Dalton Trumbo was an acclaimed novelist and screenwriter known for powerful political themes. His classic anti-war novel Johnny Got His Gun remains influential and thought-provoking.
If you enjoy reading books by Dalton Trumbo then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who appreciate Dalton Trumbo’s sharp wit and satirical perspectives might also enjoy Kurt Vonnegut. His novel Slaughterhouse-Five blends dark humor, sharp social commentary, and an unconventional narrative style.
It follows the story of Billy Pilgrim, a soldier who experiences the firebombing of Dresden during World War II. Vonnegut mixes real historical events with absurdity and science fiction.
Billy finds himself unstuck in time and occasionally abducted by aliens, all of which highlights the senselessness of war and the trauma it leaves behind. Like Trumbo, Vonnegut uses humor and irony to confront difficult topics.
Readers who appreciate Dalton Trumbo’s sharp wit and bold storytelling may find Joseph Heller equally fascinating. Joseph Heller stands out for his dark humor and satirical style, particularly in his classic novel Catch-22.
Set during World War II, the book follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Air Force bombardier trapped by illogical bureaucratic rules.
Yossarian desperately wants out of dangerous flying missions, but the Catch-22 clause states that wanting to escape danger proves one’s sanity—and therefore prevents any official discharge.
The novel blends absurd situations, clever dialogues, and sharp satire to critique war and bureaucracy. Readers drawn to Trumbo’s critical views on social and political issues might find a similar resonance in Heller’s depiction of military absurdity.
Readers who appreciate Dalton Trumbo’s sharp exploration of moral ambiguity and powerful character portrayals might also enjoy Norman Mailer’s work. Mailer often examined controversial events and complex human motives.
In his acclaimed novel The Naked and the Dead, Mailer draws from his own experiences in World War II to paint an honest picture of soldiers confronting their fears, egos, and ethical dilemmas on a Pacific island.
Through vivid characters and intense interpersonal conflicts, Mailer exposes how war changes men and reveals raw human truths. His gripping narrative portrays both heroism and moral compromise under the pressures of combat.
If you enjoy Dalton Trumbo’s stark depiction of warfare and its impact on ordinary soldiers, Erich Maria Remarque’s novels will resonate deeply with you.
Remarque, a German author and war veteran himself, captures the brutality and hopelessness faced by young soldiers during World War I.
His novel All Quiet on the Western Front follows Paul Bäumer, a young German soldier whose initial enthusiasm for war fades as he faces the harsh realities of frontline warfare.
Through Paul’s eyes, readers experience the raw emotional toll of conflict and the devastating loss of innocence.
Remarque portrays soldiers’ daily struggles with powerful honesty, highlighting the bleak reality that those who fight battles rarely see glory, only suffering and sorrow.
Tim O’Brien is an author known for blending fiction with his real-life Vietnam War experiences. His novel The Things They Carried explores the experiences of young American soldiers during the Vietnam War.
Through interconnected short stories, O’Brien presents themes of courage, loss, and the blurred line between truth and fiction.
Readers who appreciate Dalton Trumbo’s vivid portrayal of war and its human cost in Johnny Got His Gun will connect deeply with O’Brien’s powerful storytelling. The narrative offers thoughtful reflections on memory and the lasting impact war has on the lives of soldiers.
If you enjoy Dalton Trumbo’s sharp prose and honest look at human struggles, Ernest Hemingway may appeal to you. Hemingway’s clear style and focus on characters facing moral and personal challenges come through strongly in his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Set during the Spanish Civil War, the story follows Robert Jordan, an American volunteer sent to help guerrilla fighters blow up a bridge. Hemingway paints a vivid portrait of war, love, sacrifice, and the deep bonds people form in times of crisis.
It’s a powerful reflection on both the brutality of war and the courageous spirit of those who fight against oppression.
Books by John Steinbeck often focus on everyday people’s struggles and hopes, set against hard economic times and social injustice. If you enjoy Dalton Trumbo’s human-centered storytelling, you’ll find Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath fascinating.
This novel follows the Joad family as they travel from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression. Forced off their land by drought and hardship, they journey west in search of opportunity. Along the way, they encounter many challenges that test their strength and unity.
Steinbeck captures these characters with empathy and honesty, making their experiences feel real and profound.
Books by George Orwell often confront themes of social injustice, political repression, and individual freedom. If Dalton Trumbo’s honest and direct style resonates with you, George Orwell’s 1984 might catch your attention. This novel is set in a chilling totalitarian future.
It follows Winston Smith, a government employee trapped in a society where every move is monitored, history is constantly rewritten, and independent thinking is brutally punished.
