https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210209-the-worlds-most-misunderstood-novel If it is so misunderstood, then chances are that it was badly written. And what makes the author of the article believe that his interpretation is the right one? Good books are NEVER MISUNDERSTOOD. If the author lets in the tactic of "plausible denial", then he is either afraid of the repercussions or he simply can't help being ambiguous - then he can't write. Deplorably, the history of American literature abounds in ambivalent writers. But American literature owes its fame to the authors who are absolutely clear in their messages: Mark Twain, Theodore Dreiser, Jack London, O. Henry, Irwin Shaw, Stephan Heym. Herman Wouk and others who do not need brainstorming on the part of the reader.