A House for Mr. Biswas by V. S. Naipaul
The novel narrates the life of Mr. Biswas, a man of Indian descent living in Trinidad, who struggles against poverty and adversity to achieve personal independence and to build a home for himself and his family. Born into a poor family and married into an oppressive one, he constantly strives for autonomy and identity against the backdrop of post-colonial Trinidad. His dream of owning his own house becomes a symbol of his desire for self-determination and respect in a society that often denies him both.
The 223rd greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 1390
This book was first published in 1961
23 Lists
- score: 174 -- The 50 best books of the past 100 years - 2022 (Weight: 167)
- score: 160 -- The 100 Greatest British Novels - 2015 (Weight: 160)
- score: 160 -- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time In English - 2026 (Weight: 160)
- score: 160 -- 25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years - 2013 (Weight: 160)
- score: 153 -- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher - 2005 (Weight: 160)
- score: 143 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 93 -- The Greatest 20th Century Novels - 1997 (Weight: 120)
- score: 76 -- 40 Most Important Books, 1927-2001 - 2001 (Weight: 86)
- score: 64 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels - 1999 (Weight: 79)
- score: 57 -- 100 Novels That Shaped Our World - 2019 (Weight: 54)
- score: 46 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 60)
- score: 44 -- 50 Memorable Books from 50 Years of Books to Remember - 2005 (Weight: 46)
- score: 31 -- Laila Lalami's Book Choices from "The Writer's Library" - 2020 (Weight: 30)
- score: 15 -- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels - 2005 (Weight: 16)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 125 Books We Love for Adults - 2020 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Barack Obama's Reading Lists - 2025 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 - 2011 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Big Jubilee Read - 2022 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Third World Novels… The Top 10 - 1989 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 501 Must-Read Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)