10 Masterpieces That Were Also Debuts
In the opinion of Literary Hub's managing editor Emily Temple:
"I’ve put together a list of debut novels that also happen to be their author’s masterpieces—or at least are often considered to be such. NB: a writer must have published more than one book to be on this list—a one-hit-wonder is no doubt also a debut, but it doesn’t exactly suit the spirit of the list (same goes for writers who technically published more than one book, but maybe shouldn’t have—like Harper Lee). It will also skew historical, because lots of stellar young writers still have their masterpieces in them—or so we hope."
Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary
Roundly considered Flaubert’s masterpiece, as well as a masterpiece of realist fiction in general.
Donna Tartt, The Secret History
My own personal forever favorite novel, if that counts for anything.
Richard Wright, Native Son
Native Son was Wright’s second book, published after Uncle Tom’s Children, a collection of novellas, but the story of Bigger Thomas was his first proper novel and is still his most famous work.
Renata Adler, Speedboat
A cult classic. Adler published only two novels—she’s equally, if not more, significant for her nonfiction and criticism.
Carson McCullers, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
In 1940 it was a sensational bestseller. Since then, it’s been a major touchstone of Southern Gothic literature.
Joseph Heller, Catch-22
Imagine coining a now-ubiquitous term with your debut novel. Or having your debut novel be consistently listed as one of the funniest novels ever written—not to mention one of the finest literary works of the 20th century.
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
It’s definitely Achebe’s most famous and widely read work.
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
Actually the second novel Charlotte Brontë wrote (her first attempt, The Professor, did not secure a publisher until later). Some may claim Villette as Brontë’s true masterpiece, but the fact that Jane Eyre could inspire a response novel that is as much of a classic as the original text proves its enduring importance.
Günter Grass, The Tin Drum
This is by far Grass’s best known work, and certainly his masterpiece, though not his only great book. “A great, wonderful and comic masterpiece” NYT
Dorothy Allison, Bastard Out of Carolina
Allison’s semi-autobiographical debut, which at least one critic called a “world-altering masterpiece.” It has been an influence on countless writers since its publication in 1992. The world is better because this book is in it.
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