What are some famous openings to novels?

One famous opening is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' from Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This opening immediately sets a contrast and draws the reader into the complex world of the story.

Well, from '1000 famous openings to novels', we can get inspiration for our own writing. If we study how the best authors start their novels, we can use similar techniques. We might learn how to create suspense quickly, or how to introduce a character in an engaging way.

Beginning with an interesting dialogue can also be great. For example, '"You can't be serious," she hissed, her eyes wide with disbelief.' It throws the reader right into the middle of a situation and makes them wonder what's going on. Another option is to start with a statement that challenges the reader's thinking, such as 'The world as we know it is a lie, and I was about to discover the truth.' This kind of opening sets up a sense of intrigue and encourages the reader to keep reading to find out more.

The opening of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' It immediately creates a sense of unease and a dystopian world where things are not as they should be. The abnormal time gives the reader a feeling that this is a world with its own strange rules.

In '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.' This opening is brilliant as it quickly establishes a social context and the central theme of marriage and wealth that runs throughout the novel.

In 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, the opening line 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' is brilliant. It not only gives a peek into the society's values and the central theme of marriage in the novel but also has a touch of humor. It makes the reader curious about how the story will unfold around this concept.

Another is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. It's a simple yet direct way to introduce the narrator, making the reader curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.

Another one is the opening of 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger: 'If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.' It gives a very distinct voice to the narrator right from the start.

Famous openings can hook the reader right away. For example, if an opening is mysterious like in many detective novels, it makes the reader curious and they want to keep reading to find out what happens.

Well, one great opening could be a mysterious murder scene that immediately hooks the reader. Like in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' where a body is found in a strange and puzzling way.