A great example of a satirical novel is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. It satirizes the military bureaucracy during World War II. The 'catch - 22' situation in the book shows the absurdity of the military rules where a pilot can be declared insane for wanting to stop flying dangerous missions, but if he requests to be grounded, that is taken as proof of his sanity.
'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain can also be considered a satirical novel. It satirizes the racism and hypocrisy in the southern United States at that time. Through the eyes of Huck Finn, a young boy, we see the contradictions and wrong - doings in society.
Some satirical novels worth mentioning are 'Candide' by Voltaire. It mocks the idea of Leibnizian optimism. 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde has elements of satire, especially towards the upper - class society's vanity and immorality. 'Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison, while mainly about race, also has satirical elements regarding society's view of the individual.
One well - known satirical American novel is 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain. It satirizes the society of the South, especially the institution of slavery and the hypocrisy of the so - called civilized people. Another is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. This novel satirizes the military bureaucracy and the absurdity of war. 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell (although he was British, it has strong relevance to American and global politics) is also a great satirical work. It uses animals on a farm to represent different political classes and shows how power can corrupt.
Some classic satirical novels are 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll. It uses a lot of absurd situations and characters to satirize the rigid rules and strange logic in Victorian society. 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes is another important one. It satirizes the chivalric romances of the time, following the deluded Don Quixote on his quests. Also, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde can be seen as a satirical take on the hedonistic and immoral values of the upper - class society of the time.
'The Tin Drum' by Günter Grass can also be considered in this category. It satirizes the German society during and after the war. The protagonist, Oskar, with his refusal to grow up, is a symbol of the resistance against the madness of war and the post - war moral decay.
Well, 'Gulliver's Travels' is a very famous one in the list. Swift creates different lands where Gulliver travels to, and in each place, he shows the absurdities of society. For example, in Lilliput, the tiny people's petty politics is a satire on real - world political squabbles. 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell is also well - known. The pigs taking over the farm and becoming like the very humans they once rebelled against is a great satire on how power can corrupt. And 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' has elements of satire as it comments on society's hypocrisy, especially regarding slavery and race relations through Huck's journey.
Terry Pratchett. His Discworld series combines fantasy elements with sharp satire. The books are set in a flat, disc - shaped world carried on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. Through various characters and storylines, Pratchett satirizes many aspects of society, such as politics, religion, and human nature.
Another well-known one is 'The Far Side'. It stands out for its unique and often absurd humor that pokes fun at various aspects of life. The offbeat characters and unexpected situations make it memorable.
A third 1972 novel could be 'The Exorcist' by William Peter Blatty. It's a horror novel that was extremely influential, dealing with the possession of a young girl and the attempts to exorcise the demon from her. It was later made into a very famous movie as well.
One of the famous gothic novels is 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley. It's full of mystery and horror.
Some popular dystopian novels include '1984' by George Orwell and 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley. They both paint vivid and disturbing pictures of future societies.