I thought “Ulysses” would be number one. It has the reputation of the most unread read novel in history. Perhaps people could not get through the work and gave up.
I read “War and Peace” last year. For me, it was a fast read. It helped a lot I have some knowledge of the Napoleonic Era and Russian culture.
“Wuthering Heights” is many things but boring it is not. I think most people read it based on the classic movie and are shocked at how violent and brutal the novel is.
I read War and Peace last year also. I was fascinated with his take on Napoleon...
I think Ulysses isn’t anywhere near #1 because there’s a fear of running into someone who actual read it. Joyceans start spouting off about “the ineluctable modality of the visible” and the bluffer is in trouble.
you might need the cliff notes. it can be like translating hungarian with a dictionary, slow but eventually rewarding. or not.
I’ve only seen the movie but it is brutal and nasty enough. What a downer.
For me, the Hunchback is right up there. It’s hard to get through Hugo’s digressions, but the overall effect was that I was there somehow! I don’t see how anyone can “pretend” to read a novel!
It has a minor pre-requisite for reading it. You have previously mastered the entirety of English literature. Other than that, it's a walk in the park.