If you enjoy reading books by Italo Svevo then you might also like the following authors:
James Joyce was an Irish writer who explored unique and experimental ways of storytelling. He had a close friendship with Italo Svevo, so fans of Svevo might enjoy Joyce’s work.
One of his novels, “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,” follows a young man’s journey to understand his identity and place in the world. Another, “Ulysses,” focuses on one day in the life of a man named Leopold Bloom, filled with detailed moments and inner thoughts.
Joyce’s style often challenges readers while offering fresh perspectives.
Marcel Proust is best known for his series “In Search of Lost Time.” In this work, he reflects on memory, time, and relationships. The first book, “Swann’s Way,” introduces themes of love and longing.
Another volume, “Within a Budding Grove,” explores youth and the complexities of growing up. The series captures emotional and personal moments in a detailed way.
Franz Kafka wrote stories that explore isolation and strange, unsettling situations. In “The Metamorphosis,” a man wakes up one day and finds he has turned into a giant insect, struggling to navigate his new reality.
“The Trial” follows a man who is arrested without ever being told what he’s accused of, caught in a maze of faceless bureaucracy.
Kafka’s works often highlight confusion and a sense of being trapped, which might appeal to someone drawn to Italo Svevo’s focus on flawed characters and existential struggles.
Robert Musil wrote novels that explore human psychology and society.
His most famous work, “The Man Without Qualities,” focuses on a man navigating the complexities of modern life in Austria before World War I. Another novel, “The Confusions of Young Törless,” tells the story of a boy at a boarding school, dealing with power and morality.
Both works are thought-provoking and examine the conflicts of the individual within larger systems.
Virginia Woolf wrote books that explore the inner workings of the mind, making her a fascinating writer for anyone who enjoys Italo Svevo. In “Mrs. Dalloway,” she focuses on a single day in the life of a woman, showing how her thoughts and memories flow.
“To the Lighthouse” explores family dynamics and the passage of time. These novels don’t follow straightforward plots but instead dive deep into characters’ thoughts and emotions.
Albert Camus wrote thought-provoking novels that explore deep questions about life. In “The Stranger,” he tells the story of a man disconnected from society, facing the absurdity of existence.
“The Plague” presents a town battling a deadly epidemic, raising questions about human resilience and morality. His writing often focuses on life’s struggles and the search for meaning.
Hermann Hesse wrote stories that explore personal struggles and questions about identity. If you enjoy Italo Svevo, you might like Hesse’s focus on self-reflection and inner conflict. In “Siddhartha,” he follows a man’s search for meaning and spiritual fulfillment.
“Steppenwolf” looks at a man caught between his wild instincts and the expectations of society. Both deal with the complexities of human emotions and the paths we take to understand ourselves.
André Gide wrote books that often explore personal freedom, morality, and the complexity of human relationships. In “The Immoralist,” a man rejects societal norms to pursue his desires, leading to self-discovery and conflict.
“The Counterfeiters” focuses on a group of characters whose lives intersect as they deal with deception, ambition, and identity. Another well-known work, “Strait is the Gate,” tells the story of unrequited love and the sacrifices people make for their beliefs.
Thomas Mann wrote stories that explore people’s inner struggles and the weight of tradition. If you enjoy Italo Svevo, you might find something familiar in his work.
“Buddenbrooks” traces the decline of a wealthy German family over generations, focusing on how personal ambition and societal expectations clash.
“The Magic Mountain” follows a young man who visits a sanatorium and finds his views on life and death challenged by the people he meets there. These novels mix personal conflicts with broader cultural themes in a way that feels both intimate and thought-provoking.
Samuel Beckett wrote books that often explore themes of isolation and the struggles of existence. In “Molloy,” the story follows a man wandering aimlessly, reflecting on his life and search for meaning.
“Malone Dies” focuses on a bedridden man recounting fragmented memories and stories as he waits for death. These novels highlight characters facing despair while grappling with their own thoughts.
Stefan Zweig wrote deeply personal stories that explore human emotions and inner conflicts. If you like Italo Svevo, you’ll probably enjoy the psychological depth in his works.
“Beware of Pity” tells a story about guilt and compassion when a young officer befriends a disabled woman. “The Post-Office Girl” follows a seemingly ordinary woman whose life takes a sharp turn after she gets a taste of luxury.
Zweig captures the struggles of identity and choices in ways that linger with you.
Fernando Pessoa is known for his unusual way of creating fictional authors, called heteronyms, each with their own style and personality.
In “The Book of Disquiet,” he shares the musings and reflections of a character called Bernardo Soares, who explores feelings of isolation and life’s uncertainties.
Another work, “The Education of the Stoic,” is presented as the journal of the Baron of Teive, a man consumed by perfectionism and disillusionment. These books dive into themes of identity, melancholy, and existence.
Joseph Roth wrote stories that explore the decline of old worlds and the struggles of ordinary people caught in change. “The Radetzky March” looks at the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through the lives of three generations in a family.
“Job” tells the story of a Jewish immigrant in America, whose faith gets tested by hardship and personal loss. If you like Italo Svevo’s focus on shifting times and introspective characters, Roth’s books might draw you in too.
Luigi Pirandello wrote stories that often explored identity and the blurred lines between reality and illusion. In “The Late Mattia Pascal,” a man fakes his death to start over but struggles when his new life doesn’t go as planned.
“One, None and One Hundred Thousand” follows someone who realizes people see him differently than he sees himself, leading to a crisis of self-understanding. His books often question who we really are and how we fit into the world.
W.G. Sebald writes in a way that feels reflective and layered, often blending personal history with broader themes. In “The Rings of Saturn,” he explores themes of memory and decay through a walking tour in England, connecting landscapes to deeper ideas.
“Austerlitz” follows the fragmented life of a man piecing together his past, touching on themes of loss and exile. His works might appeal to fans of Italo Svevo, given their focus on introspection and the weight of memory.