# The most important German-language novels of the 20th century (Literaturhaus München poll, 1999)

In 1999 the Literaturhaus München and Bertelsmann asked 99 authors, critics and German studies scholars for the most important German-language novels of the century. 267 novels were named; Musil's The Man Without Qualities won, ahead of Kafka's The Trial and Mann's The Magic Mountain.

- 13 votes · 10 items
- Jan 24, 2026 · Stefan K.
- https://even.best/en/l/5224/the-most-important-german-language-novels-of-the-20th-century-literaturhaus-munc

## Top 10

1. **The Trial – Franz Kafka** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — 1925, posthumous.
2. **Berlin Alexanderplatz – Alfred Döblin** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — 1929.
3. **The Tin Drum – Günter Grass** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — 1959.
4. **The Man Without Qualities – Robert Musil** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1930–1943, unfinished.
5. **The Magic Mountain – Thomas Mann** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1924.
6. **Buddenbrooks – Thomas Mann** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1901.
7. **Radetzky March – Joseph Roth** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1932.
8. **The Castle – Franz Kafka** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1926, posthumous.
9. **Anniversaries – Uwe Johnson** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Four volumes, 1970–1983.
10. **Doctor Faustus – Thomas Mann** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1947.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.