Novels:
* The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald: A classic of American literature, this novel captures the disillusionment and extravagance of the Roaring Twenties, exploring themes of love, loss, and the American Dream.
* A Farewell to Arms (1929) by Ernest Hemingway: This war novel, set during World War I, focuses on the psychological toll of conflict and the futility of war. It features Hemingway's signature minimalist style and exploration of masculinity.
* Mrs. Dalloway (1925) by Virginia Woolf: A modernist masterpiece that captures the stream of consciousness of a single day in the life of a middle-aged woman in post-World War I London. It explores themes of memory, perception, and the complexities of human relationships.
* The Sun Also Rises (1926) by Ernest Hemingway: Another war-themed novel, this one focuses on the "Lost Generation" of expatriate Americans living in Paris after World War I. It explores themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
* Ulysses (1922) by James Joyce: This groundbreaking novel uses stream of consciousness to depict a single day in the life of Leopold Bloom, a middle-aged man in Dublin. Considered a high point of modernist literature, it is known for its complex structure and intricate language.
* The Age of Innocence (1920) by Edith Wharton: A novel set in Gilded Age New York, exploring the complexities of love, social conventions, and the pressures of conformity. It is a critical examination of the upper class and its hypocrisy.
* The Sound and the Fury (1929) by William Faulkner: This experimental novel tells the story of the Compson family in Mississippi through the fragmented perspectives of its members. It is known for its complex narrative structure, exploration of time, and its focus on the decline of the South.
* Brave New World (1932) by Aldous Huxley: This dystopian novel explores a future society controlled by technology and scientific advancement, where human emotions and individual expression are suppressed. It remains a relevant commentary on the dangers of unchecked scientific progress and social control.
Poetry:
* The Waste Land (1922) by T.S. Eliot: A landmark poem of modernist literature, this work reflects the disillusionment and fragmentation of post-war society, using fragmented images and allusions to evoke a sense of lost meaning and spiritual emptiness.
* The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915) by T.S. Eliot: Though published before the 1920s, this poem embodies the themes and style of the Modernist movement. It explores themes of alienation, anxiety, and the paralysis of modern life through a series of internal monologues.
* The Collected Poems of E.E. Cummings (1923): Cummings was known for his innovative use of language and form, breaking traditional grammar and punctuation. His poems often explore themes of love, nature, and the human condition in a uniquely lyrical style.
Plays:
* Our Town (1938) by Thornton Wilder: While published slightly later, this play is often considered a quintessential 1920s work. It portrays life in a small American town with a simple, poignant style, exploring themes of community, the passage of time, and the beauty of everyday life.
* The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) by Oscar Wilde: This satirical play, though written earlier, gained significant popularity in the 1920s, its wit and examination of social hypocrisy resonating with audiences.
This list is not exhaustive, but it highlights some of the most significant works of literature produced during the 1920s. These works offer a window into the cultural and social landscape of the era, exploring themes of change, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in a rapidly modernizing world.