Mustbgi Wrong for It to Go Read Ght

Image: Ryan MacEachern/Penguin

Everyone loves a classic novel, but where to outset? From Jane Austen to Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison to Fyodor Dostoevsky, the fiction canon is and so vast you can easily get lost in it.

Then we asked our readers to tell us about their favourite classic books. The resulting list of must-reads is a perfect manner to find inspiration to start your classics adventure. In that location'southward something for everyone, from family sagas and dystopian fiction to romances and historical fiction.

And if you savour this, you lot can also learn about our reader's favourite books past female authors, most loved children's books and the all-time memoirs they've ever read.

Start at the beginning of our list (books are ranked in no particular order) and tick them off as you proceed this handy downloadable list, or you tin jump to:

25 | 50 | 75 | 100

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

We said: It is a truth universally acknowledged that when near people think of Jane Austen they retrieve of this mannerly and humorous story of love, hard families and the tricky task of finding a handsome husband with a adept fortune.

You said: Philosophy, history, wit, and the most passionate love story.

Francesca, Twitter

2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)

We said: A novel before its time, Harper Lee'southward Pulitzer-prize winner addresses bug of race, inequality and segregation with both levity and compassion. Told through the eyes of loveable rogues Scout and Jem, information technology also created one of literature's most beloved heroes – Atticus Finch, a man determined to right the racial wrongs of the Deep South.

You said: A jarring & poignantly beautiful story well-nigh how humans treat each other.

Greygardens, Twitter

3. The Great Gatsby past F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Nosotros said: Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic millionaire who throws decadent parties only doesn't attend them, is ane of the great characters of American literature. This is F. Scott Fitzgerald at his most sparkling and devastating.

You said: The greatest, most scathing dissection of the hollowness at the center of the American dream. Hypnotic, tragic, both of its time and completely relevant.

Joe T, Twitter

4. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (1967)

We said: Gabriel García Márquez'due south multi-generational spanning magnum opus was a landmark in Castilian literature.

You lot said: Magic realism at its best. Both funny and moving, this book made me reverberate for weeks on the inexorable march of time.

Andre C, Twitter

5. In Cold Claret by Truman Capote (1965)

We said: The 'true crime' TV show / podcast yous're obsessed with probably owes a debt to this masterpiece of reportage by Truman Capote. Chilling and vivid.

You said: In this groundbreaking novel, completed after six arduous years of enquiry, Capote invented a new genre - the 'Nonfiction Novel' - applying prose techniques to fact. Information technology spawned the school of New Journalism & invented the true crime genre equally we know it.

Kgjephcott, Twitter

half-dozen. Wide Sargasso Sea past Jean Rhys (1966)

We said: JeanRhys wrote this feminist and anti-colonial prequel to Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre which chronicles the events of Mr Rochester'south disastrous marriage to Antoinette Conway or Bertha as we come to know her.

You said: Rhys took a character from a archetype novel and breathed new life into the "madwoman in the attic" based on her own experiences/globe view. She beautifully showed how the stories we read fold into our lives to make new stories.

Eric A, Twitter

seven. Dauntless New Earth past Aldous Huxley (1932)

Nosotros said: One of the greatest and most prescient dystopian novels e'er written, this should exist on everyone'due south must-read listing.

You said: Given the exponential growth of AI, Machine Learning & Robotics, Huxley'southward vision acts as a warning. Will we rise and challenge those who seek to shape our future or sleepwalk toward conditioning by technology?

David G, Twitter

8. I Capture The Castle past Dodie Smith (1948)

We said: Cassandra Mortmain'due south upbringing in a crumbling castle with her eccentric family unit may not be everyone'due south experience, but we can guarantee her coming-of-age story with all its enchanting and disenchanting moments will resonate for many.

You said: A 'children's book' that speaks volumes (ha) about unrequited dearest and dysfunctional families. Timeless. And funny. (and we need some laughs on the 100 Classics list!)

Helen Y, Twitter

9. Jane Eyre past Charlotte Bronte (1847)

We said: One of literature's steeliest heroines, in her brusk life Jane Eyre has overcome a traumatic childhood just to be challenged past secrets, strange noises and mysterious fires in her new home of Thornfield Hall. All while falling in beloved with her employer, Mr Rochester. A Gothic masterpiece which was groundbreaking in its intimate use of the first-person narrative.

You lot said:Considering Jane is a role model: she stands up for herself, others and what she believes in, but isn't too proud to requite second chances to those whose time is running out.

Sarah F, Twitter

10. Crime and Penalisation by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

We said: This novel is a masterful and completely captivating depiction of a human being experiencing a profound mental unravelling. No corporeality of ethical bargaining on Raskolnikov'south part can free him from the parasitic guilt nested in his soul. A brilliant read if you loved Breaking Bad.

You lot said:No other novel has made me feel so much for the main characters, so deeply depicted past the writer. I felt like an orphan when I finished information technology and information technology's the only novel I've re-read several times.

Angie V, Twitter

11. The Hugger-mugger History by Donna Tartt (1992)

We said: Donna Tartt's book follows a clique of smart, bonny students at an elite university, and an outsider who finds himself forced to conceal a nighttime surreptitious. A gripping and tense read.

