93 Of The Best Classic Books To Read - Learning From Literature

Here is the longest post I’ve ever made: 93 Of The Best Classic Books To Read! There is no specific order; it is loosely “more classic” (or recognizable) like To Kill A Mockingbird and 1984 to slightly more modern ones such as Fight Club. All of the works listed are fiction.

Also, it is important to remember that most novels we consider “classic” are heavily skewed to books written in English. For example, some of the most influential authors, such as Jorge Luis Borges, are never mentioned in the American school curriculum.

You can also check out Goodreads’ Required Reading in High School list.

Enjoy!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Set in the racially charged American South during the 1930s, Scout Finch comes-of-age as her father, Atticus, defends an innocent black man accused of rape

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The enigmatic Jay Gatsby pursues wealth and love in the roaring 1920s, intricately tied to the lives of Nick Carraway and Daisy Buchanan

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Young Huck and escaped slave Jim float down the Mississippi River, encountering various characters and exploring themes of freedom and friendship

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Ambitious scientist Victor Frankenstein creates a grotesque creature through scientific experimentation, demonstrating the tragic consequences of playing god

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

The delusional knight Don Quixote and his loyal squire Sancho Panza go on a humorous and absurd quest to revive chivalry in 17th-century Spain

1984 by George Orwell

A dystopian novel depicting Winston Smith’s life in a totalitarian society ruled by the Party, as he rebels against oppressive surveillance and thought control

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

Professor Aronnax is taken captive by the enigmatic Captain Nemo aboard a technologically-advanced submarine, embarking on a perilous underwater journey filled with marine marvels and unforeseen challenges

Animal Farm by George Orwell

“Animal Farm” depicts the rise and fall of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owner, leading to a society governed by pigs and a message about power and corruption

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield recounts his life from childhood to adulthood, detailing his struggles, relationships, and personal growth in Victorian England

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The tormented former student Raskolnikov commits a murder in St. Petersburg, as he grapples with guilt, paranoia, and redemption

The Odyssey by Homer

Odysseus attempts to return home after the Trojan War, a years-long journey full of mythical creatures and challenges as he strives to reunite with his family

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A group of boys descend into savagery while stranded on a deserted island, exploring the inherent darkness within human nature

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Ex-convict Jean Valjean seeks redemption while being pursued by relentless Inspector Javert in post-revolutionary France, intertwining the lives of various characters

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy explore complexities of social class, love, and personal growth in 19th-century England

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Pip, an orphan turned gentleman, navigates love, societal expectations, and the mystery surrounding his benefactor as he ages

Candide by Voltaire

The optimistic Candide experiences a series of calamities across the world while questioning the philosophy of his teacher Pangloss

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The orphan Jane goes through hard times, finds employment as a governess, and experiences a complex love story with the brooding Mr. Rochester

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

“Hamlet” revolves around Prince Hamlet’s quest for revenge against his uncle Claudius, who murdered Hamlet’s father, exploring madness, betrayal, and mortality

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Crusoe, a castaway on a deserted island, learns to survive for years with only natural resources and his own resilience

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Count Dracula attempts to spread the undead curse in Victorian England, culminating in a battle against those seeking to stop him

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Against the tumultuous backdrop of the French Revolution, several characters become entwined, leading to sacrifices and dramatic events in London and Paris

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

“Romeo and Juliet” portrays the ill-fated love between the young members of feuding families

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

Poet Dante journeys through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven to find his lost love Beatrice, encountering historical and mythological figures along the way

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Dorian Gray morally deteriorates and his portrait ages while he remains perpetually young, revealing the consequences of his hedonistic choices

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw have a turbulent love story, exploring themes of passion, revenge, and the effects of their choices on the next generation

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

“War and Peace” spans the Napoleonic era in Russia, interweaving the lives of various characters against the backdrop of war, love, and societal change

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hester Prynne, marked by the scarlet letter ‘A,’ grapples with love and societal judgment in 17th-century Puritanical Boston

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Captain Ahab relentlessly pursues an elusive white whale named Moby Dick while aboard the Pequod, exploring themes of obsession and revenge

