If you enjoy reading novels by John Dos Passos then you might also like the following authors:
Hemingway wrote stories with sharp, direct language that hits hard. If you enjoy John Dos Passos, you might connect with Hemingway’s focus on the struggles of individuals caught in larger chaos.
His novel “The Sun Also Rises” looks at a group of people navigating life after World War I, marked by disillusionment and loss. “A Farewell to Arms” sets love and tragedy against the backdrop of war.
Hemingway’s sparse style drives the story forward, creating a sense of raw reality.
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote stories that captured the excitement and chaos of the early 20th century, which might appeal to someone who enjoys John Dos Passos.
His novel “The Great Gatsby” dives into the lives of the wealthy during the Jazz Age, revealing the emptiness beneath their glittering world.
Another one, “This Side of Paradise,” follows a young man navigating ambition, love, and identity against the backdrop of post-World War I America. Fitzgerald’s work offers a sharp look at a rapidly changing society, echoing themes you’d find in Dos Passos’ writing.
If you enjoy John Dos Passos, you might find William Faulkner’s work fascinating for its layered approach to storytelling and sense of place. His novel “The Sound and the Fury” breaks traditional narrative forms, presenting a fragmented view of a Southern family’s decline.
“As I Lay Dying” offers a closer look at a poorer, rural world through shifting perspectives that paint a raw and vivid picture. Both showcase his ability to blend personal struggles with the larger changes happening in the American South.
John Steinbeck wrote stories that capture the struggles of ordinary people caught in tough social and economic times. If you’re a fan of John Dos Passos, you might find a connection in the layered portrayal of hardship and societal forces in Steinbeck’s work.
“The Grapes of Wrath” looks at a family displaced by the Dust Bowl, while “Of Mice and Men” explores friendship and loss within a harsh world. His writing examines people shaped by their circumstances in a way that feels both raw and honest.
If you enjoy John Dos Passos, you might find Sinclair Lewis engaging too. Lewis often tackled the social and cultural shifts of early 20th-century America, giving his work a sharp edge.
“Babbitt” explores the pressures of conformity in small-town life, while “Main Street” dives into the struggles of an outsider trying to challenge a community’s dull routine. His focus on the flaws and challenges of American society might resonate with you.
If you enjoy John Dos Passos, you might find Theodore Dreiser fascinating. He brings a detailed and realistic look at life’s harsh truths. In “Sister Carrie,” a young woman moves to the city and faces the complicated pull of ambition and survival.
“An American Tragedy” tells the story of a man chasing success, but his choices lead to devastating consequences. Dreiser’s work digs deep into the struggles of ordinary people and the forces shaping their lives.
E.L. Doctorow writes in a way that captures American life across different eras, which might remind you of John Dos Passos. He often weaves history into his stories. “Ragtime” blends real and fictional characters to explore early 20th-century America.
“The Book of Daniel” offers a close look at the fallout from McCarthy-era politics. His work carries that same sense of social observation you’d appreciate if you enjoy Dos Passos.
Sherwood Anderson wrote stories that focus on the small moments in ordinary lives, which might appeal to fans of John Dos Passos. His novel “Winesburg, Ohio” is a series of connected tales about the residents of a small town, exploring their inner thoughts and struggles.
Another great one is “Poor White,” which looks at the changes brought by industrialization in rural America. His way of drawing out the quiet depth in people and places makes his work worth checking out.
Upton Sinclair wrote with a sharp focus on society’s flaws and how power affects ordinary lives. If you like John Dos Passos, you might enjoy how Sinclair captures the struggles of working-class people in books like “The Jungle” and “King Coal.”
“The Jungle” exposes harsh conditions in the meatpacking industry, while “King Coal” digs into the dangerous life of miners and labor exploitation. His stories offer a bold look at the economic forces shaping people’s lives.
Thomas Wolfe wrote stories filled with raw emotion and deep exploration of American life. If you enjoy John Dos Passos, you might connect with Wolfe’s sprawling narratives and vivid portrayal of people and places.
His novel “Look Homeward, Angel” captures the struggles of growing up in a small town, while “You Can’t Go Home Again” dives into the alienation of returning to a changed world. His writing has a sense of grandeur and makes everyday life feel larger than it seems.
Richard Wright wrote stories that dig into the struggles of society. If you’re a fan of John Dos Passos, you might connect with his focus on social and racial issues. “Native Son” lays bare a harsh reality, following the life of a young Black man in 1930s Chicago.
“Black Boy” is more personal, telling the story of Wright’s own experiences in the South. His works tackle tough themes with the same clarity and directness Dos Passos used to explore America.
Nelson Algren wrote stories that focus on people living in tough conditions, often struggling against life’s challenges. If you enjoy John Dos Passos, you might appreciate how Algren captures the grit of urban life and societal change.
“The Man with the Golden Arm” explores addiction and survival in post-war Chicago, while “A Walk on the Wild Side” digs into the lives of drifters and outcasts. His work has raw honesty and a sense of human resilience.
Jack London wrote stories that hit hard, focusing on survival, struggle, and the raw edges of life. If you’re into the way John Dos Passos captures characters swept up in bigger forces, you might connect with books like “The Call of the Wild” and “The Iron Heel.”
The first dives into nature and instinct, while the second explores power and revolution in a way that feels ahead of its time. His work has that mix of personal and social conflict that stays with you.
Kurt Vonnegut has a sharp wit and a knack for weaving big ideas into stories that feel personal. If you’re into John Dos Passos, you might enjoy how Vonnegut plays with structure and perspective while still keeping things grounded in human struggles.
“Slaughterhouse-Five” looks at war and time in a way that’s both strange and deeply emotional. “Breakfast of Champions” is packed with biting social commentary and wild narratives that poke at American culture.
His storytelling is clever but always keeps an eye on what makes people tick.