The World Cup is a massive global event, drawing billions of viewers. For example, it had 3.57 billion viewers in 2018 and 5 billion in 2022. This makes it even more popular than the Olympics.
This level of popularity would have been hard to imagine in 1930. That year, the first World Cup took place. It was a difficult time, with the Great Depression hitting hard after the 1929 Wall Street Crash. People around the world were looking for something to enjoy. The World Cup offered one source of entertainment.
Literature was another important outlet. Authors used it to explore the chaos of World War I and the economic problems that followed.
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Start Your News DetoxMany influential books came out in 1930. These included exciting mystery novels, new children's stories, and important academic works. While some classics from that year are now forgotten, nine specific books became famous. They changed their fields and inspired future writers.
Iconic Books from 1930
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
This novel is considered one of the best of the 20th century. As I Lay Dying is a complex story with 15 different narrators and a stream-of-consciousness style. It follows the Bundren family as they try to bury their mother, Addie, in Jefferson, Mississippi. Along the way, readers get inside the minds of each family member and their acquaintances. This reveals deep histories, motivations, and conflicts.
Dick and Jane by Zerna Addis Sharp, William S. Gray, and William H. Elson
The Dick and Jane series first appeared in Elson-Gray Readers in 1930. These simple stories used the "look-say" method to teach young readers new words through context and repetition. The series continued even after the Elson-Gray primers stopped printing. By the 1950s, these books were used in 80% of first-grade classes in the United States. They became memorable stories for the Baby Boomer generation.
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
The Maltese Falcon is one of the most famous detective novels from the 1930s. It also inspired a major film in the noir genre. The story follows detective Sam Spade as he navigates the schemes of Miss Wonderly, a femme fatale. Spade must clear his name from murder accusations while searching for the valuable falcon statue. Author Dashiell Hammett's own experiences as a detective partly inspired the story. It is praised for its complex characters and thrilling plot twists.
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
In 1930, mystery stories weren't just for adults anymore. That year saw the release of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories. The first book, The Secret of the Old Clock, features 16-year-old Nancy Drew helping the Turner family find a missing will. This will allow them to inherit an estate.
Three more Nancy Drew novels came out that same year. Mildred Wirt Benson wrote these, and twenty more in the series, under the pen name Carolyn Keene.
Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud
This is one of Sigmund Freud's most important works. Civilization and Its Discontents explores the relationship between individuals and society. Originally titled Das Unbehagen in der Kultur (The Uneasiness in Culture), the book argues that there's a basic conflict between a person's desire for pleasure and society's rules. While Freud's ideas are viewed differently today, this book remains a key text for modern academics.
Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie, known as the Queen of Crime, was very active in 1930. She released two books and a short story collection that year. The most notable was Murder at the Vicarage. This was Christie's tenth novel and the first to feature her beloved character, Miss Marple.
Narrated by Reverend Leonard Clement, the story follows an investigation into the murder of Colonel Lucius Protheroe. It includes many twists, turns, and false confessions.
Last and First Men: A Story of the Near and Far Future by Olaf Stapledon
Last and First Men was a groundbreaking "future history" novel in science fiction. It covers 2 billion years of humanity's journey and its descendants. The story reads like a historical text, showing mankind's golden age and the disasters before and after it. Some have criticized its cynical view of humanity, but it inspired many great speculative fiction writers of the next century.
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
The history of The Little Engine That Could is a bit complex. Several storytellers released versions of the plot in the early 1900s, making it hard to pinpoint the original author. The 1930 version, written by Watty Piper and illustrated by Lois Lenski, became the definitive edition.
This book was a huge success. It embedded the phrase "I think I can" into popular culture.
Cimarron by Edna Ferber
Cimarron was the best-selling book of 1930. The novel follows the Cravat family, focusing on Yancey Cravat's role in the 1893 Oklahoma land rush. It also shows his wife Sabra's efforts to bring her idea of civilization to the new town.
The book was very popular at the time and was adapted into a film the following year. However, it didn't stay as popular as other books on this list. This is partly due to its controversial views on manifest destiny and western expansion.