Y'all said: A modern classic - so well-articulated and written (something that's difficult to come by these days). Also, EXCELLENT PLOT!

AnamiAndBooks, Twitter

12. The Phone call of the Wild by Jack London (1903)

We said: Jack London was a gold prospector in the Canadian wilderness and used his experiences to write about a dog named Buck who becomes a leader of the wild. With themes exploring nature and the struggle for existence in the frozen Alaskan landscape.

Y'all said: Because everyone who loves the earth knows information technology's true.

Helen D, Twitter

13. The Chrysalids past John Wyndham (1955)

We said:An allegoric dystopia written in the wake of the Second World War, The Chrysalids cleverly strives to denounce acts of the by while including a profound plea for tolerance.

You said: A mail service-apocalyptic novel, about intolerance, loneliness, friendship, and what it means to be human. A fantastic sci-fi novel, as relevant today as it was in the 50s.

Hollie B, Twitter

14. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1818)

Nosotros said: Austen's last completed novel before her untimely decease was one tinged with heartache and regret. Anne Elliot'southward feelings for the handsome Captain Wentworth are re-ignited when he returns from sea. Will they become a 2nd chance at happiness?

You said: This continues to be my favourite novel. It is a more than mature love story, full of humourous, delightful observations of human behaviour. Information technology offers us a glimpse of redemption. We alter every bit nosotros abound, and the mistakes made in our youth can exist overcome.

Dartmouth_Diva, Twitter

fifteen. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (1851)

We said: Every American writer since 1851 has been chasing the same whale: to somehow write a novel every bit ballsy and influential equally Melville'south.

You said: The dandy American novel: corking characters, wonderful linguistic communication, thick with the Bible and Thomas Browne, and has the best opening sentence ever. What's not to similar?

David H, Twitter

 16. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (1950)

We said: C.S. Lewis's timeless tale captured the hearts of children everywhere with its fantastical earth through the wardrobe, total of fauns, dwarves and anthropomorphised animals. Whether y'all were Peter, Edmund, Susan or Lucy, we all wanted to put on a fur coat and get on a snow-laden hazard with Mr Tumnus.

Y'all said: A beautiful timeless tale of innocence, wonder and sacrifice for young and former alike. It was one of the first books that I read from cover to cover without putting downwardly!

Adisha K, Twitter

17. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927)

We said: To the Lighthouse is a daring novel with little regard for rules. In that location's no consistent narrator, scant dialogue and well-nigh no plot. With everything stripped away, nosotros're left with a breathtaking and lyrical meditation on relationships, nature and the folly of perception.

You said: You experience similar you lot're stood on top of a cliff with the sea cakewalk bravado correct through your basic.

‏Halcyonbookdays, Twitter

18. The Decease of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen (1938)

We said:Considered Elizabeth Bowen's masterpiece novel, this is the story of 16-yr former Portia who is sent to live with her Aunt in London, after her female parent's death. At that place, she falls for the attractive cad Eddie. A devastating exploration of adolescent dearest and innocence betrayed.

You said: This volume captures the bad-mannered tension and anxieties of the interwar flow through a securely cogitating, merely oddly naive, unloved girl. ‏

Heather O, Twitter

xix. Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (1891)

We said: It received mixed reviews information technology was first published, in part because it challenged Victorian ethics of purity and sexual morals. Only Thomas Hardy's unflinching business relationship of Tess'southward bid for salvation in a gild ready to condemn her is a harrowing and powerful read.

You said: This novel teaches us about the position of women in the by and their moments of frailty versus moments of strength. Basically, an of import insight for everyone to have!

Abbie H, Twitter

xx. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1823)

We said: Written when Mary Shelley was but 18 years old, but don't allow that depress you. Frankenstein is a Gothic masterpiece with entertaining set up pieces ample.

Yous said: Chosen for all the questions it raises near consequences and taking responsibility for your actions; nature versus nurture; the value of friendship. I could become on.

Julie A, Twitter

21.The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (1966)

We said:This spine-chilling story was censored past Stalin and sadly only published after Mikhail Bulgakov's expiry.

Yous said: This novel has got the Devil mooching effectually Moscow with a massive black cat. Oh, and at that place's a naked flight lady.

Eggfrieddog, Twitter

22. The Go-Between by Fifty. P. Hartley (1953)

We said:A moving exploration by Fifty. P. Hartley of a young boy's loss of innocence and a disquisitional view of social club at the terminate of the Victorian era.

You said: As a 17-twelvemonth-onetime, I was completely absorbed by this story, wishing Leo was my brother so that I could protect him from the thwarting that awaited him.

Rapsodiafestiva, Twitter

23. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (1962)

We said: A psychiatric ward in Oregon is ruled by a tyrannical head nurse, just when a rebellious patient arrives her regime is thrown into disarray. A story of the imprisoned battling the establishment.

You said: A story that shows at that place is more to life than following rules. Having joy and being spontaneous are as of import equally anything else in life.

Darren B, Twitter

24. Nineteen Eighty-4 by George Orwell (1949)

Nosotros said: The definitive dystopian novel, George Orwell's vision of a loftier surveillance guild is gripping from the first page to the last.

