The Greatest British, Austrian "Postmodern, Fiction" Books Since 1980

Click to learn how this list is calculated.

This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

Filter by: Genres Dates Countries
Follow on:

Genres

Postmodern

Postmodernism is a literary movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by a rejection of traditional narrative structures and a focus on self-reflexivity and intertextuality. Postmodern literature often features fragmented narratives, unreliable narrators, and a blurring of the lines between reality and fiction. It is a genre that challenges the notion of a single, objective truth and instead embraces the idea of multiple perspectives and interpretations. Postmodern literature is often seen as a response to the modernist movement that preceded it, and it continues to be a popular and influential category for contemporary writers.

Fiction

Add additional genre filters

Countries

British

Austrian

Add additional country filters

Date Range

Filter

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download
  1. 1. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

    The novel tells the story of Saleem Sinai, who was born at the exact moment when India gained its independence. As a result, he shares a mystical connection with other children born at the same time, all of whom possess unique, magical abilities. As Saleem grows up, his life mirrors the political and cultural changes happening in his country, from the partition of India and Pakistan, to the Bangladesh War of Independence. The story is a blend of historical fiction and magical realism, exploring themes of identity, fate, and the power of storytelling.

    The 38th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. Money by Martin Amis

    "Money" is a darkly humorous novel that follows the life of John Self, a hedonistic, self-destructive director of commercials, as he navigates the excesses and depravities of 1980s New York and London. His life is filled with overindulgence in food, alcohol, drugs, and women, leading to a downward spiral of self-destruction. The novel is a satire on the excesses of capitalism and the obsession with wealth and materialism, and it also explores themes of identity, self-loathing, and the destructive power of addiction.

    The 323rd Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. Nights At The Circus by Angela Carter

    "Nights at the Circus" is a fantastical tale set in the late 19th century, centering around a trapeze artist who claims to be a swan princess with wings. A journalist is intrigued by her story and joins the circus to uncover the truth. As the troupe travels from London to Siberia, the journalist becomes increasingly enchanted by the strange world of circus performers and his relationship with the trapeze artist deepens. The book explores themes of love, freedom, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.

    The 389th Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 4. Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

    The novel follows two Indian actors who miraculously survive a plane explosion, and as a result, find themselves embodying good and evil. As they navigate their new identities, the story also delves into the life of a prophet and his creation of a new religion in a city of sand. The narrative is a blend of fantasy and reality, exploring themes of identity, religion, and the immigrant experience, while also providing a controversial interpretation of Islamic faith and the life of Prophet Muhammad.

    The 518th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 5. Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes

    The novel centers around a retired doctor's obsession with the life and works of Gustave Flaubert, a 19th-century French writer. The doctor's fascination leads him on a quest to find a stuffed parrot that once belonged to the writer. The novel is a blend of biography, literary criticism, and personal memoir, and it explores themes such as the nature of art and the difficulties of interpreting the past.

    The 629th Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 6. Oranges are not the only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

    This novel follows the coming-of-age story of a young girl adopted by a religious fanatic, who believes her daughter is destined to become a missionary. As the protagonist grows up, she begins to question her mother's strict religious beliefs and discovers her own sexuality. The book explores themes of identity, love, and religion, as the protagonist grapples with her place in the world and her evolving understanding of herself.

    The 889th Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 7. London Fields by Martin Amis

    The novel is a darkly comic, murder mystery set in London at the end of the 20th century. The story follows three main characters: a terminally ill American writer, a petty criminal, and a beautiful but doomed woman who predicts her own murder but not the murderer. The narrative is filled with satirical social commentary, exploring themes of love, lust, greed, and deception.

    The 970th Greatest Book of All Time
  8. 8. The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro

    The book follows a renowned pianist who arrives in a Central European city to give a concert. However, his time there becomes increasingly surreal and disjointed as he is pulled in different directions by the demands of the locals, his own past, and his responsibilities. The narrative explores themes of memory, time, and self-delusion, creating a dream-like atmosphere that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.

    The 1340th Greatest Book of All Time
  9. 9. The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie

    This novel follows the life of Moraes Zogoiby, the last in line of a once powerful and influential Indian family. Told from his perspective, Moraes recounts his family's history, starting with his grandparents and moving through to his own life. The narrative is filled with tales of love, betrayal, political unrest, and the supernatural. The protagonist's life is marked by a strange curse that causes him to age twice as fast as a normal human, adding a layer of urgency and tragedy to his story. The book explores themes of cultural identity, family legacy, and the passage of time.

    The 1467th Greatest Book of All Time
  10. 10. Concrete by Thomas Bernhard

    The book is a darkly introspective narrative that delves into the mind of a reclusive, obsessive intellectual who is struggling to complete his scholarly work on the composer Mendelssohn. As he grapples with his own ailments and the perceived mediocrity of his surroundings, the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness monologue reveals his deep-seated anxieties, self-loathing, and profound isolation. The narrative is a relentless examination of the protagonist's psyche, showcasing his critical view of society and his own personal relationships, which are fraught with tension and dysfunction. Through this, the novel explores themes of artistic creation, intellectual elitism, and the suffocating nature of expectations and familial obligations.

    The 1733rd Greatest Book of All Time
  11. 11. Woodcutters by Thomas Bernhard

    Woodcutters is a darkly humorous critique of Vienna's artistic elite. The story takes place over the course of a single evening, as the narrator attends a dinner party in honor of a recently successful actor. As the evening progresses, he reflects on the pretentiousness and hypocrisy of the guests, the mediocrity of their artistic achievements, and the tragic suicide of his former lover. The novel is a scathing indictment of the vanity and self-delusion of the artistic community.