A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Amidst the brutality of WWI, a love story unfolds between American ambulance driver Frederick and British nurse Catherine, delving into the impact of war

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

A scientist’s experiment results in the emergence of an evil alter ego, leading to a chilling tale of identity and the consequences of pushing the boundaries of science

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Two drifters, George and Lennie, seek work during the Great Depression, grappling with dreams, friendship, and tragic circumstances

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

“The Brothers Karamazov” delves into the complex dynamics, intricate relationships, and moral dilemmas within the dysfunctional Karamazov family in 19th-century Russia

Gulliver’s Travels by Johnathan Swift

Lemuel Gulliver embarks on journeys to remote lands, encountering miniature inhabitants, giant beings, intellectuals, and horse-like creatures

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Disillusioned teenager Holden Caulfield navigates New York City, struggling with the challenges of adolescence and adulthood

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

A diverse group of pilgrims journey to Canterbury, each sharing a tale that reflects their character and experiences

Paradise Lost by John Milton

“Paradise Lost” recounts the cosmic struggle between God and Satan while exploring the fall of Lucifer, the creation of Adam and Eve, and the consequences of disobedience

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves, navigates the challenges of the jungle, encountering various animals while struggling between his human identity and the wild

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Young Jim Hawkins joins a perilous adventure to find buried pirate treasure, with Long John Silver leading the crew

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice has a whimsical journey through a fantastical world filled with peculiar characters, curious events, and nonsensical logic

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Charles Marlow journeys into the African Congo, exploring the darkness within human nature as he encounters mass atrocities and the enigmatic Kurtz

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Guy Montag, a fireman tasked with burning books in a society that forbids reading, begins to question the oppressive regime and suppressing intellectual freedom

The Arabian Nights translated by Richard Burton

Scheherazade captivates King Shahryar with a collection of enchanting tales like “Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp” and “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

“Little Women” traces the lives of the four March sisters during the Civil War, exploring themes of family, love, and individual growth

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Marquez writes a multi-generational epic of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo, blending magical realism with historical events in Latin America

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Anne Elliot navigates the complexities of love and social expectations when her former fiancé, Captain Wentworth, reenters her life

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The first book in “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, narrating the adventures of the Pevensie siblings in the magical land of Narnia

Beowulf by Anonymous

An Old English epic recounts the heroic deeds of the warrior Beowulf as he battles monsters

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Anna and Count Vronsky have a tragic love affair in 19th-century Russia, exploring the consequences of societal norms and personal choices

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The Time Traveller journeys into the distant future, encountering different societies and witnessing the evolution of humanity

For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

American dynamiter Robert Jordan, tasked with blowing up a bridge as a part of a larger mission, joins a band of guerrilla fighters in the Spanish Civil War, leading to intense personal conflicts

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

An aviator stranded in the Sahara Desert encounters a young extraterrestrial prince who recounts his interstellar adventures and imparts profound wisdom about the nature of humans

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

A group of expatriates, led by disillusioned journalist Jake Barnes and free-spirited Lady Brett Ashley, embark on a journey from Paris to Spain in the aftermath of WWI

Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The unsatisfied scholar Faust makes a pact with the devil Mephistopheles, trading his soul for special abilities

Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe

“Tales of Mystery and Imagination” is a collection of Poe’s macabre and mysterious stories, including “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Fall of the House of Usher”

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

The scientist Griffin discovers a way to become invisible but descends into madness and violence along with his new ability

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man, undergoes a transformation on Christmas Eve after encounters with ghosts

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Billy Pilgrim, a soldier who becomes “unstuck in time,” witnesses, experiences, and relates key events of WWII

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Alex, a young delinquent, undergoes experimental treatment to curb his violent tendencies in a dystopian world

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

A young soldier Henry Fleming confronts fear and seeks courage on the battlefields of the Civil War

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Christian embarks on an allegorical journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, facing trials and characters that symbolize temptations of Christian life

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

Stephen Dedalus comes of age in early 20th-century Ireland, as he grapples with his identity, religious beliefs, and artistic aspirations