Y'all said: I first read this book years ago, and was glad I would never have to exist a part of that kind of society. However, hither I am in 2018, and so much of that novel has come true.

Donna J, Twitter

25. Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann (1901)

We said:In Thomas Mann's semi-autobiographical family ballsy, he portrays the slow decline of a wealthy and highly esteemed merchant-family in northern Deutschland over 4 generations, as they grapple with the modernism of the 20th century.

Y'all said: It's a bang-up novel about the rise and fall of a family, the human relationship between fathers and sons, and the conflict between art and concern. Well, and I take to say I do dearest family sagas.

Peter L, Twitter

26. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (1939)

We said: Mayhap John Steinbeck's finest novel, this is a beautifully evocative and, past the end, devastating read.

You said: Migration in search of work and a ameliorate time to come. A modernistic-day story. Still makes my skin tingle.

Morven, Twitter

27. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987)

We said: Toni Morrison'southward novel tells the story of a former Kentucky slave haunted by the trauma of her past life, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988.

You lot said: This book is amazing. Beautifully written, haunting and the level of detail of the lengths people went to protect their families from slavery is fantastic.

LittleReigate, Twitter

28. The Code of the Woosters past P. G. Wodehouse (1938)

We said: This is the 3rd total-length novel featuring P. G. Wodehouse's best-known creations, the bumbling fool Bertie Wooster and his quick-thinking valet Jeeves. In this outing, the duo hatches a daring and hilarious scheme to steal an 18th-century cow-creamer. What could become incorrect?

You said: The best of the Bertie and Jeeves novels by Wodehouse, the 20th century principal of the light comic novel. Intricate plotting and brilliant command of English prose.

Matt F, Twitter

29. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

We said: Bram Stoker's novel is told by multiple narrators in a serial of diary entries, letters, newspaper articles and ships' logs; an one-time sociology tale becomes a frightening reality for solicitor Jonathan Harker and his friends after he visits Count Dracula. And the Count is not a hero like our modern vampires aka Edward Cullen.

Yous said: A Gothic tale of fear and love. Would ane desire immortality at the cost of one's morality and soul? Loneliness beckons down such a dangerous and fearful path.

Rob Chiliad, Twitter

thirty. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954)

We said: Perchance the greatest story e'er told, J. R. R. Tolkien's incredible trilogy of otherworldliness brought a globe of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs to life in a manner never read before. Ultimately a tale of companionship and the battle between skilful and evil, the fictional world of Center Globe has endured to get far greater than the sum of its parts.

You said: It'due south got the bang-up sweeping story, romance, heroism, cocky-cede, social commentary... it's not but magic and elves!

Anne O, Twitter

31. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1884)

Nosotros said: Meander down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, information technology's a simple adventure but dig a little deeper into Mark Twain's novel and discover undercurrents of slavery, abuse and corruption in what Hemingway described every bit 'The best book we've had'.

Yous said: This book demonstrates how a young male child learns to think for himself, and shows us how we tin, too. It's funny, sweetness and distressing – sometimes all in the aforementioned paragraph.

Richard C, Twitter

32. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (1860)

Nosotros said:From the escaped convict lurking in the wild Kent marshes to the eccentric Miss Havisham who has remained in her wedding clothes since the 24-hour interval she was jilted, orphan Pip's coming of age story is i of Charles Dickens' most memorable and iconic novels.

Y'all said: This volume is not but important as a literary masterpiece and an evocative story - it also has universal appeal as, unfortunately, many children in today'south world undergo the same suffering equally Pip.

Ayesha K, Twitter

33. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)

We said: The perfect read for a cacophonous political moment. Joseph Heller's dizzying masterpiece brilliantly illustrates the mode that ability is hoarded and wielded like magic, with sleights of hand and rhetorical trickery deployed like weapons to exit normal people baffled and wearied.

You said: In my opinion, there is no book that better captures human being nature and the futility of disharmonize. Yous'll come out the other side aroused, uplifted, and crazy.

Sam Due west, Twitter

34. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (1920)

We said: A newlywed couple is shaken upward by the arrival of the bride's complimentary-spirited and charismatic cousin Ellen, who piques the married man's interests. He must decide to salvage a crumbling marriage or pursue his passions. Edith Wharton became the kickoff woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for this novel which explores dearest, lust and social class, set in the Gilt Historic period of New York.

You said: "When SHE comes she is dissimilar, and i doesn't know why...".

Lulu B, Twitter

35. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958)

Nosotros said: It has come to exist seen as the archetypal mod African novel in English language and is read widely beyond Africa and Nigeria in which it is set. Information technology follows the Okonowo a corking and famous warrior and the virtually powerful men of his clan. Just when outsiders threaten his clan's manner of life - will his temper and pride be his downfall? Read it to find out.

You lot said: A compelling and of import exploration of cultural identity in relation to both the rising tide of British colonialism and the pressures of gender expectations. A poignant tragedy written with desolation. Necessary reading!

Danny N, Twitter

36. Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

We said: Dorothea Brooke and the other inhabitants of Middlemarch grapple with fine art, faith, science, politics, self and social club in the lead-up to the Start Reform Nib of 1832 in a literary exploration of human follies.This volume is considered by many to be the greatest Victorian novel.

