Books to Read to Become Well Read

Epitome: Ryan MacEachern/Penguin

Everyone loves a classic novel, simply where to outset? From Jane Austen to Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison to Fyodor Dostoevsky, the fiction canon is so vast y'all can easily get lost in information technology.

Then we asked our readers to tell us about their favourite classic books. The resulting list of must-reads is a perfect way to discover inspiration to start your classics take a chance. There'due south something for everyone, from family sagas and dystopian fiction to romances and historical fiction.

And if you enjoy this, you can also acquire about our reader'south favourite books by female authors, most loved children's books and the best memoirs they've ever read.

Start at the get-go of our listing (books are ranked in no particular order) and tick them off as you become on this handy downloadable list, or yous can jump to:

25 | 50 | 75 | 100

i. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

We said: Information technology is a truth universally best-selling that when nigh people think of Jane Austen they think of this charming and humorous story of love, difficult families and the catchy chore of finding a handsome hubby with a proficient fortune.

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

Francesca, Twitter

ii. To Kill a Mockingbird past Harper Lee (1960)

We said: A novel before its time, Harper Lee's Pulitzer-prize winner addresses issues 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'southward most beloved heroes – Atticus Finch, a homo determined to right the racial wrongs of the Deep South.

You lot said: A jarring & poignantly cute story about how humans care for each other.

Greygardens, Twitter

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

We said: Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic millionaire who throws corrupt parties but doesn't nourish them, is one of the great characters of American literature. This is F. Scott Fitzgerald at his nearly sparkling and devastating.

You said: The greatest, nearly scathing autopsy of the hollowness at the heart of the American dream. Hypnotic, tragic, both of its time and completely relevant.

Joe T, Twitter

4. I Hundred Years of Solitude past Gabriel García Márquez (1967)

We said: Gabriel García Márquez's multi-generational spanning magnum opus was a landmark in Spanish literature.

Y'all said: Magic realism at its best. Both funny and moving, this book fabricated me reflect for weeks on the inexorable march of fourth dimension.

Andre C, Twitter

five. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1965)

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

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. It spawned the schoolhouse of New Journalism & invented the true crime genre as we know it.

Kgjephcott, Twitter

half-dozen. Wide Sargasso Ocean by Jean Rhys (1966)

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

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

Eric A, Twitter

7. Brave New World past Aldous Huxley (1932)

We said: One of the greatest and near prescient dystopian novels ever written, this should be on anybody's must-read list.

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

David G, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Cassandra Mortmain'south upbringing in a crumbling castle with her eccentric family 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 lot said: A 'children'southward 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

nine. Jane Eyre past Charlotte Bronte (1847)

Nosotros said: One of literature'south steeliest heroines, in her short life Jane Eyre has overcome a traumatic childhood simply to be challenged by secrets, strange noises and mysterious fires in her new home of Thornfield Hall. All while falling in love with her employer, Mr Rochester. A Gothic masterpiece which was groundbreaking in its intimate use of the commencement-person narrative.

You said:Considering Jane is a role model: she stands upward for herself, others and what she believes in, but isn't also proud to give 2nd chances to those whose time is running out.

Sarah F, Twitter

10. Law-breaking and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

We said: This novel is a masterful and completely captivating delineation of a man experiencing a profound mental unravelling. No amount of upstanding bargaining on Raskolnikov'due south part can free him from the parasitic guilt nested in his soul. A bright read if you loved Breaking Bad.

You said:No other novel has fabricated me experience then much for the main characters, so securely depicted by the author. I felt similar an orphan when I finished it and information technology's the only novel I've re-read several times.

Angie V, Twitter

eleven. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992)

We said: Donna Tartt'southward book follows a clique of smart, attractive students at an elite university, and an outsider who finds himself forced to conceal a dark secret. A gripping and tense read.

You said: A modern classic - and then well-articulated and written (something that's hard to come by these days). Also, EXCELLENT PLOT!

AnamiAndBooks, Twitter

12. The Telephone call of the Wild past Jack London (1903)

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

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

Helen D, Twitter

13. The Chrysalids past John Wyndham (1955)

Nosotros said:An allegoric dystopia written in the wake of the 2d World War, The Chrysalids cleverly strives to denounce acts of the past while including a profound plea for tolerance.

