Six of the Best First Lines in Modern Literature

Here are six of the best first lines in modern literature, as selected by The Atlantic's writers and editors:

1. Toni Morrison's "Sth, I know that woman." from Jazz conveys immediacy and intimacy, putting the reader in the position of questioning the narrator's emotions. It reflects Morrison's desire to capture the spirit of metropolitan Black life in the 1920s through a unique voice.

2. Gabriel García Márquez's "Many years later as he faced the firing squad..." from One Hundred Years of Solitude encompasses a character's entire life while hinting at an untold story. The juxtaposition of the extraordinary with the mundane sets the stage for a novel that popularized magical realism.

3. Stella Gibbons' "The education bestowed on Flora Poste by her parents..." from Cold Comfort Farm uses precise diction to contrast the idealized English novel with Flora's dreary reality. Gibbons masterfully turns the values of a genteel novel on their head, offering humor and satire through Flora's education.

4. Marcel Proust's "For a long time I used to go to bed early." from In Search of Lost Time immediately engages the reader with a simple yet profound confession. Proust's novel explores the narrator's obsessive introspection and exquisite perceptions, making the intricate details of his inner life feel like a radical experiment.

5. Jhumpa Lahiri's "The notice informed them that it was a temporary matter..." from Interpreter of Maladies creates intrigue by posing questions about the notice and the reader is compelled to continue reading to find answers. The line sets the stage for an emotionally charged story with a devastating twist.