People have always composed stories whether to teach moral lessons, to entertain, or to record important events in history. Today the range of excellent fiction available to read is truly breathtaking - and choosing the right novel to read from around the world and through the centuries can appear a little daunting. This ground-breaking volume makes the task much easier. Whether you're trying to broaden your literary horizons, find the perfect book for a friend, or simply select a good read for yourself, 1001 BOOKS YOU MUST READ BEFORE YOU DIE is your perfect guide to world fiction. Organised chronologically, and covering the whole range of literary styles, this indispensable reference traces the publishing history of world fiction. Discover the stories behind the adjectives: Dickensian, Kafkaesque, Rabelaisian . . . and the writers behind the stories. From the dark recesses of Marquis de Sade's jail cell to Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD and from the society of Barbara Pym's EXCELLENT WOMEN to Don DeLillo's FALLING MAN, you'll find critiques of the most important and bestselling fiction ever written. Delve into the pages of this sumptuously illustrated book and let general editor, Peter Boxall, guide you through the greatest novels that the world has to offer. Read and enjoy.