How long is The Lincoln Highway?

The Lincoln Highway is 592 pages, or approximately 166,588 words. At an average reading pace, it takes about 14 hours to read.

Is The Lincoln Highway difficult to read?

The Lincoln Highway has a difficulty score of 7.5 out of 10, making it very challenging. Key factors include vocabulary complexity (6.2/10), sentence structure (6.3/10), abstract concepts (7.2/10).

Is The Lincoln Highway worth reading?

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is well-received with a literary regard score of 4.5/10. Visit ReadingRate for the full difficulty analysis and reading guide.

When was The Lincoln Highway published?

The Lincoln Highway was published in 2021 by Amor Towles.

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Name: The Lincoln Highway
Author: Amor Towles

Published 2021 · 592 pages · 166,588 words · about 14 hours at an average pace · Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure

How hard is The Lincoln Highway to read?

The Lincoln Highway scores 75 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it very challenging. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.

Vocabulary: 62 out of 100: The prose generally employs accessible 1950s American English, but is elevated by literary allusions to Emerson and Shakespeare, and Duchess's distinctive, often theatrical lexicon (e.g., 'chantoosie,' 'folderol'). Specialized terms related to farming, banking, and railroads are present but usually clarified by context, placing it above standard contemporary fiction like 'The Great Gatsby' (45).
Sentence structure: 63 out of 100: While many sentences are direct, the narrative frequently features longer, more intricate sentences, particularly in descriptive passages and internal monologues (e.g., Sally's reflections on preserves). Paragraphs can be extensive, requiring sustained reader attention, similar to '2666' (70) which has long but navigable paragraphs, rather than the more direct style of '1984' (35).
Abstraction: 72 out of 100: The narrative is grounded in concrete events and character actions, but frequently delves into philosophical and theoretical content. This includes direct literary analysis (Emerson, Shakespeare, *in medias res*), and extended character reflections on concepts like retribution, atonement, kindness, and the nature of an 'every-day day,' placing it closer to 'Brothers Karamazov' (75) than 'The Great Gatsby' (58).
Information density: 73 out of 100: The text presents a high volume of concepts per page, interweaving multiple character perspectives, detailed backstories, and philosophical digressions with the main plot. Readers must track various plans, motivations, and historical contexts, demanding significant attention to fully grasp the narrative's rich, layered texture, akin to '2666' (75) in its historical detail and multiple timeframes.
Narrative indirection: 75 out of 100: The narrative frequently requires readers to infer meaning, particularly through the contrasting perspectives of its multiple narrators. Duchess explicitly admits to 'embellishments,' while Billy's imaginative interpretations of events, like his mother's postcards, necessitate readerly discernment. Emmett's internal monologues often reveal unspoken truths, forcing readers to piece together the full emotional and factual landscape of the story.
Symbolic density: 80 out of 100: The text is rich with symbolic elements that carry meaning beyond their literal presence, comparable to *The Great Gatsby*'s use of the green light. The Lincoln Highway itself symbolizes destiny and the American journey, while Billy's Professor Abernathe's Compendium represents idealism and the power of narrative. Sally's preserves, made out of 'unnecessary' kindness, embody tradition and selfless acts, inviting deeper thematic interpretation.
Ironic distance: 78 out of 100: Significant ironic distance is established through Duchess's unreliable and cynical narration, as he frequently offers sardonic commentary on human nature and his own manipulative actions, akin to the charm of *Lolita*'s Humbert Humbert. Sally's internal critique of the Martha and Mary parable also creates a clear gap between traditional interpretations and the author's implied social commentary. This constant interplay between surface events and underlying critique demands active reader engagement.
Resolution withholding: 85 out of 100: The excerpt ends with a substantial withholding of resolution, as Emmett and Billy are left stranded and their original plans for California are completely derailed by Duchess and Woolly's actions. The fate of the Studebaker, Woolly's inheritance, and the brothers' ability to find their mother remain entirely ambiguous. This abrupt redirection leaves the reader with numerous unanswered questions about the characters' immediate future and the ultimate outcome of their intertwined journeys.
Structural complexity: 75 out of 100: The novel employs a multi-perspectival structure, with distinct first-person chapters alternating between Emmett, Duchess, Woolly, and Sally, each offering a unique voice and interpretation of shared events. This fragmented approach, where the same events are revisited from different viewpoints, requires the reader to actively synthesize information and reconcile differing accounts, creating a complex narrative tapestry.

How The Lincoln Highway is regarded

The Lincoln Highway holds a literary regard score of 45 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.

About the author

Amor Towles