Reading the 20th Century discussion

One idea we recently had and which we'd like to consult about is celebrating books that are a hundred years old, or the work of authors whose 100th birthday it is, or would have been had they lived that long

In 2027 according to Google Gemini (so usual caveats apply)...

Key Books Turning 100 in 2027

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (1927): Rich, accessible, and deeply atmospheric, following two French Catholic priests navigating the 19th-century American Southwest. Cather’s prose is smooth and highly readable.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927): The signature modernist pick of the year. Short, luminous, and ideal for a group wanting to sample modernism without tackling a behemoth like Ulysses.

The Big Four by Agatha Christie or The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (1927): For a lighter, plot-driven month, both classic mystery franchises published major instalments in 1927.

Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis (1927): A sharp, entertaining satire about a hypocritical evangelist in the American Midwest that sparked massive public debate when released.

Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway (1927): A classic short-story collection containing "The Killers" and "Hills Like White Elephants"—perfect for a quick single-session discussion on mid-war prose.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (1927): A massive bestseller that won the Pulitzer Prize. When a rope bridge collapses in 18th-century Peru, a friar investigates the five victims to ask: was it chance or divine providence? Short, poignant, and highly philosophical.

Benighted by J.B. Priestley (1927): A classic "dark and stormy night" suspense novel where travellers seek refuge in a creepy Welsh manor. Adapted into the iconic movie The Old Dark House, it blends psychological tension with Priestley's signature social commentary.

Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson (1927): A beloved British natural history classic. Beautifully observed and evocative, it offers a distinct, nature-focused break from standard plot-driven fiction.

Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse (1927): A cornerstone of 1920s European literature exploring isolation, identity, and bourgeois life. It sparked major cultural waves again in the 1960s, making it a great pick for examining literary longevity.

Amerika (The Man Who Disappeared) by Franz Kafka (1927): Published posthumously, this is Kafka's surprisingly lighter, picaresque novel about a young immigrant navigating a surreal, stylised vision of the United States.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (1927) — universally praised, deeply human, and an instant commercial hit.

Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis (1927) — banned in several cities upon release for its blistering attack on religious hypocrisy

The Hotel by Elizabeth Bowen

Dusty Answer by Rosamond Lehmann


1927 Author Birth Centenaries

Gabriel García Márquez (b. March 6, 1927): Read Chronicle of a Death Foretold (short, fast-paced novella) or Love in the Time of Cholera to honour his birth centenary.

Daniel Keyes (b. August 9, 1927): Read Flowers for Algernon, an accessible, emotionally resonant sci-fi/literary hybrid that generates immense book club discussion.

Robert Ludlum (b. May 25, 1927): The undisputed master of the modern conspiracy thriller. Reading The Bourne Identity (1980) or The Chancellor Manuscript (1977) gives the group a fast-paced, plot-heavy month to debate how the modern page-turner evolved.

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (b. May 7, 1927): Booker Prize-winning novelist (Heat and Dust, 1975) and legendary screenwriter for Merchant Ivory films (A Room with a View, Howards End). Her works offer fantastic discussions on cultural clashes and post-colonial drama.

Neil Simon (b. July 4, 1927): One of the 20th century’s most popular playwrights. Reading a play script like The Odd Couple (1965) or Lost in Yonkers (1991) makes for a refreshing, fast-moving single-session discussion.

Erma Bombeck (b. February 21, 1927): A hugely popular mid-century American humourist who captured suburban life with sharp wit. If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? (1978) offers a light-hearted non-fiction detour.

Alison Lurie (b. September 3, 1927): Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist (Foreign Affairs, 1984) known for witty, accessible comedies of manners about academics and expats.

A few questions....


How attracted to the idea are you?
What's missing?
Which authors and/or books do you feel most attracted to?
Should we use a poll or just agree amongst ourselves?
What do we call it (if we did it)? Happy 100th? Centurions? Centenaries? Something else?

We could even do a few in the last quarter of 2026?


Again, via Gemini (so usual caveats apply)...

Authors Celebrating Their Birth Centenary in 2026 (Born 1926)

John Fowles (b. March 31, 1926): Master of mid-century British postmodern fiction. The French Lieutenant's Woman (1969) or The Collector (1963) are exceptional book group reads that provoke lively debates about narrative authority and morality.

Harper Lee (b. April 28, 1926): Author of To Kill a Mockingbird (1960). Pairing her classic with Go Set a Watchman (2015) offers a fascinating, multi-layered look at authorial revision and character evolution.

Richard Yates (b. February 3, 1926): A master of suburban disillusionment. His debut novel Revolutionary Road (1961) is widely regarded as one of the finest mid-century American realist novels and an ideal discussion pick.

*We already have Revolutionary Road in the schedule as a buddy for later this year*



Richard Matheson (b. February 20, 1926): A giant of speculative fiction, sci-fi, and horror. I Am Legend (1954) or The Shrinking Man (1956) are accessible, fast-paced novellas that pioneered modern post-apocalyptic tropes.

Evan Hunter / Ed McBain (b. October 15, 1926): One of crime fiction's most influential figures. As Evan Hunter he wrote The Blackboard Jungle (1954), and as Ed McBain he created the legendary 87th Precinct series, essentially laying the groundwork for the modern police procedural.