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

Hollie B, Twitter

14. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1818)

We said: Austen's last completed novel before her untimely death was one tinged with heartache and regret. Anne Elliot's feelings for the handsome Captain Wentworth are re-ignited when he returns from bounding main. Volition they become a second chance at happiness?

Y'all said: This continues to be my favourite novel. It is a more mature love story, total of humourous, delightful observations of man behaviour. It offers us a glimpse of redemption. Nosotros modify every bit we grow, and the mistakes made in our youth can be overcome.

Dartmouth_Diva, Twitter

15. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (1851)

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

You said: The great American novel: great characters, wonderful linguistic communication, thick with the Bible and Thomas Browne, and has the all-time opening sentence ever. What's not to like?

David H, Twitter

 xvi. The King of beasts, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.Southward. Lewis (1950)

Nosotros said: C.Due south. Lewis's timeless tale captured the hearts of children everywhere with its fantastical world through the wardrobe, full of fauns, dwarves and anthropomorphised animals. Whether you were Peter, Edmund, Susan or Lucy, we all wanted to put on a fur glaze and get on a snowfall-laden chance with Mr Tumnus.

You said: A beautiful timeless tale of innocence, wonder and sacrifice for young and old akin. It was one of the first books that I read from cover to cover without putting down!

Adisha K, Twitter

17. To the Lighthouse past Virginia Woolf (1927)

We said: To the Lighthouse is a daring novel with little regard for rules. There'south no consistent narrator, scant dialogue and almost no plot. With everything stripped away, we're left with a breathtaking and lyrical meditation on relationships, nature and the folly of perception.

You said: You lot feel like yous're stood on peak of a cliff with the body of water cakewalk blowing correct through your basic.

‏Halcyonbookdays, Twitter

xviii. The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen (1938)

We said:Considered Elizabeth Bowen'southward masterpiece novel, this is the story of 16-year old Portia who is sent to live with her Aunt in London, after her mother'southward decease. In that location, she falls for the attractive cad Eddie. A devastating exploration of adolescent love and innocence betrayed.

Yous said: This book captures the bad-mannered tension and anxieties of the interwar flow through a deeply cogitating, but oddly naive, unloved girl. ‏

Heather O, Twitter

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

We said: It received mixed reviews information technology was first published, in part because information technology challenged Victorian ideals of purity and sexual morals. But Thomas Hardy's unflinching account of Tess'due south bid for salvation in a gild prepare to condemn her is a harrowing and powerful read.

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

Abbie H, Twitter

20. Frankenstein past Mary Shelley (1823)

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

You said: Chosen for all the questions it raises nearly consequences and taking responsibility for your actions; nature versus nurture; the value of friendship. I could go along.

Julie A, Twitter

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

We said:This spine-chilling story was censored by Stalin and sadly merely published after Mikhail Bulgakov's death.

You lot said: This novel has got the Devil mooching around Moscow with a massive black cat. Oh, and there'south a naked flying lady.

Eggfrieddog, Twitter

22. The Go-Betwixt by L. P. Hartley (1953)

We said:A moving exploration past L. P. Hartley of a immature boy's loss of innocence and a critical view of society at the end of the Victorian era.

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

Rapsodiafestiva, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: A psychiatric ward in Oregon is ruled past a tyrannical head nurse, but when a rebellious patient arrives her regime is thrown into disarray. A story of the imprisoned contesting the establishment.

You said: A story that shows there is more to life than post-obit rules. Having joy and existence spontaneous are as important as anything else in life.

Darren B, Twitter

24. Xix Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949)

We said: The definitive dystopian novel, George Orwell'due south vision of a high surveillance society is gripping from the first folio to the terminal.

You said: I beginning read this volume years ago, and was glad I would never accept to exist a part of that kind of society. Withal, here 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 Isle of mann's semi-autobiographical family epic, he portrays the slow decline of a wealthy and highly esteemed merchant-family in northern Deutschland over iv generations, as they grapple with the modernism of the 20th century.

You said: It's a groovy novel about the rising and fall of a family, the relationship between fathers and sons, and the conflict between art and concern. Well, and I have to say I exercise love family sagas.

Peter L, Twitter

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

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

Y'all said: Migration in search of work and a better future. A modern-day story. Still makes my skin tingle.

