The World Library is a
list of the 100 best books, as proposed by one hundred writers from fifty-four
different countries, compiled and organized in 2002 by the Norwegian Book Club.
This list endeavours to reflect world literature, with books from all countries,
cultures, and time periods. Eleven of the books included on the list are
written by women, eighty-five are written by men and four have an unknown
author.
Each writer had to
select his or her own list of ten books.
The books selected by
this process and listed here are not ranked or categorized in any way; the
organizers have stated that "they are all on an equal footing," with
the exception of Don Quixote which was given the distinction "best literary
work ever written".
