The 10 Greatest Opening Paragraphs in Books, Ranked

The article ranks ten memorable opening paragraphs from novels, arguing that a strong first paragraph can hook readers and establish a book’s voice, themes and world. It highlights how the selections do this in distinct ways, from irony and intimate narration to startling surrealism.

Among the examples discussed are Jane Austen’s *Pride and Prejudice*, whose opening sets up marriage as a matter of security and status; Herman Melville’s *Moby-Dick*, which introduces Ishmael’s troubled perspective; and Franz Kafka’s *The Metamorphosis*, which begins with Gregor Samsa already transformed into an insect. The supplied article text cuts off during its discussion of Ralph Ellison’s *Invisible Man*, so it does not include the complete ranking or all ten entries.