From the adventures on the Mississippi River to the mysteries in small-town communities, Missouri has served as a setting for some memorable tales.
Here are notable novels set in Missouri that have captivated readers' imaginations.
No discussion about novels set in Missouri could start without mentioning Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
Recognized as one of the greatest works of American literature, this novel follows young Huckleberry Finn and his journey down the Mississippi River.
Twain, a native Missourian, uses the antebellum South and the Mississippi River to explore themes of freedom, morality, and societal norms.
The colorful portrayal of Missouri’s geography and the moral dilemmas of its characters make this novel an enduring classic.
Another masterwork by Mark Twain, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” brings to life the town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, modeled after Twain’s childhood hometown of Hannibal.
Readers are introduced to the playful and mischievous world of Tom Sawyer, a young boy whose escapades capture the essence of youthful exuberance and the complexities of growing up.
The novel’s vivid descriptions of life along the Mississippi Riverbank during the 1840s have fascinated readers for generations.
Shifting gears to contemporary fiction, “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn is a modern literary sensation set in a small Missouri town.
The story of Amy and Nick Dunne’s troubled marriage and the disappearance of Amy has become a defining novel of the psychological thriller genre.
Flynn’s chilling narrative, coupled with sharp observations of middle-class America and media sensationalism, deeply roots the reader in the eerie undercurrents of North Carthage, Missouri, and leads them through a labyrinth of twists and turns.
In her debut novel “Sharp Objects,” Gillian Flynn takes readers to another fictional Missouri town, Wind Gap.
This dark mystery thriller revolves around Camille Preaker, a journalist who must return to her suffocating hometown to report on the murders of two young girls.
Flynn expertly weaves the themes of mental illness, family dysfunction, and the social hierarchy of small-town life to create a haunting portrayal of Missouri that lingers long after the pages are turned.
Published in 1907, “The Shepherd of the Hills” is Harold Bell Wright’s classic novel that introduces the majestic Ozark Mountains of Missouri.
The story, which has been adapted into films and plays, revolves around city-dweller Harold who seeks solace in the hills and becomes entwined in the lives of the mountain folk.
The novel paints a picturesque and romanticized image of rural Missouri and explores the clash between the old and new ways of life.
Once again, Mark Twain captures the essence of Missouri life in “Pudd’nhead Wilson.”
This lesser-known work is a satirical novel that delves into issues of race and identity in a setting reminiscent of Twain’s own Missouri.
The story unfolds in the fictional town of Dawson’s Landing and follows the life of a young mixed-race man who is socially accepted as white.
Twain’s commentary on the absurdity of racial division and his use of a Missouri town as a microcosm for America give this novel historical as well as literary significance.
“Rifles for Watie,” by Harold Keith, provides a unique exploration of the tumultuous period of the Civil War in Missouri and neighboring areas.
It’s a coming-of-age tale about a Kansas farm boy named Jeff Bussey who joins the Union Army.
The novel offers a detailed and historically accurate depiction of the challenges soldiers faced during the war, and Keith’s vivid descriptions of Missouri’s landscapes and society during this period add depth to the reader’s understanding of the region’s past.
Last but not least is Sinclair Lewis’s “Elmer Gantry.”
Set in various locations, including Missouri, this scathing examination of religious hypocrisy and evangelism follows the titular character, a charismatic yet unscrupulous preacher.
Lewis’s portrayal of early 20th-century Midwestern religious life addresses broader themes of power, corruption, and morality that resonate to this day.
Through these literary works, authors have transported readers to the banks of the Mississippi, the Ozark Highlands, and the heartland’s small towns, capturing Missouri’s unique spirit and complex character.
Each novel has contributed to the rich tapestry of the state’s portrayal in American literature, revealing the various faces of Missouri to the wider world.