Morven, Twitter

27. Honey by Toni Morrison (1987)

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

You 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 by P. G. Wodehouse (1938)

Nosotros said: This is the tertiary total-length novel featuring P. G. Wodehouse'due south all-time-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 get wrong?

You lot said: The best of the Bertie and Jeeves novels past Wodehouse, the 20th century master of the lite comic novel. Intricate plotting and brilliant control of English prose.

Matt F, Twitter

29. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

Nosotros said: Bram Stoker'due south novel is told by multiple narrators in a series of diary entries, letters, newspaper articles and ships' logs; an old folklore tale becomes a frightening reality for solicitor Jonathan Harker and his friends afterward he visits Count Dracula. And the Count is not a hero similar our modern vampires aka Edward Cullen.

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

Rob K, Twitter

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

We said: Peradventure the greatest story ever told, J. R. R. Tolkien'south incredible trilogy of otherworldliness brought a world of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs to life in a style never read earlier. Ultimately a tale of companionship and the battle between good and evil, the fictional world of Middle Earth has endured to get far greater than the sum of its parts.

You said: It'south got the swell sweeping story, romance, heroism, cocky-sacrifice, social commentary... it's not simply magic and elves!

Anne O, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Meander down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, it's a simple chance simply dig a little deeper into Mark Twain'due south novel and notice undercurrents of slavery, abuse and corruption in what Hemingway described as 'The best book we've had'.

Y'all said: This book demonstrates how a young boy learns to think for himself, and shows the states how we can, as well. It's funny, sweet and sorry – sometimes all in the same paragraph.

Richard C, Twitter

32. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (1860)

We said:From the escaped convict lurking in the wild Kent marshes to the eccentric Miss Havisham who has remained in her wedding wearing apparel since the twenty-four hours she was jilted, orphan Pip's coming of age story is one of Charles Dickens' almost memorable and iconic novels.

You said: This book is not only of import 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 every bit Pip.

Ayesha One thousand, Twitter

33. Catch-22 past Joseph Heller (1961)

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

You lot said: In my opinion, there is no book that better captures homo nature and the futility of conflict. You'll come out the other side angry, uplifted, and crazy.

Sam W, Twitter

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

We said: A newlywed couple is shaken upward past the arrival of the helpmate's free-spirited and charismatic cousin Ellen, who piques the husband's interests. He must decide to save a aging wedlock or pursue his passions. Edith Wharton became the first adult female to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for this novel which explores dearest, lust and social class, set in the Gilded Historic period of New York.

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

Lulu B, Twitter

35. Things Autumn Autonomously past Chinua Achebe (1958)

We said: It has come up to be seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English and is read widely across Africa and Nigeria in which it is fix. It follows the Okonowo a great and famous warrior and the virtually powerful men of his clan. Simply when outsiders threaten his association'south way of life - will his temper and pride be his downfall? Read it to discover out.

Yous said: A compelling and important 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 pathos. Necessary reading!

Danny Northward, Twitter

36. Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

We said: Dorothea Brooke and the other inhabitants of Middlemarch grapple with art, faith, science, politics, cocky and society in the atomic number 82-up to the Offset Reform Bill of 1832 in a literary exploration of man follies.This book is considered by many to exist the greatest Victorian novel.

You said: This book is superb in class and content. There is no amend autopsy of and insight into man society. She was the Shakespeare of her day and Middlemarch is her finest novel.

Tim R, Twitter

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

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

You 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 apologue.

Claudia Yard, Twitter

38. The Iliad past Homer (8th century BC)

We said: It is i of the greatest and most influential epic poems ever written, and (aslope The Odyssey)the oldest surviving work of Western literature. Although the story centres on the critical events of the terminal yr of the Trojan state of war, Homer likewise explores themes of humanity, pity and survival.

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

Max G, Twitter

39. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (1847)

Nosotros said: William Makepeace Thackeray'due south satirical reflection of society on the whole embodied in a cast of characters who although flawed, nosotros can't help but love and root for as we follow their fortunes and downfalls throughout the Napoleonic wars.

You said: Because Becky Sharp is the greatest female atomic number 82 graphic symbol in English literature. Bar none.

Greg R, Twitter

twoscore. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945)

We said: The iconic state business firm setting of Brideshead see a family consumed by its religion battle with their loyalties. A reflective and nostalgic novel past Evelyn Waugh almost course, family and homecomings.

