The term 'Great American Novel' was coined by John William De Forest in 1868 to describe a work of fiction that perfectly captures the essence and spirit of life in the United States. While no single book holds the title officially, several are consistently cited as contenders, including Mark Twain's 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' Herman Melville's 'Moby-Dick,' and F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby.' These novels often deal with themes of individual freedom, the struggle against nature or social class, and the complex reality of the American Dream. The quest to write the 'Great American Novel' has become a driving force for American writers, serving as a benchmark for literary ambition and cultural significance.