The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold by Evelyn Waugh

The novel follows the story of Gilbert Pinfold, a successful and respected English novelist, who begins to experience auditory hallucinations due to an adverse reaction to a mix of sleeping pills and alcohol. As his hallucinations intensify during a sea voyage to Ceylon, he becomes convinced of a complex conspiracy against him, leading him to confront passengers who he believes are part of the plot. The novel explores themes of mental health, the fragility of identity, and the line between reality and imagination.

The 5561st greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 70

Since this book was first published in 1957, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 70.0.

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.