Y'all said: So evocative of a certain time and place, as well as beingness a compelling story.

Patricia C, Twitter

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

We said: Probably the least commented-upon aspect of J.D. Salinger's masterpiece is how utterly hilarious it is. Holden is a character no 1 ever forgets.

You said: This novel's main graphic symbol, Holden, is coping with tragic loss, every bit all of us do in our lives. As he wanders aimlessly around the city, he struggles to program his adjacent life move, merely finds happiness in small joys, such equally his potent bail with his sis.

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 learn a lesson or two from the resourceful young girl in Lewis Carroll'due south tale packed with a troupe of unforgettable characters. A dizzying story full of riddles, puns and wordplay, at over 150 years quondam information technology features a heroine fashion alee of her fourth dimension.

You said: We should all get lost downward a rabbit hole every in one case in a while and come out believing in six impossible things before breakfast #whyisaravenlikeawritingdesk

Lauren D, Twitter

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

We said:Maggie Tulliver is passionate, impulsive and intelligence but her desires clash against her family's expectations and result in painful consequences. Eliot drew on the frustrations of her ain rural upbringing to write one of her most powerful and moving novels.

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

Jess, Twitter

44. Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope (1857)

Nosotros said: The second novel in Anthony Trollope'southward serial known as the 'Chronicles of Barsetshire', opens as the Bishop of Barchester lies on his deathbed; soon the boxing for power amongst the boondocks'due south fundamental players will commence. Told with plenty of wisdom and wit.

You said: This book has tremendous characters and a plot which sucks you into such a different world, about which yous detect yourself caring desperately.

Hilary S, Twitter

45. Another Country by James Baldwin (1962)

We said: Primarily set in New York'due south Greenwich Village, James Baldwin'sSome other State 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.

Y'all said: This is a book that shows how everyone tin can live and beloved together, passionately, dangerously, with exquisite music.  I'll never forget the thrill of showtime reading it.

Jon A, Twitter

46. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (1862)

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

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

Gary Yard, Twitter

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

We said: Filled with all the sweetness treats from your wildest dreams (and proving that nice guys don't always terminate last), Roald Dahl'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 mucilage. And don't sit in front end of the TV all 24-hour interval. 'It rots the senses in the head!'

Yous said: This listing wouldn't exist complete without some of Dahl's magic, and my aureate ticket is for this novel.

Isanne Five, Twitter

48. The Outsiders past S. East. Hinton (1967)

We said: A coming-of-age tale of teenage rebellion, set in a winner-takes-all world of drive-ins, elevate races and switchblades. It created an anti-hero from the incorrect side of the grade divide – all written when South. E. Hinton was just 17. 'Stay gold Ponyboy… stay gold'.

You said: The original YA novel, which sparked many crushes and made me autumn in love 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 accept you lot feeling all the emotions – and a prime example of the old adage that revenge is a dish all-time served common cold.

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

Hayati Y, Twitter

50. Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)

Nosotros said: Having survived censorship, controversy and even legal action, James Joyce'due south well-nigh famous novel is renowned for its use of inner monologue and stream-of-consciousness technique. Whether it's the greatest novel of the 20th century, or the most unreadable, is upwards for debate.

You lot said: Reading information technology as a person, an emotional journeying. Reading it as a writer, technically mesmerizing and inspiring

Pqxzyvr, Twitter

51. East of Eden past John Steinbeck (1952)

We said: Mostly fix in California, John Steinbeck's most ambitious novel follows two families and their interwoven stories. The author himself said, 'It has everything in information technology I accept been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years.'

They said: Bright writing, epic family saga, drills deep into human nature and how we think, experience and deed toward one some other. My all-time favourite novel.

Naomi M, Facebook

52. The Brothers Karamazov past Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1880)

We said: 2 years in the making, this philosophical novel past Fyodor Dostoyevsky questions big topics like faith, gratis will and morality merely it'southward also a very readable i that's function murder mystery, part courtroom drama.

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

Luca C, Facebook

53. Lolita past Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

We said: Quite simply some of the finest writing always committed to a folio. A book that is simultaneously repulsive and utterly seductive.

Yous said: Beautifully written. The book takes you into the mind of this awful graphic symbol and lets y'all curlicue around in the gorgeous word-play as the story unfurls.

