The Day of the Locust is a 1938 novel by American author Nathanael West, set in Hollywood, California during the Great Depression, depicting the alienation and desperation of a disparate group of individuals whose dreams of success have effectively failed.

One of the main characters in the novel is named Homer Simpson.

The Day of the Locust was adapted for the screen in 1975 by legendary screenwriter Waldo Salt and director John Schlesinger. The film starred Donald Sutherland (as Homer Simpson), Billy Barty, Karen Black, and Burgess Meredith.