The Go-BetweenThe Go-Between
Score Classic
What it's about
Told as a memoir, it recalls one summer around 1900 when the young narrator stayed as a guest at a country estate. He becomes the unwitting messenger carrying letters between a local farmer and his host's daughter, on whom he has a crush.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a classic novel about innocence, class and memory.
You'll love it if you liked
Atonement
The Remains of the Day
Brideshead RevisitedGood to know
It's a coming-of-age story looking back from adulthood.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller11 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
- #77 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #391 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1213 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Moving
If you like this, read next
Persuasion
Sophie's Choice
The Great Gatsby
Jane Eyre
Invisible Man
Their Eyes Were Watching GodExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Go-Between worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,213 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Go-Between about?
Told as a memoir, it recalls one summer around 1900 when the young narrator stayed as a guest at a country estate. He becomes the unwitting messenger carrying letters between a local farmer and his host's daughter, on whom he has a crush.
How long does it take to read The Go-Between?
About 8 hours (327 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Go-Between?
If you liked it, try Atonement by Ian McEwan, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro or Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh.