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Cover of The Lonely Londoners by Samuel SelvonThe Lonely Londoners
Classic · Fiction, Classics

The Lonely Londoners

by Samuel Selvon
1956 · 139 pages · Fiction
Critics' pick
≈ 3 hours to read · about 6 days at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Sam Selvon's sharp, witty novel about immigrant life in 1950s London.

Why it's worth reading

It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's an award-winning classic of the immigrant experience.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It's sharp and witty.

By the numbers

63.2Must-Read Score
  • Readers49 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller0 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

Why it made the list

On the lists
Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read

Reads as

Thought-provoking

How we rank

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Quick answers

Is The Lonely Londoners worth reading?

Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,206 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.2 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The Lonely Londoners about?

Sam Selvon's sharp, witty novel about immigrant life in 1950s London.

How long does it take to read The Lonely Londoners?

About 3 hours (139 pages), or about 6 days at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after The Lonely Londoners?

If you liked it, try Small Island by Andrea Levy, White Teeth by Zadie Smith or Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.