale of imagination, adventure, and friendship follows the adventures of a mischievous young boy named Peter Pan, who refuses to grow up and lives in the magical world of Neverland. The book is perfect for young book lovers and adults alike, and it will become an unmissable part of any collection.

#TOP 6

The Seventy-Five Folios and Other Unpublished Manuscripts

Proust, Marcel
Dyer, Nathalie Mauriac
Taylor, Sam
Tadié, Jean-Yves
Apr 25, 2023
The Seventy-Five Folios and Other Unpublished Manuscripts Cover
The Seventy-Five Folios and Other Unpublished Manuscripts
ftb score rating icon9.1
FTB Score

The Seventy-Five Folios and Other Unpublished Manuscripts is a significant literary event of the century, presenting for the first time in English, the recently discovered early manuscripts of Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time. The folios contain early versions of six episodes included in the novel, revealing the autobiographical extent of Proust's writing, with traces of his family life scattered throughout. The extensive commentary and notes by the Proust scholar Nathalie Mauriac Dyer offer insightful critical analysis, making it a precious guide to understanding Proust's masterpiece. The book is a must-read for all classic literature and fiction book lovers.

#TOP 7

Intellectuals: From Marx and Tolstoy to Sartre and Chomsky

Johnson, Paul
Harper Perennial
May 1, 2007
Intellectuals: From Marx and Tolstoy to Sartre and Chomsky Cover
Intellectuals: From Marx and Tolstoy to Sartre and Chomsky
ftb score rating icon9.0
FTB Score

This book, titled "Intellectuals: From Marx and Tolstoy to Sartre and Chomsky," is a fascinating read for those interested in the minds that have shaped the modern world. Author Paul Johnson provides an intriguing series of case studies on intellectuals such as Brecht, Hemingway, and Chomsky, revealing them as both brilliant and contradictory, magnetic and dangerous. The New York Times Book Review describes it as "great fun to read." Overall, Johnson's work provides a unique perspective on the lives and thoughts of some of the most influential thinkers in history.

The Trouble with Being Born

Cioran, E. M.
Howard, Richard
Thacker, Eugene
Arcade
Feb 1, 2013
The Trouble with Being Born Cover
The Trouble with Being Born
ftb score rating icon9.0
FTB Score

The Trouble with Being Born by E.M. Cioran is a profound literary work that delves into the essence of human existence. In this book, Cioran explores the fundamental aspects of life, such as birth, death, suffering, religion, and the desire for silence. With his lucid and aphoristic style, he offers sharp observations and contemplations that cut to the heart of the human experience. Cioran's writing is informed with the bitterness of genuine compassion, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in French literary criticism. Overall, The Trouble with Being Born is a unique and thought-provoking masterpiece that challenges readers to question their own existence.

Sinclair, Upton
Mar 1, 2019
The Jungle Cover
The Jungle
ftb score rating icon8.8
FTB Score

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a classic novel that portrays the lives of immigrants in industrialized cities such as Chicago during the early 20th century. The book exposes the unsanitary practices and health violations in the American meatpacking industry, along with the harsh living and working conditions of the working class. Sinclair's depiction of the deeply rooted corruption of people in power adds a layer of contrast to the story. The Jungle is a must-read for those interested in classic literature and fiction books that expose the truth behind societal issues.

Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction

Hendrix, Grady
Quirk Books
Sep 19, 2017
Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction Cover
Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction
ftb score rating icon8.8
FTB Score

Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction is a nostalgic and hilarious tribute to the horror fiction boom of the 1970s and 1980s. Grady Hendrix, the author and vintage paperback book collector, provides witty commentary on the trashy thrillers that tried to follow in the footsteps of The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby. With dozens of amazing book covers featuring well-dressed skeletons, evil dolls, and knife-wielding killer crabs, this unforgettable volume offers shocking plot summaries that invoke devil worship, satanic children, and haunted real estate. The book is also complete with story summaries and author profiles, plus recommendations for which forgotten treasures are worth reading.

Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the 5 literary criticism?

Examples of some types of literary criticism are:. Biographical.Comparative.Ethical.Expressive.Feminist.Historical.Mimetic.Pragmatic.

2. What are the 7 literary criticism?

Such analysis may be based on a variety of critical approaches or movements, e.g. archetypal criticism, cultural criticism, feminist criticism, psychoanalytic criticism, Marxist Criticism, New Criticism (formalism/structuralism), New Historicism, post-structuralism, and reader-response criticism.

3. Who is the most famous literary critic?

Harold Bloom Where best to begin than perhaps the most famous literary critic of them all? New Yorker Harold Bloom was born in 1930 and has analysed everyone from Wordsworth to Shakespeare, even writing a literary appreciation of the Bible and naming Jonah as his favourite book.

Editor's Notes

During our 20th century literary criticism book research, we found 1,000+ 20th century literary criticism book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 10,718 customer reviews through our big data system to write the 20th century literary criticism books list. We found that most customers choose 20th century literary criticism books with an average price of $12.87.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.