BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1938

10 highest-rated books first published in 1938.

← 19361951 →

Why Rebecca is #1

Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier) scores 8.2/10 from 991 ratings — level with Homage to Catalonia at one decimal, and ahead on the exact score.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. Rebecca
    RebeccaDaphne du Maurier · 1938 Thriller991 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  2. Homage to Catalonia
    Homage to CataloniaGeorge Orwell · 1938 Biography & memoir237 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  3. The Code of the Woosters
    The Code of the WoostersP. G. Wodehouse · 1938 Classics110 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  4. The Sword in the Stone
    The Sword in the StoneT. H. White · 1938Filmed 1963 Fantasy92 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  5. Our Town
    Our TownThornton Wilder · 1938 Drama & theatre74 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  6. Out of the Silent Planet
    Out of the Silent PlanetC. S. Lewis · 1938 Science fiction393 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  7. Hercule Poirot's Christmas
    Hercule Poirot's ChristmasAgatha Christie · 1938 Crime & mystery299 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  8. Who Goes There?
    Who Goes There?John W. Campbell · 1938 Science fiction83 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  9. Appointment with Death
    Appointment with DeathAgatha Christie · 1938Filmed 1988 Crime & mystery175 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  10. Anthem
    AnthemAyn Rand · 1938 Science fiction433 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10

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