What novels have had a substantial real-world effect?

[MsAmerica]

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.

Yes discussion has certainly been frowned on in this thread! I thought your post was interesting - I always wonder in this sort of example though that the book must have reflected societal change to some extent rather than creating it even if books do go on to shape changes as well. I don't believe Fielding was the first person to 'think like that'. Probably more an issue of what was and wasn't considered 'literature'

Also spawned the names of two TV shows, Big Brother and Room 101.

Thanks @SharonEllis - it wasn’t my example originally 🙂 but I do think writing styles are real world effects

On the whole, I think any one book, painting, lecture, film etc will be part of the change not a standalone catalyst, but that is still worth talking about (OP sees it differently…)

Sorry don't know how my post was posted 3 times!!

I suppose you'd prefer a stance of "Ignore my actual question of what interests me, and say whatever you like" no matter how it strays?

Yes, but clearly that's not what I had in mind in terms of actual real-world consequences. I'm pretty sure that if you could proudly tell Orwell that his book had the real-life consequence of spawning an entertainment show of TV, it's not likely that he would consider that a gratifying accomplishment.

Personally, I'm baffled that 1984 didn't even have the minimal real-world effect of motivating Brits to refuse the current state of government surveillance.

Except that isn't what people have done is it? They have developed an idea, in a normal conversational way. Its unusual to have such a dogmatic approach to controlling a conversation.

That book and the TV series it spawned are being used on this forum, and no doubt around the UK, to persuade people not to vote for Reform in the upcoming Council elections. Their performance at those elections might impact the result of the next general election and that could easily cause a change in the history of the UK.

I think you are dismissing the seeds of change far too easily on this thread and making it far less obsessing than it might have been as a consequence.

I made an early contribution which you squashed, and I left. I popped back today to see why the thread is still live and was pleased to see people felt the same as I did about it.

Obsessing should read interesting, though both might apply!

Sorry, I should have been more precise:

I was referring only to the BOOK of The Handmaid's Tale, which I think had no effect and didn't even really permeated the public consciousness.

The book spawned TV which spawned immense heightened understanding of current world events.

It makes no sense to restrict the analysis of the impact of a book to the reading of it.

I agree.

You are precise, OP.

But poster after poster is refuting the extremely narrow premise of your request in the name of a more interesting discussion.

Most OPs go with that rather than getting cross that others aren’t conforming to their exact requirements, what with this being a discussion board and all.

@MsAmerica recently got annoyed on another thread she started that people were having a discussion about short novels rather than saying 'oh,that book recommending short novels looks interesting' 😂.