A novella is a work of fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter than a full-length novel. These works range from 17,000-50,000 words but there’s fierce debate as to exactly how many words or pages constitute a novella.
Despite being shorter, novellas are complete works that have all the elements of a novel. However, they’re much suited to be read in one sitting, making them the ideal choice for readers who can’t commit to longer works.
Must Read Novellas
Many novellas have cemented themselves as classic and contemporary masterpieces. Some of them you might be surprised are actually classified as a novella.
There is no clear definition that separate short stories from novellas, and novellas from novels. As such, the stories in this list do not follow any specific word or page range. Instead, these works that are simply considered by the majority as novellas.
1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find himself physically transformed into a monster. Turned mute and grotesque, he has no choice but to quietly witness how his predicament slowly changes how the world treats him.
2. Death in Venice by Thomas Mann
Gustav von Aschenbach is famous author who is overcome with the notion to visit Venice. There he finds and subsequently becomes obsessed with a Polish tourist. As the city deteriorates from a cholera outbreak, so does Aschenbach’s grip with reality.
3. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Santiago is an aging fisherman who hasn’t caught any fish for eighty-four days. But on the eighty-fifth day, he finally manages to hook one, but is unable to haul it in due to its size. So starts a relentless battle amidst the waters of the Gulf Stream.
4. Animal Farm by George Orwell
The mistreated farm animals have finally revolted, driving their cruel owners away. Now they must govern themselves and build a fair, democratic society. But their flaming idealism can easily slip back into the tyranny they’ve just fought against.
5. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Ebenezer Scrooge is the ultimate miser, hoarding money and never spending a penny of it. But when a retinue of ghosts visit him on Christmas eve, he must find the strength to change into a better man.
6. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The brilliant Dr. Henry Jekyll manages to create a concoction that separates the evil from within himself. At the same time, a lawyer must investigate the strange occurrences currently menacing the streets of London.
7. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Stolen from his home, Buck is put to work as a sled dog in the harsh, Alaskan winter. Forced to fight for his life, he must tap into his primitive instincts and emerge as a leader in the wild.
8. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The land rumbles, nothing grows, and death abounds—nowhere is safe in this dying Earth. And yet a father and son walk through the ashes of America, searching for hope and salvation.
9. The Most Precious of Cargoes by Jean-Claude Grumberg
On a train, a mother no longer has enough milk to feed her two children. The father, in the hopes of saving both, wraps one in a shawl and throws her into the nearby forest. And in the forest lives a woman who prays for a baby each and every night…
10. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
In the back alleys of Tokyo, a café has been serving coffee for more than a hundred years. But coffee is it’s secondary product. All who go there seek the chance to travel back in time, right their wrongs, and fulfill their regrets—all before their coffee gets cold.
11. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline steps through a door and finds a world identical to hers but much, much better—until it isn’t. There, she has a mother and father who cares and wants her to stay, by force if necessary.
12. The Mist by Stephen King
An otherworldly mist rolls in and shrouds an entire town. Contained within are creatures that quickly wreak havoc on the town’s inhabitants. A small group of survivors manage to barricade themselves in but find a way to escape the horrors outside and inside their sanctuary.
13. Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez
Just two hours after marriage, a man drags his wife back to her family, furious of her lack of virginity. To avenge their family honor, the bride’s two brothers begin planning murder. And as their plot races through town, a series of confusing events and lack of intervention ultimately lead to tragedy.
14. The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing
While crime and unrest surge around them, the Lovatts have created their small bubble of idylic bliss—until the birth of their fifth child, that is. Goblin-like, loud, violent, and perpetually hungry, Ben is not what an infant should be.
Torn between parental love and the desire to flee from danger, the Lovatts must choose what to do with the boy, lest their world is shattered beyond repair.
15. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Sailor Charles Marlow navigates the Congo River on behalf of a Belgian trading company. There he meets the mysterious Kurtz, worshipped by the natives. Marlow must confront how a person’s environment brings out the corruption hidden deep within humanity.
Reading Novellas
Because of a novella’s shortened format, it allows for a more focused exploration of its central theme and characters. Writers have to be more economical with their words, forcing them to build layers of meaning within their text. This often leads to a more intense and immersive reading experience.
Many writers find initial success with novellas as they can reach a wider audience without having the high costs of publishing. Readers can also choose their shorter works before committing to their full-length novels. This way, novellas actually become a gateway into a writer’s body of work.
Despite their shorter length, novellas are in no way an inferior version of novels. They are simply two formats that are meant for different situations and readers. Novellas are most compatible for readers who love quick, satisfying reads and writers who want to take a deep dive into an idea without sacrificing length.
What novellas are your favorites? Share them in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 15 Best Short Story Collections
- 15 of the Best Short Stories of All Time
- 20 Best Poetry Books of All Time
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