John Berger (b. November 5, 1926): Booker Prize-winning novelist (G., 1972) and cultural critic. His accessible essay collection Ways of Seeing (1972) makes for an engaging non-fiction selection on how we consume art and culture.

Allen Ginsberg (b. June 3, 1926): One of the key voices of the Beat Generation. Reading Howl and Other Poems(1956) gives a book group a vibrant, single-session look at mid-century counterculture.

Classic Books Turning 100 in 2026 (First Published in 1926)

1. Crime & Popular Fiction

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (1926): Arguably Christie's most famous Hercule Poirot detective novel, legendary for its game-changing narrative twist that redefined the golden age whodunit.

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer (1926): The smash-hit novel that launched Heyer's career and established the popular Georgian/Regency historical romance genre. Light, witty, and plot-driven.

Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees (1926): A acclaimed cult classic of modern fantasy. It blends mystery, fairy lore, and social satire in a cozy, atmospheric small-town setting.

2. Modernist Landmarks & Literary Fiction

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (1926): Hemingway’s landmark debut novel capturing the "Lost Generation" navigating post-WWI Paris and Pamplona. Short, evocative, and quintessential 1920s reading.

The Castle (Das Schloss) by Franz Kafka (1926): Published posthumously, Kafka’s surreal masterwork follows a protagonist known only as "K." attempting to navigate an opaque, impenetrable bureaucracy.

Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner (1926): A satirical, early feminist classic about a middle-aged woman who escapes her overbearing family to live independently in the countryside, where she makes a pact with Satan.

Show Boat by Edna Ferber (1926): A massive commercial bestseller following three generations of performers on the Mississippi River, later adapted into the landmark stage musical.

Soldiers' Pay by William Faulkner (1926): Faulkner's debut novel focusing on a wounded aviator returning home to the American South after World War I.

Nigeyb wrote: "How attracted to the idea are you?
What's missing?
Which authors and/or books do you feel most attracted to?
Should we use a poll or just agree amongst ourselves?
What do we call it?"

I'm very attracted to this idea. and would like to see it running alongside our usual monthly group read and any other projects we have going on, such as Smiley and Barbara Pym this year.

I like the idea of showcasing some books that might not otherwise come up as buddies or group nominations, and throw a light on the twentieth century.

I would prefer that we use the nomination and voting system to select books as that allows everyone to get involved.

Happy 100th works for me!

I'd be interested in reading some of the above mentioned novels.

I think it was your idea, Nigeyb, not our idea! However, I think it's a great one.

Harper Lee (b. April 28, 1926): Author of To Kill a Mockingbird (1960). Pairing her classic with Go Set a Watchman (2015) offers a fascinating, multi-layered look at authorial revision and character evolution.

Just saw To Kill a Mockingbird at the theatre this weekend (highly recommend by the way) so would be interested in that, along with many of the others you have suggested.

I used to read Ed McBain a LOT when I was young. Would love to revisit.

I think it would be good to run alongside the group read. It might be nice for you to collate it, Nigeyb. We could vote, but I would also be happy just to have a kind of playlist.

I like the idea as it throws up some authors who have dropped off the radar and novels that authors who are still well regarded are less read . I'm already excited . I suggest picking an author and doing a poll for six of the months alternating with a poll for novels of that year for the other six months . These could be grouped by theme, say , thriller and crime , Sci-Fi , modernist , romance, best seller etc so that we get a good range .

This is a great idea! I'm particularly drawn to the author centenaries.

As Susan said, I'd be happy with a collated playlist, but it might be harder to determine participation.

We could also consider reading 20th century books related to a few centenaries of world events, like:
Jan 1927 - World Premier of Metropolis
May 1927 - Lindberg non-stop flight New York to Paris
Sept 1927 - death of Isadora Duncan
Nov 1927 - Trotsky expelled from Soviet Union, Stalin in control

I like the idea. I think I’d prefer to focus on the centenary of individual titles for this idea, because it seems to me that if we opened it to books and authors it would quickly become unmanageable for having too many choices. Maybe we could do a “books” bit and incorporate the author centenaries into the regular group reads?

Also, I agree with RC that I’d like to see nominations and voting if we go forward with the idea, regardless of how narrowly the topic winds up being defined.

I kind of agree with the idea that titles might be better than authors due to congestion but authors would be a great consideration when it comes to a subject for a group read. For example it is the centenary of John Berger and would love to read something by him but where to start with his vast oeuvre with most rated above 3.50?A Painter of Our Time 1958 208pp looks wonderful but who would want to read it before G. or Ways of Seeing? My fear is that with centenary authors we would keep rehashing familiar titles only because they were recognized by the members. But if the option to nominate a book by John berger for a group or buddy read came up, I could nominate and make a case for the book. (Hint, hint)

From the title description:

The year is 1956. Soviet tanks are rolling into Budapest. In London, an expatriate Hungarian painter named Janos Lavin has disappeared following a triumphant one-man show at a fashionable gallery. Where has he gone? Why has he gone? The only clues may lie in the diary, written in Hungarian, that Lavin has left behind in his studio. With uncanny understanding, John Berger has written oneo f hte most convincing portraits of a painter in modern literature, a revelation of art and exile.

I also agree with RC that titles celebrating centenary publishing status be put up for vote

Great point Sam, and often those discussions generate buddy reads too.


When I have a spare moment I'll try to analyse where we're at & come up with some next steps