The Shock of the New

About the Category

Country of Origin

The Shock of the New by Robert Hughes sits within the tradition of art & design that treats language as seriously as plot. Published in 1980 in Australia, it engages with modern art, history, culture, criticism in ways that have earned it lasting critical attention. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: ALA Notable Books 1980. Its aggregate editorial score of 30/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. What distinguishes The Shock of the New is how it handles its central concerns — modern art, history, culture, criticism — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Robert Hughes's role in the literature of Australia is well established. The Shock of the New can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.

About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.