You said: This book is superb in form and content. There is no better dissection of and insight into human society. She was the Shakespeare of her 24-hour interval and Middlemarch is her finest novel.

Tim R, Twitter

37. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (1981)

We said: A visceral tale, made of smells and sounds and bumps and knocks. A brilliant mode to immerse yourself in one of the near fascinating and turbulent periods of the 20th century, via a wonderfully fantastical conceit.

Yous said: This is the most magical and well-written book I've read. The history of the partition of the Indian subcontinent told as a delightful allegory.

Claudia G, Twitter

38. The Iliad by Homer (eighth century BC)

Nosotros said: It is one of the greatest and most influential epic poems ever written, and (alongside The Odyssey)the oldest surviving work of Western literature. Although the story centres on the critical events of the final twelvemonth of the Trojan state of war, Homer too explores themes of humanity, compassion and survival.

You said: This is the ultimate war poem, filled with existential drama, heroic striving, expiry, and the meaning of life.

Max G, Twitter

39. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (1847)

Nosotros said: William Makepeace Thackeray's satirical reflection of lodge on the whole embodied in a cast of characters who although flawed, we can't help but beloved and root for equally we follow their fortunes and downfalls throughout the Napoleonic wars.

You said: Because Becky Precipitous is the greatest female pb character in English literature. Bar none.

Greg R, Twitter

forty. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945)

We said: The iconic state house setting of Brideshead see a family unit consumed past its religion battle with their loyalties. A reflective and nostalgic novel past Evelyn Waugh about class, family and homecomings.

You said: So evocative of a certain time and place, every bit well equally being a compelling story.

Patricia C, Twitter

41. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)

We said: Probably the least commented-upon aspect of J.D. Salinger'south masterpiece is how utterly hilarious information technology is. Holden is a character no one e'er forgets.

Y'all said: This novel's main character, Holden, is coping with tragic loss, as all of united states of america practice in our lives. As he wanders aimlessly effectually the city, he struggles to plan his next life move, simply finds happiness in small joys, such as his strong bond with his sister.

Alma E, Twitter

42. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)

We said: Alice is a no-nonsense, quick-witted and daring – we could all larn a lesson or ii from the resourceful young daughter in Lewis Carroll'due south tale packed with a troupe of unforgettable characters. A boundless story full of riddles, puns and wordplay, at over 150 years onetime it features a heroine way ahead of her time.

You said: We should all get lost down a rabbit pigsty every once in a while and come out believing in half dozen impossible things before breakfast #whyisaravenlikeawritingdesk

Lauren D, Twitter

43. The Mill on the Floss past George Eliot (1860)

Nosotros said:Maggie Tulliver is passionate, impulsive and intelligence only her desires clash confronting her family's expectations and outcome in painful consequences. Eliot drew on the frustrations of her own rural upbringing to write one of her about powerful and moving novels.

You said: One classic everyone must read:The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. A beautifully told story of an intelligent girl who yearns for more than than society allows.

Jess, Twitter

44. Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope (1857)

We said: The 2nd novel in Anthony Trollope'south serial known equally the 'Chronicles of Barsetshire', opens every bit the Bishop of Barchester lies on his deathbed; soon the battle for power amongst the town'due south primal players will embark. Told with plenty of wisdom and wit.

Yous said: This volume has tremendous characters and a plot which sucks you into such a different globe, about which you find yourself caring desperately.

Hilary S, Twitter

45. Another Country by James Baldwin (1962)

We said: Primarily set in New York's Greenwich Village, James Baldwin'sAnother Country tackled many themes that were taboo at the time of its publication including bisexuality, interracial couples and extramarital affairs - all in the sensational world of Harlem jazz and the Bohemian underworld.

You said: This is a book that shows how everyone can live and love together, passionately, dangerously, with exquisite music.  I'll never forget the thrill of commencement reading it.

Jon A, Twitter

46. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (1862)

We said: Vive la révolution! A sweeping ballsy and a completely satisfying read by Victor Hugo. Full of love, acrimony, drama and wit. Quite perhaps the perfect novel.

Yous said: A beautiful story of the power of redemption and a proficient heart forth with a backdrop of the socio-economic iniquities of 19th century France. Beautifully written, it tugs the heartstrings.

Gary G, Twitter

47. Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing plant by Roald Dahl (1964)

Nosotros said: Filled with all the sweet treats from your wildest dreams (and proving that nice guys don't e'er end last), Roald Dahl'due southCharlie and the Chocolate Factory is a cautionary tale for both children and adults. Don't be greedy. Don't spoil your children. Don't chew gum. And don't sit in front of the Telly all 24-hour interval. 'Information technology rots the senses in the head!'

You said: This list wouldn't be complete without some of Dahl's magic, and my golden ticket is for this novel.

Isanne Five, Twitter

48. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (1967)

We said: A coming-of-historic period tale of teenage rebellion, set in a winner-takes-all world of bulldoze-ins, drag races and switchblades. It created an anti-hero from the wrong side of the form separate – all written when Due south. E. Hinton was just 17. 'Stay gold Ponyboy… stay gilded'.

You said: The original YA novel, which sparked many crushes and made me fall in beloved with reading.

