Yet Another Literature Musing

Favourite works of literature from 1880-1930 (I'll admit, I had to look up a few publication dates to make sure I was in the right time period):

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Obviously, this was F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, thus needing little introduction. Capote, in fact, incorporated some of Fitzgerald's style into his own. What struck me as I was reading this was Fitzgerald's excellent pacing and structure. Unlike most novels, The Great Gatsby is a collection of chapters that create a novel, as opposed to a novel split into chapters. It goes without saying that it is a must read of American literature; it defined literature of the 20th century.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Wharton won the Pulitzer Prize for this novel, although it is not to everyone's taste. A critique on New York society, she effortlessly blends the new and old to create a compelling and believable portrait of courtship and marriage. Many of its central themes , including disillusionment and feelings of entrapment, among others, still resonate it today's society. A tolerance for interior monologue and meticulous attention to detail is a must.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
The novel version of the beloved children's story, play, and Disney movie is one of the most beautiful novels I've read. I was particularly struck by the overtones of philosophy I hadn't expected. Despite being a boy who's never grown up, Peter's musings and those around him, are particularly well-crafted. It's honestly a beautiful story with a lot of interesting ideas and lasting characters.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Wilde, a playwright, made himself known as novelist with this work, which was, in fact, his only piece of prose. A brilliant portrayal of downfall by vanity. Wilde's dramatic sense works particularly well with Dorian's characters, whose vanity often leads for a sense of the dramatic. Perhaps a bit similar to Peter Pan in the sense of never wanting to grow old, although for very different reasons. The ending fit perfectly with the rest of the novel and seemed open to interpretation depending on whether you took the novel as literal or allegorical.

I hope I haven't missed anything.

Next up: Literature 1800-1880 including works by Austen.