Flash Card Thread - 20th Century Fiction

I'd like to try something new - this will be the first of a series of user-generated knowledge on specific topics to improve trivia. The idea is simple - pick a topic in the listed category, and explain that topic in a way similar to how you might write a flash card. Please fact-check yourself and try to post the most accurate information possible.

If you are stuck, you might review J-archive or JCompete to see the last time you played a category with a similar category, and write down something you had to research. Try to focus on Pavlov's and topics you notice coming up often, the more the better.

Today's category is 20th Century Fiction. If the ending of a book is part of your topic, please use a spoiler tag (I know, I know).

I'll start with an example in the comments.