A delightful, entertaining guide to some of the best short novels of all time from a best-selling historian, author, and lifelong reader.

Fall back into the joys of literature with an extraordinary book for book lovers: a compulsively enjoyable, deeply engaging list of great short novels. A journey into short fiction designed with our contemporary attention spans in mind, Great Short Books suggests 58 excellent short novels, all easily consumable in a week or less—a “baker’s dozen” approach to a fun, fascinating year of books.

From hard-boiled fiction to magical realism, the 18th century to the present day, Great Short Books spans genres, cultures, countries, and time to present an enchanting and diverse selection of acclaimed and canonical novels. From works in translation like Yu Miri’s ​Tokyo Ueno Station and Marguerite Duras’ The Lover to popular, acclaimed authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Stephen King, this compilation is a celebration of classics from the historic to contemporary—plus a few best sellers. Each entry includes the novel’s opening lines, a spoiler-free plot summary, a “why you should read it” section, and suggestions for what to check out next.

Just like browsing in your favorite bookstore, this eclectic collection is a fun and practical book for any passionate book lover hoping to broaden their collection—or anyone who wants to find an entertaining and effortless reentry into the world of books.