What is an appropriate term to use when describing a polarising book (or other work) which has received widespread attention, indicating both its importance
and controversial nature without "taking sides" about its merits.
influential, notable, important, significant – All seem to imply a positive evaluation or an established consensus about its merits.
widely-read – May or may not factually apply in such a case.
controversial – Does not clarify whether it's merely a work's content or its reception that are the subject of controversy, e.g. "A controversial, little-known book."
One can get by with some hedging combination of the above, but I wonder
if a more precise term doesn't exist.
Best Answer
Widely-debated, since you didn't seem to mind the hyphen in widely-read.
Much-debated is more widely used, but could refer to intensity of debate rather than its renown.
Or merely renown as used above if the "debated" aspect is nonessential.
Maybe prominent.