Orwell paints vivid images of daily life under oppressive control, highlighting the dangers of unchecked government power and propaganda. The tension Winston experiences as he secretly begins questioning the world around him is relatable and deeply unsettling.
For fans of Trumbo’s sharp critiques of authoritarianism, Orwell’s stark portrayal of life under Big Brother offers a powerful read.
Upton Sinclair was an American novelist and social reformer who wrote powerful stories about social injustice and workers’ struggles. Readers who enjoy Dalton Trumbo’s emphasis on social issues and moral conflicts will find Sinclair’s writing equally engaging.
One of Sinclair’s best-known works is The Jungle, a novel published in 1906. It’s the story of a Lithuanian immigrant named Jurgis Rudkus who moves to Chicago hoping for a better life. Instead, he faces harsh working conditions and corruption in the meatpacking industry.
The book is vivid and dramatic, highlighting the difficult lives workers led, and it made a strong impact by exposing dangerous practices in the food industry.
For anyone appreciating Trumbo’s direct approach and honest characters, Upton Sinclair offers equally meaningful stories that dig deeply into human struggles and social realities.
Howard Fast was an American author famous for his historical fiction, often focusing on freedom and social justice. If you’re familiar with Dalton Trumbo’s Johnny Got His Gun, you might appreciate Fast’s Spartacus.
This novel tells the powerful story of Spartacus, a gladiator who leads a massive slave uprising against ancient Rome. Fast writes with action, emotion, and a deep sense of humanity. He shows the courage and determination behind the rebellious slaves’ struggle for liberty.
Like Trumbo, Fast faced blacklisting during the McCarthy era, giving his stories a meaningful connection to themes of freedom, oppression, and dignity.
William Faulkner was an American writer known for his unique style and deep exploration of human nature. He often portrayed complex family dynamics and tensions within communities.
If you enjoy the moral complexity and layered characters found in Dalton Trumbo’s works, you may appreciate Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying . It tells the story of the Bundren family through a series of individual narratives.
After their mother’s death, the family embarks on a journey full of personal conflicts, secrets, and unexpected turns. Each character offers their own distinct viewpoint, gradually revealing the family’s underlying struggles and desires.
Faulkner’s vivid storytelling builds a haunting portrayal of grief, loyalty, and the complexity of family bonds.
Albert Camus was a French-Algerian author and philosopher known for his deep examination of human nature and existential themes. If you enjoyed the moral complexity and intense character study of Dalton Trumbo, Camus’s work can offer you a similar depth.
His novel The Stranger follows Meursault, a detached and somewhat indifferent man whose life unfolds with startling clarity after committing an inexplicable crime.
Through Meursault’s experience, Camus explores themes of alienation, absurdity, and the search for meaning in a world that seems purposeless. The simple yet powerful prose draws readers into a narrative full of existential questions and philosophical layers.
Camus challenges readers’ perceptions and offers a plot that stays with you long after the final page.
If you enjoy Dalton Trumbo’s stories of struggle, courage, and the human cost of war, check out James Jones. His novel From Here to Eternity follows the lives of several soldiers stationed at an army base in Hawaii during the months before Pearl Harbor.
Jones explores conflicts of duty, honor, and personal integrity through the experiences of characters who face complex moral choices and intense pressures from military authority.
Jones portrays army life and the harsh realities soldiers encounter with honesty and depth, creating a powerful narrative full of vivid characters and emotional tension.
Louis-Ferdinand Céline was a provocative French writer known for his brutally honest exploration of life’s darker dimensions and human folly.
If you’ve enjoyed Dalton Trumbo’s sharp critiques and unflinching look at wartime absurdities, Céline’s Journey to the End of the Night may resonate deeply with you.
In this book, he follows Ferdinand Bardamu, a cynical and disillusioned young man who drifts through the horrors of World War I, the miseries of colonial Africa, and ultimately the dismal streets and clinics of Paris. It’s harsh, vivid, often grotesque, but also deeply human.
Céline’s narrative mirrors the absurdity and futility of human conflicts in a way that echoes Dalton Trumbo’s own biting observation of war’s sheer madness.
Pat Barker is an author known for her powerful novels that explore the impact of war on individuals. Her book Regeneration tells the story of soldiers sent to a psychiatric hospital during World War I.
It captures the clash between duty, courage, and mental trauma experienced by the soldiers and their doctors. Readers who enjoyed Dalton Trumbo’s focus on the personal horror and humanity within war will likely find similar depth and intensity in Barker’s poignant storytelling.