The Great American Novel - What Does That Even Mean?

Becca Massek
Jul 4
4 min read

What is the concept of the "Great American Novel"?

The concept of the "Great American Novel" has been around since 1868, when novelist John William DeForest coined the term for the novel that best embodied the character of the United States. He didn't believe it had been written yet, though over the years many novels have been lauded as contenders for the Great American Novel (GAN for short). Some of these included Moby Dick, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Great Gatsby.

It's important to remember what was happing in the United States around the time Mr. DeForest wrote his essay. The American Civil War had ended in 1865, and the U.S. was still recovering its identity as a united nation. At the time, what did it even mean to be an "American"? As a country, I think we've been searching for a singular identity since our conception. But part of the beauty of the United States is that we are made up of many identities, and they all contribute to the landscape of the country and its culture. So how does one write a single novel that could accurately embody the character of a country that is so vast, so diverse, and so constantly evolving?

The GAN Blueprint

Many scholars and writers of the time brushed off the concept. It was too nebulous. Too far-fetched to think one person could write something so profound. Yet, many authors over the years have tried. So much so, that some writers would flaunt that they had found the "blueprint" to writing the next Great American Novel.

The novel had to encompass the entire country - it couldn't be regionalized to say, the South or the Northeast.
Obviously, it must embody democracy throughout the text.
The author themselves must have been a US citizen.
And (this is silliest one of all to me), its cultural worth must not have been seen at the time of its publication.

The GAN Over Time

The most fascinating thing about the Great American Novel as a concept is that it ebbs and flows in popularity. Usually, during times of social unrest and change in the United States, we see a peak in interest. Possibly because that is when American identity is redefining itself, and so people seek to root themselves in something so uniquely "American"?

Obviously, it was tumultuous times after the Civil War. The turn of the 20th century saw another spike in interest as the industrial revolution really picked up speed. During the 1970s, there were unprecedented events happening. The Space Race, the Cold War, Roe v. Wade, Watergate, and the post-civil rights era were redefining American identity all over again. The early 2000's saw another resurgence of the idea as the technology boom really took off.

One of the problems that has been seen, however, is that the concept of the GAN has been seen as unattainable by the people that are possibly the most qualified to write it - marginalized groups. The GAN has historically been linked in concept to white masculinity, making authors of color and female identifying authors hesitant to even consider they could write it. It's impossible to talk about the GAN without acknowledging this. And even if they did, the industry at large would be highly unlikely to accept their work as such,

Is the GAN Achievable? Why Do We Keep Trying?

Here's where we get into the "my opinion" of it all. As someone who has grown up in a rapidly changing America, I find the concept of the Great American Novel fascinating in that I don't know that there will ever be one novel that encapsulates the spirit and culture of the United States. But I think that it drives people to write about their experiences, their lives, their hopes and dreams. I think of all the works that I've never heard of that are likely phenomenal examples of the GAN but have been lost to time and systemic oppression. I also think that as a concept it will continue to live on. Because people are always going to write about what life is like when they are living, and that will change as our country changes. What it means to be "American" is vastly different in 2025 than it was in 1868. As our country grows and evolves (through good and bad, and though right now it is very bad, there are still spots of hope), it is creatives that document these changes. Writers, artists, storytellers - keep writing. Your work is important.

The "Great American Novel" is a vast, mysterious, and ultimately fantastical concept, much like "American" cultural identity itself. But if it's what motivates someone to write their story, I'm all for it. If I can leave my readers with any message, it would be to read, read, read. Read diversely, read widely, read often. You never know when you might stumble on what you consider to be the next Great American Novel.

Sources

Temple, Emily. A Brief Survey of the Great American Novel(s).

Wikipedia. Great American Novel.