The Tartar SteppeThe Tartar Steppe
Score Classic
What it's about
Giovanni Drogo, a young officer, is posted to Fort Bastiani, a remote fortress on the edge of a vast desert, from which an invasion by the Tartars might one day come. He means to stay a few months. But the routines of the fort, and the hope that the enemy will come and give his life meaning, keep him there year after year.
Why it's worth reading
It's on Le Monde's list of the books of the century. It's a haunting fable about waiting for life to begin, and it hits harder the older you are.
You'll love it if you liked
The Stranger
The Death of Ivan Ilyich
The Remains of the DayGood to know
It's short and slow by design. Nothing much happens, which is the point.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- 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
- #136 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #354 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1210 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
East of Eden
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
Angle of ReposeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Tartar Steppe worth reading?
Yes. It's on Le Monde's list of the books of the century. It ranks #1,210 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Tartar Steppe about?
Giovanni Drogo, a young officer, is posted to Fort Bastiani, a remote fortress on the edge of a vast desert, from which an invasion by the Tartars might one day come. He means to stay a few months. But the routines of the fort, and the hope that the enemy will come and give his life meaning, keep him there year after year.
How long does it take to read The Tartar Steppe?
About 5 hours (214 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Tartar Steppe?
If you liked it, try The Stranger by Albert Camus, The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy or The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.