The most important German-language novels of the 20th century (Literaturhaus München poll, 1999)
The top 3 according to 13 votes from people: The Trial – Franz Kafka · Berlin Alexanderplatz – Alfred Döblin · The Tin Drum – Günter Grass. (Updated Jan 24, 2026.)
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.
Automatically translated (original in Deutsch). See the original
Top 10
-
1
The Trial – Franz Kafka
1925, posthumous.
-
2
Berlin Alexanderplatz – Alfred Döblin
1929.
-
3
The Tin Drum – Günter Grass
1959.
-
4
The Man Without Qualities – Robert Musil
1930–1943, unfinished.
-
5
The Magic Mountain – Thomas Mann
1924.
-
6
Buddenbrooks – Thomas Mann
1901.
-
7
Radetzky March – Joseph Roth
1932.
-
8
The Castle – Franz Kafka
1926, posthumous.
-
9
Anniversaries – Uwe Johnson
Four volumes, 1970–1983.
-
10
Doctor Faustus – Thomas Mann
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.
Is something missing?
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!