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

“Catch-22” explores the absurdities and contradictions of war through the experiences of Captain John Yossarian and his fellow soldiers during WWII

Oedipus the King by Sophocles

“Oedipus the King” tells the tragic story of King Oedipus, who unwittingly fulfills a prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

The disfigured Quasimodo becomes entangled in a tragic tale of love, persecution, and societal injustice against the backdrop of medieval Paris

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

“The Portrait of a Lady” examines the choices and relationships of the independent-minded Isabel Archer as she navigates love, betrayal, and identity

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solve intricate mysteries, including “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Schoolteacher Ichabod Crane encounters the ghostly figure of the Headless Horseman in the Dutch settlement of Sleepy Hollow

The Iliad by Homer

“The Iliad” narrates the events of the Trojan War, centering on the hero Achilles and the consequences of his wrath

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence

Constance Reid embarks on a passionate affair with the gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors, challenging societal norms and class distinctions in post-WWI England

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Wronged sailor Edmond Dantès orchestrates an intricate revenge plot against those who betrayed him in post-Napoleonic France

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

In a dystopian society where the World State maintains control through birth control, mass conditioning, and a powerful drug, several characters focus on the experiences of the individual

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Young d’Artagnan joins the musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis in a swashbuckling adventure involving political intrigue and courtly affairs

The Aeneid by Virgil

Trojan hero Aeneas escapes the fall of Troy, embarks on a perilous journey, and eventually establishes the foundations of Rome

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Emma Bovary, a woman dissatisfied with her provincial life, seeks passion and excitement, leading to her downfall

The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio

“The Decameron” consists of stories told by a group sheltering from the Black Death, covering a wide range of themes and genres

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Set in medieval England, the noble knight Ivanhoe navigates political intrigue, chivalry, and a love story during the Crusades

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

“The Sound and the Fury” explores the Compson family’s decline in the American South, with a non-linear narrative in the perspectives of various family members

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

“To The Lighthouse” centers on the Ramsay family and their visits to the Isle of Skye, capturing the passage of time and their intricate relationships

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The Joad family journeys from the Dust Bowl to California during the Great Depression, exploring themes of poverty, migration, and social injustice

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Frodo Baggins and his fellowship embark on a perilous quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the dark lord Sauron

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

“Things Fall Apart” chronicles the life of Okonkwo in pre-colonial Nigeria, witnessing the impact of British colonialism on traditional Igbo society

Ulysses by James Joyce

“Ulysses” captures a day in the life of Leopold Bloom in Dublin, drawing parallels to Homer’s “Odyssey” and delving into the complexities of human consciousness

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

“East Of Eden” spans multiple generations of the Trask and Hamilton families in California’s Salinas Valley, exploring themes of good and evil

Middlemarch by George Elliot

“Middlemarch” interweaves the lives of various characters in the provincial town of the same name as they grapple with love and societal expectations in 19th-century England

Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy

A tragic love story unfolds in the harsh landscape of Egdon Heath, revolving around the fates of the central characters as they grapple with passion and destiny

Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

Jude Fawley, a working-class man with aspirations of higher education, faces societal judgments, love, and personal tragedies

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Humbert Humbert, a literature professor, becomes infatuated with a young girl named Lolita

Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman from a poor rural family, navigates societal judgments, love, betrayal, and the consequences of her past in Victorian England

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

The domesticated dog Buck adapts to the harsh wilderness of the Klondike Gold Rush, exploring themes of survival, primal instincts, and freedom

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Describing the haunting aftermath of slavery, escaped slave Sethe grapples with the ghostly presence of her deceased daughter and the traumatic experiences of her past

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

An unnamed narrator, discontented with his mundane life, forms an underground fight club with the enigmatic Tyler Durden, spiraling into a subversive movement that challenges societal norms

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

“The Outsiders” revolves around the rivalry between two groups of teenagers, the Greasers and the Socs, exploring themes of class conflict and identity

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Mary Lennox, a spoiled and lonely girl, discovers a neglected garden and its healing powers as she begins to take care of it

Check out more Book Lists!