Classics:
* "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco: This historical mystery features a fictional character, a medieval monk, who investigates a series of deaths in a monastery. The book includes philosophical discussions about the nature of knowledge, language, and truth, breaking the fourth wall to directly address the reader.
* "House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski: This experimental novel tells the story of a family who discovers a house with rooms that are larger than they should be, potentially warping the very structure of reality. The narrative shifts and changes, featuring footnotes, changing fonts, and a shifting layout, making it hard to separate the story from its form.
* "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera: This novel explores the lives of four characters during the Prague Spring of 1968, directly addressing themes of love, freedom, and the nature of existence. Kundera uses metafiction to question the validity of his own narrative and the role of the author in shaping reality.
Modern Examples:
* "The Magus" by John Fowles: A young English teacher arrives on a Greek island and gets caught up in a mysterious game orchestrated by a charismatic millionaire. The novel constantly questions the nature of reality and the boundaries between fiction and non-fiction.
* "The Crying of Lot 49" by Thomas Pynchon: This novel features a woman who becomes entangled in a conspiracy theory about a secret postal service called "The Tristero." The story is full of unreliable narrators, fragmented narratives, and a questioning of the very existence of the conspiracy itself.
Ultimately, the "clearest" example depends on your individual interpretation and what you consider the most prominent features of metafiction. The key is to look for stories that:
* Break the fourth wall: Directly address the reader or comment on the nature of storytelling.
* Question the nature of reality: Explore the lines between fiction and non-fiction, often blurring the boundary between the story world and the real world.
* Self-aware and self-referential: Comment on their own form, construction, or the act of writing itself.
These are just a few examples, and there are many other great examples of metafiction out there. Do some exploration and see what you discover!