Lesley L, Facebook

54. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)

Nosotros said: Frances Hodgson Burnett's book will awaken the curiosity of any reader, no affair their age. There'south something and so completely irresistible most hidden doors, mysterious noises and secret hiding places. But this is more than a story of adventures and gardening, at its centre, The Secret Garden promises that with time and plenty of nurturing, nosotros tin can all blossom.

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

Ulrika F, Facebook

55. Scoop past Evelyn Waugh (1938)

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

Yous said: A funny story wrapped effectually absurdity, journalism and war.

Guy V, Facebook

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

We said: Afterwards 18 years in the Bastille, Dr Manette is released and sent to live in Britain with a daughter he's never met. Separate between Paris and London, A Tale of Two Cities is a mammoth story fix during the brutal years of the French Revolution.

Y'all said: Sitting alone at xvi years erstwhile after the family had gone to bed,  tears streamed downwardly my cheeks equally I finished this novel.

Pat C, Facebook

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

We said: Diary of a Nobody follows a respectable middle-class homo, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to live a respectable eye-class life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that it inspired an describing word in accolade of its main character: 'Pooterish', a cocky-important person who takes themselves far too seriously.

You said: I take read this book so many times and laugh out loud every fourth dimension. I have a Penguin Archetype copy of it that's falling apart but I wouldn't part with information technology for the world

Emma H, Facebook

58. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

We said: Anna Karenina is a woman who seems to have it all. She'south married, she's wealthy, she's well-liked – but she feels her life is empty until she meets Count Vronksy. Leo Tolstoy'due south novel is essentially a philosophical meditation on the meaning of life and happiness but it'southward a very readable 1.

You said: Just the best in-depth characterisation of all time. Tolstoy's psychological insights have never been browbeaten.

Chris W, Facebook

59. The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni (1827)

We said: Alessandro Manzoni'southward novel takes is the story of 2 young lovers trying to be together, prepare confronting a wider backdrop of 17th-century Italian life. The Betrothed is considered by many to exist the greatest novel ever written in Italian.

Y'all said: This book is on the verge of being forgotten by casual readers, but information technology'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 end.

Shawna R, Facebook

sixty. Orlando by Virginia Woolf (1928)

We said: Immense yourself in the dazzling breadth of Virginia Woolf'southward imagination in this short but 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'southward modernist novel is so fresh even 90 or so years later. Gender fluidity before the term was even coined. And a history of literature as a backdrop.

Antonia M, Facebook

61.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957)

We said: Step into the dystopian USA and follow the saga of Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden as they attempt to bring their Transcontinental railroad into being, and uncover the secrets of a shadowy figure called John Galt along the style.

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

Deanna H, Facebook

62. The Time Machine past H. Thou. Wells (1895)

We said: When a scientist and inventor creates a time motorcar, he travels to the distant future to see what'southward in store for humanity. H. G. Wells' novel is the book that popularised time travel, merely read deeper and it's also a metaphor for the fractured society that we however live in today.

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

Gultekin S, Facebook

63. The Art of War past Sunday-Tzu

We said: Dominicus-Tzu, author of the world'southward oldest guide to armed services strategy, recognised that we live in a conflicted world. The layperson might non be involved in warfare only the advice within is simply equally useful for navigating the workplace or daily life.

You said: This should exist called the petty book of common sense. It makes everything easier to understand.

Darren One thousand, Facebook

64. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (1922)

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

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

Hildegard S, Facebook

65. Travels with Charley past John Steinbeck (1962)

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

You said: 1 of the truthful first 'road' books – a search for the spirit of the ordinary American people.

Edith South, Facebook

66. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (1934)

We said: It was banned in the U.s. and the UK for 30 years for being too 'pornographic,' and undoubtedly there are smutty moments, but Henry Miller uses this to comment on the human condition. Told from a variety of showtime-person characters in 1930s Paris – including Miller'southward ain experiences as a struggling author – the common thread between each character is their sexual encounters.

Yous said: Loud, funny, sexual Paris in the 1930s. I read information technology when I was twenty, and it changed the fashion 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 two women and the men they get involved with. Women in Dearest contains some of Lawrence's finest writing.

Yous said: This is Lawrence at his all-time… although I exercise 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 peak of his writing career and his last novel, Staying On – which won the Booker Prize in 1977 – gives us a unique insight into life just afterwards the end of the British dominion in India.