Claire C, Twitter

49. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1844)

We said: An epic novel by Alexandre Dumas that will take you lot feeling all the emotions – and a prime example of the one-time adage that revenge is a dish best served cold.

You said: The best classic tale! A story of innocence, romance, betrayal, suffering, revenge and more importantly, Man'south triumph over all life throws at him.

Hayati Y, Twitter

50. Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)

We said: Having survived censorship, controversy and even legal action, James Joyce's about famous novel is renowned for its apply of inner monologue and stream-of-consciousness technique. Whether it's the greatest novel of the 20th century, or the almost unreadable, is upward for debate.

You said: Reading information technology equally a person, an emotional journey. Reading information technology every bit a writer, technically mesmerizing and inspiring

Pqxzyvr, Twitter

51. Eastward of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)

We said: Mostly set in California, John Steinbeck's most ambitious novel follows two families and their interwoven stories. The author himself said, 'It has everything in it I have been able to acquire near my craft or profession in all these years.'

They said: Vivid writing, epic family unit saga, drills deep into human nature and how we retrieve, experience and act toward ane another. My all-fourth dimension favourite novel.

Naomi Chiliad, Facebook

52. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1880)

Nosotros said: 2 years in the making, this philosophical novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky questions big topics similar faith, free will and morality but information technology'due south also a very readable one that'south part murder mystery, role court drama.

You said: A depiction of the darkest recesses of human nature. Only also of the brightest ones…

Luca C, Facebook

53. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

Nosotros said: Quite simply some of the finest writing ever committed to a page. A book that is simultaneously repulsive and utterly seductive.

Yous said: Beautifully written. The book takes you into the mind of this awful grapheme and lets you roll around in the gorgeous word-play as the story unfurls.

Lesley L, Facebook

54. The Hole-and-corner Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)

We said: Frances Hodgson Burnett's book volition awaken the curiosity of any reader, no affair their age. There's something so completely irresistible nearly hidden doors, mysterious noises and secret hiding places. But this is more than a story of adventures and gardening, at its heart, The Clandestine Garden promises that with time and enough of nurturing, nosotros can all blossom.

You said: I will never forget reading this book as a child. I felt I was in the center of the story.

Ulrika F, Facebook

55. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh (1938)

We said: Partly based on Evelyn Waugh'south personal experiences, Scoop is a satirical take on the lengths reporters – and newspaper magnates – will go to for a story. With modern exposés on hacking scandals and the similar, Scoop feels as relevant equally ever.

You said: A funny story wrapped around absurdity, journalism and war.

Guy V, Facebook

56. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859)

We said: After 18 years in the Bastille, Dr Manette is released and sent to live in United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland with a daughter he's never met. Split up between Paris and London, A Tale of Two Cities is a mammoth story set during the brutal years of the French Revolution.

Y'all said: Sitting solitary at 16 years old later the family had gone to bed,  tears streamed down my cheeks as I finished this novel.

Pat C, Facebook

57. Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith and Weedon Grossmith (1892)

Nosotros said: Diary of a Nobody follows a respectable center-class man, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to live a respectable eye-class life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that information technology inspired an describing word in honour of its primary character: 'Pooterish', a self-important person who takes themselves far besides seriously.

Y'all said: I have read this book and then many times and express mirth out loud every fourth dimension. I have a Penguin Classic copy of it that's falling apart but I wouldn't office with it for the world

Emma H, Facebook

58. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

We said: Anna Karenina is a woman who seems to accept it all. She's married, she's wealthy, she's well-liked – merely she feels her life is empty until she meets Count Vronksy. Leo Tolstoy's novel is substantially a philosophical meditation on the significant of life and happiness just information technology's a very readable ane.

You lot said: Simply the best in-depth characterisation of all time. Tolstoy'due south psychological insights accept never been beaten.

Chris Westward, Facebook

59. The Matrimonial by Alessandro Manzoni (1827)

We said: Alessandro Manzoni's novel takes is the story of two young lovers trying to exist together, gear up against a wider backdrop of 17th-century Italian life. The Betrothed is considered by many to be the greatest novel ever written in Italian.

You said: This book is on the verge of beingness forgotten past casual readers, but it's entertaining, socially and scientifically progressive for its time, has incredibly moving, beautifully-written passages on bread riots and the plague, and it has the best surprise trope-subversion at the stop.

Shawna R, Facebook

sixty. Orlando past Virginia Woolf (1928)

We said: Immense yourself in the dazzling breadth of Virginia Woolf's imagination in this short simply powerful novel and follow Orlando from the court of Elizabeth I to a celebrated poet in the 20th century.

You said: What is it to be a woman? Woolf's modernist novel is so fresh even 90 or and then years afterward. Gender fluidity before the term was even coined. And a history of literature equally a backdrop.

Antonia M, Facebook

61.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957)

We said: Stride into the dystopian USA and follow the saga of Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden every bit they effort to bring their Transcontinental railroad into existence, and uncover the secrets of a shadowy figure called John Galt along the way.

You lot said: This book engages the reader through its characters and themes, allowing one to be entranced through this cautionary tale that can be practical to the mod world.

