Hyperion by Friedrich Holderlin

The novel explores the life and thoughts of a young German named Hyperion who spends much of his time in Greece. He is torn between his love for his homeland and his disgust with contemporary German society. Through a series of letters to his German friend Bellarmin, Hyperion narrates his participation in the Greek struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire, his disillusionment with war, and his intense love for the Greek woman Diotima. The novel is a meditation on beauty and suffering, wisdom and madness, and the dichotomy between the ideal and the real.

The 1116th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 336

Since this book was first published in 1797, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 336.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.