the great american novel

in America there is this saying "The Great American Novel". It is used as a sort of joking way to talk about that impossible to write book... sort of the book equivalent of "utopia." e.g., if someone asked you what you're going to do when you retire you might jokingly say, "oh, you know, drink coffee... get up late... write the great american novel..."

Does anyone know how this phrase came about?

Also, just for fun, do you know any similar sayings in other languages?