Deanna H, Facebook

62. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895)

We said: When a scientist and inventor creates a fourth dimension machine, he travels to the distant future to come across what'southward in store for humanity. H. M. Wells' novel is the book that popularised time travel, only read deeper and it's as well a metaphor for the fractured club that we still live in today.

You said: A story of knowledge, education, and imagining a futurity.

Gultekin S, Facebook

63. The Art of State of war by Sun-Tzu

We said: Sun-Tzu, writer of the world's oldest guide to military strategy, recognised that we live in a conflicted world. The layperson might non be involved in warfare but the communication within is just every bit useful for navigating the workplace or daily life.

You lot said: This should be called the little book of common sense. It makes everything easier to sympathise.

Darren Thousand, Facebook

64. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (1922)

We said: Nobel-Prize winning writer John Galsworthy wrote this multi-generational saga which chronicles the Forsyte family unit's fortunes and downfalls equally they live through dramatic social modify, from the straight-laced Victorian era to the roaring 20s.

You said: This volume gives you a wonderful impression of life in the 19th and early 20th century. It's both enthralling and touching.

Hildegard S, Facebook

65. Travels with Charley past John Steinbeck (1962)

We said: Almost 60 years later Travels with Charley still proves an eye-opening insight into a country that'south then easy to view as a monolith. Steinbeck and his French Poodle encounter everyone from migrant farmers to KKK members in this reminder of a complicated political landscape that's no less disparate today.

You said: One of the true first 'road' books – a search for the spirit of the ordinary American people.

Edith Due south, Facebook

66. Tropic of Cancer past Henry Miller (1934)

We said: Information technology was banned in the US and the United kingdom for 30 years for being too 'pornographic,' and undoubtedly there are smutty moments, but Henry Miller uses this to annotate on the human being condition. Told from a variety of first-person characters in 1930s Paris – including Miller's own experiences as a struggling writer – the mutual thread betwixt each character is their sexual encounters.

You said: Loud, funny, sexual Paris in the 1930s. I read it when I was 20, and it changed the way I look at the world.

Brendan P, Facebook

67. Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence (1920)

We said: Controversial during its time, D. H. Lawrence's sequel to The Rainbow follows the lives of ii women and the men they become involved with. Women in Love contains some of Lawrence's finest writing.

You said: This is Lawrence at his all-time… although I do think Lady Chatterley's Lover is under-rated…

David P, Facebook

68. Staying On by Paul Scott (1977)

We said: Paul Scott passed away at the superlative of his writing career and his concluding novel, Staying On – which won the Booker Prize in 1977 – gives us a unique insight into life simply after the end of the British dominion in India.

Y'all said: A funny, tragic, beautifully written study of an English colonial married couple left behind as an independent India moves ahead.

Catherine B, Facebook

69. The Wind in the Willows past Kenneth Grahame (1908)

We said:What began every bit a series of letters to Kenneth Grahame's sickly son evolved into one of England'due south most honey children's books. A whimsical foray through the Berkshire countryside, the esprit between Ratty, Badger, Mole and Mr Toad yet embodies traditional British eccentricities to a tee.

You lot said: Yous can enjoy this book at any age – and it's beautifully written.

Vicky A, Facebook

70. My Ántonia by Willa Cather (1918)

We said: The novel tells the story of Jim Burden, an orphan boy and Ántonia Shimerda who are brought as children to be pioneers in Nebraska in the late 19th century. This is Willa Cather's final volume in the Bully Plains trilogy and was praised for bringing the American Westward to life.

You lot said: Quite but, a beautifully written book.

Carolyn R, Facebook

71. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)

We said: Controversial at the time of publication, Emily Brontë's classic beloved story between Catherine and Heathcliff still resonates with readers today.  Widely considered a staple of Gothic fiction and the English literary catechism, this book has gone on to inspire many generations of writers – and volition continue to do so.

You said: Passion, heartbreak – this is the greatest novel always written.

Tessa J, Facebook

72. Perfume by Patrick Süskind (1985)

We said: In 18th-century France, one man'due south greatest passion and gift leads him downwards a path of sensual depravity. After discovering he has no olfactory property of his ain – despite having a remarkable sense of smell – Jean-Baptiste Grenouille trains in the art of perfume-making and then he tin can create the ultimate scent – ane that is made from 25 young virgin girls.

You said: A story of suspense and beloved, with beautiful narration.

Ivy Due west, Facebook

73. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1867)

We said: LeoTolstoy'southward sweeping epic of human life in all its imperfection and grandeur is universally accepted as one of the greatest novels of all time.

Yous said:This novel is merely gripping and beautifully written. Kept me enthralled for weeks...

Angela T, Facebook

74. Of Human Bondage past Somerset Maugham (1915)

Nosotros said: Considered as Somerset Maugham'due south nearly autobiographical of his work, the author stated, 'This is a novel, non an autobiography, though much in information technology is autobiographical, more is pure invention.' Regardless, the story of Philip Carey, a man with ambitions who falls in love with a loud but irresistible waitress is considered one of his finest books.

You said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love.

Rajan D, Facebook

75. Bleak House by Charles Dickens (1853)

We said: At the centre of Dour Business firm is the never-catastrophe legal example of Jarndyce and Jarndyce which draws together a disparate grouping of people who hope in some way to profit from the case. Dickens' scathing reflection of the legal profession went some way to support a judicial reform movement in the 1870s.

