The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified SinnerThe Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner
Score Classic
What it's about
Published anonymously in 1824, this gothic mystery is presented as a century-old document: an editor's long introduction, then the confession written by the sinner himself.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read.
You'll love it if you liked
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Frankenstein
The Picture of Dorian GrayGood to know
It's a classic gothic novel.
By the numbers
- Readers18 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller8 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
- #83 of the 87 horror books we rank
- #879 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2871 of the 3,056 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping
If you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
The Master and Margarita
Beloved
The Exorcist
The Tin Drum
MedeaExplore the best-of lists
All 47 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,871 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 55.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner about?
Published anonymously in 1824, this gothic mystery is presented as a century-old document: an editor's long introduction, then the confession written by the sinner himself.
How long does it take to read The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner?
About 10 hours (406 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner?
If you liked it, try Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley or The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.