Journey to the End of the Night
Score Classic
What it's about
Ferdinand Bardamu, a cynical, largely autobiographical antihero, travels from the trenches of the First World War to colonial Africa, to New York and the Ford factory in Detroit, and back to a medical practice in the Paris slums. Everywhere he finds stupidity, cruelty and hypocrisy, and he describes them in furious, explosive language.
Why it's worth reading
It's in the Bokklubben World Library of the 100 greatest books and on Le Monde's list of the 100 books of the century. It changed French literature and influenced writers from Kerouac to Heller.
You'll love it if you liked
Catch-22, All Quiet on the Western Front or Slaughterhouse-Five
Good to know
It's bleak, angry and long. Céline later became a notorious antisemite, which colors how many readers approach him.
Quick answers
Is Journey to the End of the Night worth reading?
Yes. It's in the Bokklubben World Library of the 100 greatest books and on Le Monde's list of the 100 books of the century. It ranks #861 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Journey to the End of the Night about?
Ferdinand Bardamu, a cynical, largely autobiographical antihero, travels from the trenches of the First World War to colonial Africa, to New York and the Ford factory in Detroit, and back to a medical practice in the Paris slums. Everywhere he finds stupidity, cruelty and hypocrisy, and he describes them in furious, explosive language.
How long does it take to read Journey to the End of the Night?
About 12 hours (468 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Journey to the End of the Night?
If you liked it, try Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque or Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr..
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller35 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.
On 2 canon lists, including Bokklubben World Library (100 greatest books).
Where it ranks
On the lists
- Bokklubben World Library (100 greatest books)
- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century
Reads as
Moving, Dark
If you like this, read next
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
The Color Purple
1984
The Lord of the Rings
A Brief History of Time