You said: An amazing story, with then many twists and turns

Jane E, Facebook

76. Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac (1837)

Nosotros said: Would-be poet Lucien Chardon moves from the French Provinces to the glamorous beau monde of Paris where he quickly discovers a world far more than dangerous than he ever imagined. Honoré de Balzac paints a vivid and savage film of the hypocrisy and moral history of his times.

You lot said: A magnificent story about human nature, ambition and guild (in any century).

Isabel Yard, Facebook

77. Breakfast of Champions past Kurt Vonnegut (1973)

We said: Part comedy, part searing satire, we're taken to the Midwest to follow Vonnegut'due south ageing writer Kilgore Trout on an absurd narrative. Yous may love it, you lot may not go the bespeak. Either way, you'll notice it difficult not to laugh.

You said: Reading this blend of surrealism, sci-fi and other genres made me realise that sometimes, fiction can be more powerful than real-life stories!

Kleber L, Facebook

78. A Christmas Carol past Charles Dickens (1843)

We said: This is arguably Dickens' most famous tale. Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and exclamations of 'Bah Humbug!' are every bit synonymous with the festive seasons as Santa, turkey and Christmas pudding.

You lot said: A masterpiece. The ultimate story of hope and redemption.

Sergeant_Tibbs, Twitter

79. Silas Marner by George Eliot (1861)

We said: Silas Marner was Eliot's favourite of her novels. It tells the story of an isolated miser, who is given a second take a chance to transform his life when he adopts a young orphaned child. With themes of religion, industrialisation and customs, the book as well provides us with a glimpse of a vanished rural world.

You said: Redemption and dearest. Beautifully written

Rhiannon C, Facebook

80. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)

We said: One of literature's nigh famous parties - this groundbreaking postmodernist novel centres around Clarria Dalloway's preparations for a party she'southward hosting, exploring themes of mental health, modernity and fourth dimension.

You said: A reminder that no life is too small.

Marianna S, Facebook

81. Petty Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

We said: In Petty Women, Louisa May Alcott prepare out to write a book in which girls would see them themselves accurately reflected. The March sisters, with their four very different personalities and ambitions, accurately embody both the challenges of growing up and the irreplaceable bond of sisterhood.

You said: A story of growing up and changing and the world fix around a group of young girls. This book is as timeless as it is beautiful.

Luke E, Twitter

82. The Ocean, The Sea by Iris Murdoch (1978)

Nosotros said: Winner of the Man Booker Prize in 1978, Iris Murdoch's book is the story of strange obsessions and reflection which haunt Charles Arrowby, who retires from London'due south glittering theatre world to an isolated dwelling house by the ocean. An unforgettable story, beautifully told.

You said: This volume left me speechless, while reading and afterwards reading and I even so tin can't find the words to describe why it is one of the most impressive pieces of writing I accept always read.

H, Twitter

83. The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969)

We said: Both Mario Puzo's book and 1972 moving-picture show accommodation became global phenomena with this searing portrayal of New York'south Mafia underworld. A powerful story of tradition, blood, award and of course, family allegiance.

You said: This novel teaches the reader about the strengths and failures of man nature.

Louisa J, Twitter

84. The Castle by Franz Kafka (1926)

We said:Taking the word 'Kafkaesque' to new levels, The Castle is a nightmarish reach into an autocratic world. Bamboozling from kickoff to the very unfinished cease (the novel ends mid-sentence), this is Franz Kafka'south finest commentary on oppression and bureaucracy.

Y'all said: This book leads the reader into a maze of conundrums, defoliation, iciness and moral fog. Never to exist forgotten one time read.

Arnold F, Twitter

85. I, Claudius by Robert Graves (1934)

Y'all said: Written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius, Robert Graves' novel captures the madness and debauchery of ancient Rome. Both I, Claudius and Graves'due south sequel Claudius the God are regarded today as pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction, as well as gripping reads.

You said: A beautifully written novel virtually accented power. Very relevant.

Ian M, Twitter

86. Peter Pan by J.Yard. Barrie (1904)

You said:The story that fabricated every child want to dance on tiptoes over midnight rooftops and soar away to Neverland, J. M. Barrie's tale of the boy who could never grow up brought magic to bedtimes everywhere. From the Lost Boys to fearsome pirates, the enchanting adventure of Peter Pan has, both literally and metaphorically, never grown old.

Yous said: A book that reminds everyone to never grow up inside!

Jennifer M, Twitter

87. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (1980)

Y'all said: A medievalist protagonist encounters a series of misadventures in a comedic exploration of the homo condition. John Kennedy Toole's novel is widely regarded today as a tragicomic classic that exposes 'intellectualism'.

Y'all said: I chose this book just because the characters are fantastic, and information technology makes me laugh.

Sharon, Twitter

88. The Razor'southward Border by West. Somerset Maugham (1944)

Y'all said: Featuring Maugham himself equally a character and adapted twice for the big screen, The Razor's Edge tells the story of an American airplane pilot trying to adjust dorsum to normal life following the Showtime Globe War. Information technology's a gruelling look at the devastating effects of post-war trauma, and a philosophical journey to find meaning in life.

