More than 1001 Books you must read before you die: Measuring change, diversity and centrality in an evolving contemporary World Literary Canon according to Wikipedia and Wikidata metrics

Abstract:

The culture of ranking and selection has a long tradition, increasingly shaped by quantification and digital interactions in contemporary contexts. This phenomenon manifests in various forms, such as bestseller lists and curated compilations of creative works across all time periods, serving as frameworks for cultural promotion and access. Within publishing, audiovisual content, and entertainment, inclusion in such rankings holds significant value. This study proposes methodologies for analyzing and comparing lists and rankings within specific domains, building upon the Wiki3DRank methodology developed for encyclopedic knowledge objects. When applied to literature, this approach offers insights into books as cultural artifacts that capture varying levels of attention. Leveraging data from Wikipedia and Wikidata, the methodology synthesizes both informational and structured data about literary works. This approach is particularly relevant to exploring literary canons, a longstanding construct within institutional, educational, and cultural contexts. The study focuses on a subset of the canon linked to the creation of lists. While many lists lack in-depth literary critique, they provide schematic overviews of notable works, often organized by time periods, genres, or linguistic and national boundaries. All international editions of Peter Boxall’s work 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, published during the first quarter of the 21st century, are analyzed and measured, proposing metrics for comparison across editions and with other lists, including insights into the authors’ genres and the languages of the works.