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Literature quiz

The Big Read: Britain's 21 best loved novels

The top 21 of the Big Read poll of 2003, in order. Each row gives the place and the author; type the novel.

Format
Type them all
Items
21 answers
Limit
6:00
Level
Medium
Checked
2026.10.03
Answers
21
Time limit
6:00
Order
Any order
Matching
Case and accents ignored
  • Type an answer; it files itself the moment it matches.
  • One answer can fill several slots.
  • Give up at any time to see what you missed.
  • Pause whenever you like (Esc). The board hides while the clock is stopped.

Name the novel for each place.

Novel, part 1 of 1
PlaceAuthorNovel
1JRR TolkienNot found yet
2Jane AustenNot found yet
3Philip PullmanNot found yet
4Douglas AdamsNot found yet
5JK RowlingNot found yet
6Harper LeeNot found yet
7AA MilneNot found yet
8George OrwellNot found yet
9CS LewisNot found yet
10Charlotte BrontëNot found yet
11Joseph HellerNot found yet
12Emily BrontëNot found yet
13Sebastian FaulksNot found yet
14Daphne du MaurierNot found yet
15JD SalingerNot found yet
16Kenneth GrahameNot found yet
17Charles DickensNot found yet
18Louisa May AlcottNot found yet
19Louis de BernieresNot found yet
20Leo TolstoyNot found yet
21Margaret MitchellNot found yet

About this quiz

The Big Read began in April 2003, when the BBC set out to find the nation's best loved novel and asked viewers to nominate their favourites. The Lord of the Rings came first.

  • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen took second place.
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, at number five, is the only Harry Potter novel in the top 21.
  • Places 22 to 24 on the full list went to three more Harry Potter novels.

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