A delightful romp through the history of the novel during the 'long 20th century'. The study offers an overview of seminal works that skillfully blends author biography with literary analysis and cultural history. I feel the examination is largely an investigation of modernism in the 20th century, with attention to narrative techniques that attempted to capture the internal narrative of life juxtaposed against the major historical traumas of the century. I feel the author starts his assessment at an earlier historical moment than I feel is necessary, but the subsequent analysis is fascinating.