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Original poster

What novels have had a substantial real-world effect?

214 replies

MsAmerica · 15/01/2026 23:40

What novels have had such a powerful impact that they triggered an actual change in socio-political policies or overall public opinion on an important subject?

I can only think of two, offhand:
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair Any others?

As far as I know, books like Grapes of Wrath may have had enthusiasts, but by the time it came out, it was too late for any relevant policy. And I know that Dickens may have influenced public policy, but I don’t think it was due to a particular novel.

OP posts:
FannySqueers · 01/02/2026 07:05

More Dickens! Nicholas Nickleby led to the closure of a notorious school in Yorkshire and the prosecution of its head 'teacher'. Along with Jane Eyre it revealed the terrible abuse of the step/illegitimate children who were literally sent there to starve and/or die of disease. Even by Victorian standards these schools were horrific.

SammyScrounge · 01/02/2026 01:50

SharonEllis · 15/01/2026 23:48

I think Oliver Twist probably had a significant impact.

Also Nicholas Nickelby which highlighted the awfulness of schools.which anyone could set up whenever they liked.because there was no regulation of them.

Arlanymor · 01/02/2026 01:29

SharonEllis · 25/01/2026 10:49

I thought that was odd too. I think addressing the reader is a feature of 17 & 18th century writing. Aphra Behn did it all the time, admittedly through prefaces rather than maybe within the main narrative. I can't remember, I would have to look. I am sure Chaucer does it too.

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Definitely Chaucer - he did EVERYTHING! Broke the fourth wall, was meta, had his own cameos - hugely experimental. In fact if I had all the money and all the time I would do a PhD in Chaucer as 'the firste fyndere of queynte experimentes' . Sigh... lottery win where are you? I have the title and everything! I want to be Dr Arlanymor!

Silverbirchleaf · 01/02/2026 01:20

Silent Spring - Rachel Carson , about pesticides, so not a novel as such, but very influential, and a book I was advised to read whilst studying geography twenty years after it was written.

Original poster
MsAmerica · 28/01/2026 23:25

Barleybumpsadaisy · 25/01/2026 19:04

That was my point really. I wish The Handmaid’s Tale had made a difference but I don’t think it has. I remember Atwood saying she hadn’t written anything that wasn’t happening to women, somewhere in the world. That is utterly chilling.

Certainly the TV show has brought The Handmaid’s Tale to a much wider audience but I read it years ago and so did many of my peers.

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Yes, exactly.!

OP posts:
estellacandance · 28/01/2026 19:03

I think Oranges are not the only fruit contributed to recognising discrimination against lesbians, the fight against s28 and lesbian rights in general.

Barleybumpsadaisy · 25/01/2026 19:04

MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 22:51

Largely because I was thinking of books that had a fairly immediate impact, not something gradually over a period of time.

As to Handmaid's Tale, my impression is that not only do I not know of any change that it has wrought - I don't even think it entered the public consciousness until the television series.

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That was my point really. I wish The Handmaid’s Tale had made a difference but I don’t think it has. I remember Atwood saying she hadn’t written anything that wasn’t happening to women, somewhere in the world. That is utterly chilling.

Certainly the TV show has brought The Handmaid’s Tale to a much wider audience but I read it years ago and so did many of my peers.

Oftenaddled · 25/01/2026 18:58

Rudyard Kipling's Kim influenced the scouting movement and youth culture

SharonEllis · 25/01/2026 10:49

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 25/01/2026 10:41

How was Jane Austen the furst to break the fourth wall? Writers had been doing it for generations before her. Sterne and Fielding are constantly addressing the reader.

I thought that was odd too. I think addressing the reader is a feature of 17 & 18th century writing. Aphra Behn did it all the time, admittedly through prefaces rather than maybe within the main narrative. I can't remember, I would have to look. I am sure Chaucer does it too.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 25/01/2026 10:48

I came on to say The Jungle but I see OP has mentioned it so i'll throw in North and South (Gaskell not Swayze) and Disraeli's Sibyl.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 25/01/2026 10:41

How was Jane Austen the furst to break the fourth wall? Writers had been doing it for generations before her. Sterne and Fielding are constantly addressing the reader.

