The title of Jonathan Evison's novel Small World, which was published in 2022 by Dutton, is an oxymoron. The novel is set during some of the most significant periods in human history: the California gold rush, the creation of the Transcontinental railroad, and speeding trains. Each of these settings has contributed to creating a large world. The California gold rush, for instance, connected and unified people worldwide who shared the goal of striking it rich. Similarly, the Transcontinental Railroad connected the Eastern and Western United States, connecting a massive country and creating a big world. Small World is a novel about connection, the transformative power of technology, and how America was built over two centuries. Small World is grounded in historical fact. Because of that, it poses a pivotal question to readers: did the United States live up to its historical promises?
When it was published in early 2022, many critics from outlets around the world called Small World one of the best American novels of the year—and potentially of all time. The Washington Post called the novel "a hefty, old-fashioned novel." Booklist also loved the novel. In their review, they wrote that Small World is a "masterpiece" and called it the "quintessential great American novel." Booklist called the novel one of the "top 10 historical novels of 2022."
