Invisible CitiesInvisible Cities
Score Classic
What it's about
In a garden, the aging Kublai Khan, sensing the end of his empire, listens as the young Marco Polo describes the cities he has seen on his travels: cities of memory, desire and signs, each more marvelous than the last.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's one of the most beautiful books of the 20th century.
You'll love it if you liked
The Rings of Saturn
The Baron in the Trees
The Little PrinceGood to know
It's short and poetic, with no plot. It's best read slowly.
By the numbers
- Readers76 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #164 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #368 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1118 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking, Epic
More by Italo Calvino
If you like this, read next
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Master and Margarita
Beloved
Midnight's Children
The Magus
Pedro PáramoExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Invisible Cities worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,118 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Invisible Cities about?
In a garden, the aging Kublai Khan, sensing the end of his empire, listens as the young Marco Polo describes the cities he has seen on his travels: cities of memory, desire and signs, each more marvelous than the last.
How long does it take to read Invisible Cities?
About 4 hours (174 pages), or about 8 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Invisible Cities?
If you liked it, try The Rings of Saturn by WG Sebald, The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino or The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.