You said: A funny, tragic, beautifully written written report of an English language colonial married couple left behind equally an contained India moves ahead.

Catherine B, Facebook

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

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

You said: You lot can bask this book at any age – and it'south beautifully written.

Vicky A, Facebook

70. My Ántonia by Willa Cather (1918)

Nosotros 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 belatedly 19th century. This is Willa Cather's last volume in the Neat Plains trilogy and was praised for bringing the American West to life.

You said: Quite just, a beautifully written book.

Carolyn R, Facebook

71. Wuthering Heights past Emily Brontë (1847)

We said: Controversial at the time of publication, Emily Brontë's classic love story between Catherine and Heathcliff however resonates with readers today.  Widely considered a staple of Gothic fiction and the English literary canon, this book has gone on to inspire many generations of writers – and will continue to do and 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 down a path of sensual depravity. After discovering he has no scent of his ain – despite having a remarkable sense of smell – Jean-Baptiste Grenouille trains in the art of perfume-making so he can create the ultimate odor – one that is made from 25 young virgin girls.

You said: A story of suspense and dear, with cute narration.

Ivy Due west, Facebook

73. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1867)

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

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

Angela T, Facebook

74. Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham (1915)

We said: Considered every bit Somerset Maugham's well-nigh 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 honey with a loud only irresistible waitress is considered one of his finest books.

You lot said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love.

Rajan D, Facebook

75. Bleak House by Charles Dickens (1853)

We said: At the heart of Bleak House is the never-ending legal instance of Jarndyce and Jarndyce which draws together a disparate group of people who hope in some way to turn a profit from the case. Dickens' scathing reflection of the legal profession went some way to support a judicial reform move in the 1870s.

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

Jane E, Facebook

76. Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac (1837)

We said: Would-be poet Lucien Chardon moves from the French Provinces to the glamorous beau monde of Paris where he quickly discovers a globe far more unsafe than he ever imagined. Honoré de Balzac paints a brilliant and brutal pic of the hypocrisy and moral history of his times.

Y'all said: A magnificent story about human nature, appetite and order (in any century).

Isabel 1000, Facebook

77. Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut (1973)

We said: Part one-act, part searing satire, nosotros're taken to the Midwest to follow Vonnegut's ageing writer Kilgore Trout on an absurd narrative. Y'all may honey it, you may not get the point. Either style, you'll find it difficult not to express joy.

Yous said: Reading this alloy of surrealism, sci-fi and other genres fabricated me realise that sometimes, fiction can exist more powerful than real-life stories!

Kleber L, Facebook

78. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

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

Y'all said: A masterpiece. The ultimate story of promise and redemption.

Sergeant_Tibbs, Twitter

79. Silas Marner by George Eliot (1861)

We said: Silas Marner was Eliot'due south favourite of her novels. It tells the story of an isolated miser, who is given a second chance to transform his life when he adopts a young orphaned child. With themes of faith, industrialisation and community, the book also provides united states of america with a glimpse of a vanished rural globe.

You said: Redemption and dearest. Beautifully written

Rhiannon C, Facebook

80. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)

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

You said: A reminder that no life is likewise pocket-sized.

Marianna Southward, Facebook

81. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Nosotros said: In Lilliputian Women, Louisa May Alcott set out to write a book in which girls would see them themselves accurately reflected. The March sisters, with their iv very dissimilar personalities and ambitions, accurately embody both the challenges of growing up and the irreplaceable bail of sisterhood.

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

Luke Eastward, Twitter

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

We said: Winner of the Man Booker Prize in 1978, Iris Murdoch's book is the story of foreign obsessions and reflection which haunt Charles Arrowby, who retires from London's glittering theatre globe to an isolated home past the bounding main. An unforgettable story, beautifully told.

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

H, Twitter

83. The Godfather past Mario Puzo (1969)

Nosotros said: Both Mario Puzo'southward volume and 1972 flick accommodation became global phenomena with this searing portrayal of New York's Mafia underworld. A powerful story of tradition, blood, honour and of class, family allegiance.

You said: This novel teaches the reader near the strengths and failures of human 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 first to the very unfinished end (the novel ends mid-judgement), this is Franz Kafka's finest commentary on oppression and bureaucracy.

You said: This book leads the reader into a maze of conundrums, defoliation, iciness and moral fog. Never to exist forgotten in one case read.