    The 1741st Greatest Book of All Time
  12. 12. Wittgenstein's Nephew by Thomas Bernhard

    "Wittgenstein's Nephew" is a semi-autobiographical novel that explores the friendship between the narrator and his friend Paul, who is the nephew of the famous philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. The story takes place in Vienna and is set against the backdrop of the Austrian mental health system. The novel delves into themes of sanity, insanity, and the fine line that separates the two, while also offering a critique of Austrian society. It is a meditation on the nature of illness, both physical and mental, and the impact it has on personal relationships and one's perception of the world.

    The 3003rd Greatest Book of All Time
  13. 13. The Last World by Christoph Ransmayr

    "The Last World" is a novel that reimagines the exile of the Roman poet Ovid in a remote village at the edge of the Black Sea. The story is set in a mythical time and place, where the villagers are haunted by strange transformations and echoes of Ovid's metamorphoses. The novel blurs the lines between the real and the imaginary, the past and the present, and the world of the living and the dead, creating a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere.

    The 3375th Greatest Book of All Time
  14. 14. The White Hotel by D. M. Thomas

    The book follows the life of Lisa Erdman, a half-Jewish opera singer, through her erotic fantasies, her analysis with Sigmund Freud, her subsequent life in pre-war Vienna, and her eventual death in a Nazi concentration camp. The narrative is presented in a variety of styles, including erotic poetry, Freud's case study, third-person narrative, and a surrealistic opera libretto. The novel explores themes of sexuality, psychoanalysis, and the human capacity for evil and destruction.

    The 3461st Greatest Book of All Time
  15. 15. There But For The by Ali Smith

    There But For The is a novel that explores the interconnectedness of people's lives through the story of a man who locks himself in a room of a house he was invited to for dinner, and refuses to come out. The man's actions cause a media frenzy and bring together four individuals who have links to him, each revealing their own stories and perspectives. The book is a commentary on contemporary life, exploring themes of identity, memory, time, and the nature of connection and disconnection in society.

    The 3656th Greatest Book of All Time
  16. 16. Remainder by Tom McCarthy

    After a traumatic accident leaves him with a large settlement and no memory of his past, the protagonist becomes obsessed with reenacting and reconstructing fragments of memories and events that he can't fully remember. He uses his newfound wealth to recreate these scenes in exact detail, hiring actors and building sets, in a desperate attempt to regain a sense of authenticity and reality. As his obsession escalates, the boundary between the recreated experiences and actual reality begins to blur, leading to a shocking climax.

    The 4402nd Greatest Book of All Time
  17. 17. Autumn by Ali Smith

    "Autumn" is a post-Brexit novel revolving around the deep and complex friendship between an old man, Daniel, and a young woman, Elisabeth. Set in the United Kingdom, the story unfolds as Daniel lies in a care home slipping in and out of consciousness, and Elisabeth visits him, reading to him and reflecting on their shared past. The narrative weaves between the past and present, exploring themes of time, art, love, and political upheaval. It is a meditation on a world growing ever more bordered and exclusive, on what richness and worth are, on what harvest means.

    The 5060th Greatest Book of All Time
  18. 18. The Loser by Thomas Bernhard

    "The Loser" is a philosophical novel that revolves around the complex relationship between three friends who are all piano virtuosos. The narrative is driven by the protagonist's obsession with his friend's suicide, which he believes was triggered by the realization that they could never surpass the genius of their third friend. The book delves into the protagonist's psyche as he grapples with themes of talent, ambition, failure, and the destructive power of comparison.

    The 5720th Greatest Book of All Time
  19. 19. The Accidental by Ali Smith

    The novel centers around a woman named Amber who unexpectedly arrives and disrupts the lives of the Smart family while they are on summer holiday in Norfolk. Each family member - Eve, a writer, Michael, a university professor, and their children Astrid and Magnus - experience unique interactions with Amber, causing them to question their own realities. The mysterious woman's influence forces the family to confront their secrets, insecurities, and the false narratives they've created about themselves.

    The 8106th Greatest Book of All Time
  20. 20. The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru

    "The Impressionist" is a captivating novel that follows the life of a mixed-race boy named Pran Nath. Born in India during the British Raj era, Pran's fate takes a dramatic turn when he is mistaken for the son of a wealthy British aristocrat. As he navigates through various identities and encounters, Pran's journey becomes a reflection of the complexities of race, class, and colonialism. With vivid prose and a keen exploration of identity, this book offers a thought-provoking exploration of one man's quest for belonging and self-discovery in a rapidly changing world.

    The 9923rd Greatest Book of All Time
  21. 21. The Children Of The Dead by Elfriede Jelinek

    This novel is a unique and haunting exploration of memory, history, and the legacy of the Holocaust in Austria, presented through a complex narrative that blends elements of horror, satire, and social critique. Set in a stylized and eerie version of the Austrian countryside, the story unfolds around a protagonist who embarks on a journey that intertwines with the lives of the undead, revealing the persistent shadows of World War II and the Holocaust on contemporary society. The narrative's challenging structure, incorporating dense streams of consciousness and a shifting perspective, serves as a vehicle for the author's incisive commentary on issues of national identity, collective memory, and the dangers of forgetting the past. Through its innovative use of language and form, the book confronts readers with the unsettling realities of history's impact on the present, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

    The 10464th Greatest Book of All Time
  22. 22. The PowerBook by Jeanette Winterson

    "The PowerBook" is a unique blend of reality and virtual reality, exploring the themes of love, identity, and storytelling. The narrative follows an e-writer who writes stories for people on demand, and one of her clients, a woman who wants to escape her relationship and start anew. The book is filled with stories within stories, all of them interconnected, taking readers on a journey through Paris, Capri, and the Internet, while challenging the traditional notions of time, gender roles, and the boundaries between the real and the imagined.

    The 10800th Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download