SwirlyGates · 25/01/2026 09:52

Walter Scott's Waverley is credited with creating the myth of clan tartans - linking tartans with clans or surnames is now widely accepted as fact.

SharonEllis · 25/01/2026 06:05

MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 22:51

Largely because I was thinking of books that had a fairly immediate impact, not something gradually over a period of time.

As to Handmaid's Tale, my impression is that not only do I not know of any change that it has wrought - I don't even think it entered the public consciousness until the television series.

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Things Fall Apart was the direct catalyst for the launch of Heineman African Writers Series in 1962 which was incredibly important for democratising access to books in Africa (most Nigerians couldn't initially afford TFA) as well as providing a publication route for African writers and broadening recognition outside Africa as TFA and all HAWS books were in English. TFA created 'African literature'. All happening at the same time as decolonisation was happening in Africa

Gwendolyn Mikell, professor of anthropology at Georgetown University also says 'the novel got anthropologists thinking on how best to capture the data that described African societies. Interviewing techniques were added and information-gathering became more creative, resulting in more qualitative and holistic data.'

User5612347 · 24/01/2026 23:35

Ireland has undergone huge social changes in the last 25 years. We've also been blessed with absolutely amazing writers like Colm Toibin, Emma Donoghue and John Boyne. There's no doubt in my mind that they made us look at ourselves in a new way that nudged us towards marriage equality.

Xyxyxyxyxy · 24/01/2026 23:15

LOTR redefined the fantasy genre, and made it much more acceptable as an adult genre.

Original poster
MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 23:00

User5612347 · 24/01/2026 22:55

The Handmaid's Tale was a classic long before the television series.

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That's not the issue here.
The point is that I don't think it entered into the public consciousness in a big way until the television series, and I know of no change it effected.

OP posts:
Alltheyellowbirds · 24/01/2026 22:58

User5612347 · 24/01/2026 22:55

The Handmaid's Tale was a classic long before the television series.

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Yes, we studied it at school in the nineties.

SharonEllis · 24/01/2026 22:56

MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 22:51

Largely because I was thinking of books that had a fairly immediate impact, not something gradually over a period of time.

As to Handmaid's Tale, my impression is that not only do I not know of any change that it has wrought - I don't even think it entered the public consciousness until the television series.

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The impact was immediate.

User5612347 · 24/01/2026 22:55

MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 22:51

Largely because I was thinking of books that had a fairly immediate impact, not something gradually over a period of time.

As to Handmaid's Tale, my impression is that not only do I not know of any change that it has wrought - I don't even think it entered the public consciousness until the television series.

Show quote history

The Handmaid's Tale was a classic long before the television series.

Original poster
MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 22:55

Alltheyellowbirds · 24/01/2026 22:52

Until recently I would have said 1984, except right now the US seems to be acting it out so…

What did 1984 change?

OP posts:
Alltheyellowbirds · 24/01/2026 22:52

Until recently I would have said 1984, except right now the US seems to be acting it out so…

Original poster
MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 22:51

GCSEBiostruggles · 24/01/2026 22:38

Why does it not? It has opened up black writers to the world, which has changed it by giving voice to the experiences.

Handmaids Tail, although I worry Trump and his cronies are using it as a Mein Kampf.

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Largely because I was thinking of books that had a fairly immediate impact, not something gradually over a period of time.

As to Handmaid's Tale, my impression is that not only do I not know of any change that it has wrought - I don't even think it entered the public consciousness until the television series.

OP posts:
User5612347 · 24/01/2026 22:46

The renaissance of Irish literature and Irish poetry at the beginning of the 1900s gave the Irish people a sense of nationalism that helped bring about independence from the British empire. That inspired Ghandi and many other really influential figures of the 20th century.
It's an interesting question you asked, but world literature and history is so vast that it's unanswerable.
Of recent novels, I think The Overstory has been very influential in a quiet way.

SharonEllis · 24/01/2026 22:42

MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 22:35

Maybe, but I don't think that relates to the original question here.

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Maybe?!

GCSEBiostruggles · 24/01/2026 22:38

MsAmerica · 24/01/2026 22:35

Maybe, but I don't think that relates to the original question here.

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Why does it not? It has opened up black writers to the world, which has changed it by giving voice to the experiences.

Handmaids Tail, although I worry Trump and his cronies are using it as a Mein Kampf.