Arnold F, Twitter

85. I, Claudius past Robert Graves (1934)

You 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 every bit gripping reads.

Yous said: A beautifully written novel about absolute power. Very relevant.

Ian M, Twitter

86. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (1904)

You said:The story that made 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 upward 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.

You said: A volume that reminds anybody to never grow up within!

Jennifer G, Twitter

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

You said: A medievalist protagonist encounters a series of misadventures in a comedic exploration of the man status. John Kennedy Toole'due south novel is widely regarded today every bit a tragicomic classic that exposes 'intellectualism'.

Yous said: I chose this book just considering the characters are fantastic, and it makes me laugh.

Sharon, Twitter

88. The Razor'south Edge by W. Somerset Maugham (1944)

Y'all said: Featuring Maugham himself as a character and adjusted twice for the big screen, The Razor'south Edge tells the story of an American airplane pilot trying to accommodate dorsum to normal life post-obit the First World War. It's a gruelling look at the devastating furnishings of post-state of war trauma, and a philosophical journey to find meaning in life.

You said: A profound story of one human being'due south journey to find himself.

Holden M, Twitter

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

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

You said: Peradventure a footling bit out of left field, but I love this book. It's simple, it'southward beautifully written and it's all almost capturing a vanishing way of life every bit countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... really eloquent, really moving!

Vicky, Twitter

90. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy (1878)

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

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

Linda Grand, Twitter

91. A Portrait of the Creative person as a Swain by James Joyce (1916)

Nosotros said: A Portrait of the Artist every bit a Immature Man was James Joyce's first novel and details the young artist discovering his voice, craft and identity through his literary alter ego, Stephen Dedalus. There are echoes of his techniques hither before they are refined in his afterwards works such equally Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

You said: Joyce is not merely the greatest stylist in English, only the novel contains one of the nigh circuitous discussions of aesthetics in the 20th century.

Donald One thousand, Twitter

92. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)

Nosotros said: JosephConrad's novella has been deemed by many as a 'difficult read', only this enigmatic and atmospheric slice of fiction of Charles Marlow'southward journey upwards the Congo river – which also provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now – volition leave y'all unfolding its many layers for a long time after.

You said: What an amazing piece of writing from someone who had to larn the language first...

Tracey L, Twitter

93. North and Southward past Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)

We said: A swooningly romantic book with an exhilaratingly antagonistic 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 Hale and John Thornton.

You said: This novel combines a beautiful love story and discussion of important economical and social issues of its fourth dimension.

Alina, Twitter

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

We said: 'When it first came out it was viewed as being far-fetched,' said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The connected regression of ballgame laws and women'southward rights beyond the world has only made Atwood's dystopian all the more pertinent; and ensuring the volume – and Telly show's – place in history as a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

Yous said: I chose this volume because it gives a feminist perspective on the earth. Also, Atwood uses events from history to create the story, which I find important. History is a circumvolve.

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 French republic, and finding beloved and hope in the nigh unexpected of places.

You said: This is my favourite book. It is an extremely moving account of the kinds of things that really happened in Nazi-occupied France during the 2d World War. It presents the dilemmas, fears and choices that were felt and had to be made by ordinary people.

Jim H, Twitter

96. One Twenty-four hour period in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1962)

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

You said: Solzhenitsyn's writing from personal experience of life/being in a forced labour camp under Stalin'southward communist regime is a stark, brutal, masterpiece.

Brian T, Twitter

97. What A Carve Up! by Jonathan Coe (1994)

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

You said: This novel has and then much to say most man nature, political power and the elite, and always will do. Caustic, heartfelt, funny, devastating; a beautiful book.

Declan C, Twitter

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

We said: Anyone looking for an introduction to philosophy demand look no farther. It'due south also a touching portrayal of fatherhood and friendship.

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

Jason F, Twitter

99. White Nights past Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1848)

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

You said: This is an incredibly cute and uplifting book. Everyone should read it!

Melly, Twitter

100. Hard Times byCharles Dickens (1854)

Nosotros 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 world driven by fact.

You lot said: Pathos, humour, social comment, politic and incredibly well-drawn, conceivable characters.

Angela, Twitter

What'south your favourite classic read? Allow usa know at @penguinukbooks.

Books ranked in no particular society. Some answers have been edited for clarity and style.

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

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