Have you ever picked up a book in a library or a bookstore and opened it up to the first page, only to find that you’ve finished the first chapter without even realizing it? While it may be true that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, evaluating its first line might just help you find your next favorite book. The first line of a novel needs to accomplish many things: establish the setting, set the tone, and hook readers. Crafting that genius first line is a masterful art that requires many attempts and countless revisions. We’ve selected ten opening lines that we think are both memorable and brilliant.
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
Call me Ishmael.
With one of the most famous opening lines in literature, Melville instantly grabs readers’ attention with this simple command. This command garners interest because the narrator does not disclose his name; instead, he tells us to call him something else. This added mystery easily invites us to further delve into the world of obsession with Moby-Dick.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
With this brilliantly facetious opening line, Austen sets the tone for the rest of the novel, establishing themes and creating interest. The opening line not only serves to undercut society’s expectations on men and women, but it also foregrounds the development of her most likable protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, who does not conform to many (if any) societal standards.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
Tolstoy’s elaborate novel revolves around the trials and tribulations of numerous families during late 19th-century Russia, portraying a vivid picture of Russian culture and family life. By immediately constructing a contrast between the families who are happy and those who are unhappy, Tolstoy prepares readers for an exploration of how the roles of love, lust, religion, and fate determine happiness. This simple line begins a riveting novel that features one of the most complicated and misguided characters in literary history.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way — in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
This is one of the longest first sentences in the history of novels. What’s more, it’s full of paradoxes. Dickens not only uses this to highlight the similarities and the differences between England and France in the late 1700s, but he also reveals the conflicts explored throughout the novel. Juxtaposing themes fuel the novel: war and romance, order and disorder, justice and corruption. While this opening line may be long, as Dickens is known to do, it sets up the chaos of the setting of A Tale of Two Cities and invites readers to understand the reverberating influence of the French Revolution.
The Trial by Franz Kafka
Someone must have been telling lies about Josef K., he knew he had done nothing wrong but, one morning, he was arrested.
This opening line begins the chain of events that make little sense to both the protagonist, Josef K., and to readers. The use of “someone” and the passive construction of “was arrested” set readers’ imaginations afire with questions, pulling them into the story. An example of absurdist literature, Kafka’s first line in The Trial already reveals the confusion and absurdity of life.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
All children, except one, grow up.
With this classic opening line, Barrie introduces his most famous character. Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up, has left a lasting impression on many of our childhoods. The use of “except one” singles out Peter, whose character allows childhood to live forever, both in Neverland and in our imaginations. A story with adventures and imagined lands instills a sense of nostalgia within us, reminding us of the beauty and simplicity of childhood.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
You don’t know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain’t no matter.
Twain vividly conjures up a playful spirit with Huckleberry Finn’s narrative voice in the opening line of his novel. The pointedness of the first line influenced many narrative voices in 20th-century literature, notably The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Its use of slang also contextualizes the novel, situating readers into the the prevalent setting of the Deep South which is integral to understanding many of Twain’s works.
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress.
George Eliot introduces Middlemarch with her favored protagonist, Dorothea. Interestingly enough, the opening line refers to her as “Miss Brooke,” the way Middlemarchers see or refer to her. With this statement, Eliot narrates from the community’s viewpoint in order to emphasize the importance and influence the community will have on each individual character. Miss Brooke’s notable beauty is undermined by her “poor dress,” which creates a charming yet perplexing character, prompting readers to want to know more.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten.
Published in 1870, Verne’s novel takes place in 1866 to hook readers who remember that eventful year. With the end of the American Civil War, and the attempted assassinations of both the German premier and Russian Tsar, Verne uses the high tensions around this time frame to pull the reader in. Additionally, he introduces an immediate yearning to know what the “remarkable incident” is by keeping it unspecified. This follows through in the first chapter, as Verne merely alludes to the incident. This is a great hook to pull in readers to continue their maritime journey in an adventurous story.
Notes From the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
I am a sick man…. I am a spiteful man.
The opening line in Dostoevsky’s novel immediately pulls readers in. All he reveals is how the narrator describes himself — sick and spiteful. The dark character almost beckons readers to continue on: how is he sick and why is he spiteful? It lays the groundwork for characterizing the protagonist, a memorable narrator whose thoughts and insights eventually influenced the modernist movement in Russian history.