Y'all said: A profound story of i man's journey to discover himself.

Holden Chiliad, Twitter

89. Lark Rise to Candleford past Flora Thompson (1939)

You said: Many will remember the contempo BBC series of the same proper name; Lark Rise to Candleford is author Flora Thompson's semi-autobiographical recollections of her youth and growing upwardly in Oxfordshire, and paints a delightful portrait of country life at the stop of the 19th century.

Y'all said: Perhaps a little chip out of left field, only I dearest this book. It's simple, it'south beautifully written and it's all about capturing a vanishing way of life equally countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... really eloquent, really moving!

Vicky, Twitter

90. The Render of the Native past Thomas Hardy (1878)

We said: When proud and passionate Eustacia Vye marries Clym Yeobright, she believes she tin can finally exit her rural life at Egdon Heath backside. But their unhappy marriage causes a chain of events culminating in tragedy, and their realisation that their destinies cannot exist controlled.

You lot said: I chose this book because Eustacia Vye is misunderstood - as are many women.

Linda Thousand, Twitter

91. A Portrait of the Artist every bit a Young Man by James Joyce (1916)

We said: A Portrait of the Artist as a Immature Man was James Joyce'south get-go novel and details the young creative person discovering his vocalism, craft and identity through his literary alter ego, Stephen Dedalus. There are echoes of his techniques here earlier they are refined in his later works such as Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

Yous said: Joyce is not only the greatest stylist in English language, but the novel contains one of the virtually circuitous discussions of aesthetics in the 20th century.

Donald Thou, Twitter

92. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)

Nosotros said: JosephConrad's novella has been accounted by many as a 'hard read', just this enigmatic and atmospheric piece of fiction of Charles Marlow'due south journeying up the Congo river – which likewise provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse At present – will exit you unfolding its many layers for a long time after.

You said: What an astonishing slice of writing from someone who had to acquire the language commencement...

Tracey 50, Twitter

93. North and South past Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)

Nosotros said: A swooningly romantic volume with an exhilaratingly combative pairing at the centre. The themes of wealth and gender inequality are woven in seamlessly, and are completely integral to the electric dynamic between Margaret Unhurt and John Thornton.

You said: This novel combines a beautiful honey story and discussion of of import economical and social problems of its fourth dimension.

Alina, Twitter

94. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)

We said: 'When information technology offset came out it was viewed as existence far-fetched,' said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The connected regression of abortion laws and women's rights across the world has only made Atwood's dystopian all the more pertinent; and ensuring the book – and Television receiver testify'south – identify in history as a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

Y'all said: I chose this book because it gives a feminist perspective on the globe. Also, Atwood uses events from history to create the story, which I find of import. History is a circle.

Emma H, Twitter

95. Suite Francaise past Irene Nemirovsky (2004)

We said: A novel of two halves, Suite Francaise is about life and expiry in occupied France, and finding love and promise in the nigh unexpected of places.

Y'all said: This is my favourite book. It is an extremely moving account of the kinds of things that actually happened in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World State of war. It presents the dilemmas, fears and choices that were felt and had to be made by ordinary people.

Jim H, Twitter

96. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1962)

We said: This deeply personal and unforgettable account of a day in the life at a Soviet labour camp in the 1950s is highly considered to exist one of the greats of gimmicky literature.

Yous said: Solzhenitsyn'due south writing from personal experience of life/existence in a forced labour camp under Stalin's communist government is a stark, brutal, masterpiece.

Brian T, Twitter

97. What A Split! by Jonathan Coe (1994)

Nosotros said: The Winshaw family are the about powerful and cruellest family in England that is until their biographer Michael Owen starts investigating the family'southward decadent and immoral activities. A dark and wickedly funny story which makes a profound statement on the Thatcherite era.

You said: This novel has so much to say nigh human nature, political power and the elite, and always will do. Caustic, heartfelt, funny, devastating; a cute book.

Declan C, Twitter

98. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (1974)

We said: Anyone looking for an introduction to philosophy need look no further. It's as well a touching portrayal of fatherhood and friendship.

You said: An amazing philosophical hazard that influenced a generation.

Jason F, Twitter

99. White Nights past Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1848)

We said: One of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's underrated works, this short story is divided into half dozen sections. With themes of loneliness and unrequited love told by a nameless narrator – it's quintessential Dostoyevsky.

You said: This is an incredibly beautiful and uplifting volume. Anybody should read it!

Melly, Twitter

100. Hard Times byCharles Dickens (1854)

We said: Dickens uses the fictional town of Coketown and its inhabitants to explore the harsh realities of the Industrial Age and the importance of imagination in a globe driven by fact.

You said: Pathos, sense of humour, social annotate, politic and incredibly well-drawn, believable characters.

Angela, Twitter

What's your favourite classic read? Let us know at @penguinukbooks.

Books ranked in no particular order. Some answers have been edited for clarity and way.

Back to top

Interested in classics? Watch these videos about our classics...

• How A Clockwork Orange'due south cover was designed

  

  6:34

  

  

• Penguin Classics in Audio

  

  1.08

  

  

diazvareat36.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2018/100-must-read-classic-books.html

Share this post