Best Books Read Read on the Art of Love Making for Men

Epitome: Ryan MacEachern/Penguin

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

So we asked our readers to tell united states nearly their favourite classic books. The resulting list of must-reads is a perfect way to detect inspiration to start your classics adventure. There's something for anybody, from family sagas and dystopian fiction to romances and historical fiction.

And if you savor this, you can also larn about our reader's favourite books by female person authors, most loved children'due south books and the best memoirs they've always read.

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

25 | 50 | 75 | 100

one. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

We said: It is a truth universally acknowledged that when most people think of Jane Austen they think of this charming and humorous story of love, difficult families and the tricky task of finding a handsome married man with a good fortune.

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

Francesca, Twitter

two. To Impale 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 pity. Told through the optics of loveable rogues Scout and Jem, it also created one of literature'due south most beloved heroes – Atticus Finch, a man determined to right the racial wrongs of the Deep South.

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

Greygardens, Twitter

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

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

You lot 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. Ane 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.

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

Andre C, Twitter

v. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1965)

We said: The 'true crime' Tv set show / podcast you'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 research, 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

6. Broad Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (1966)

Nosotros 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 every bit 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/earth view. She beautifully showed how the stories we read fold into our lives to make new stories.

Eric A, Twitter

7. Dauntless New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)

We said: One of the greatest and virtually prescient dystopian novels e'er written, this should be on everyone's must-read list.

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

David Thou, Twitter

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

We said: Cassandra Mortmain's upbringing in a crumbling castle with her eccentric family may not be anybody's experience, but we tin guarantee her coming-of-historic period story with all its enchanting and disenchanting moments will resonate for many.

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

Helen Y, Twitter

ix. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

We said: One of literature'south steeliest heroines, in her short life Jane Eyre has overcome a traumatic childhood merely to be challenged past secrets, foreign 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 starting time-person narrative.

Y'all said:Because Jane is a role model: she stands up for herself, others and what she believes in, only isn't also proud to give second chances to those whose time is running out.

Sarah F, Twitter

ten. Criminal offence and Punishment past Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

We said: This novel is a masterful and completely captivating delineation of a man experiencing a profound mental unravelling. No corporeality of ethical bargaining on Raskolnikov's office can free him from the parasitic guilt nested in his soul. A brilliant read if y'all loved Breaking Bad.

You said:No other novel has made me experience and then much for the main characters, so deeply depicted by the author. I felt like an orphan when I finished it and it'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 - so well-articulated and written (something that'due south difficult to come by these days). As well, EXCELLENT PLOT!

AnamiAndBooks, Twitter

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

We said: Jack London was a golden prospector in the Canadian wilderness and used his experiences to write about a canis familiaris 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 anybody who loves the globe 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 Second World War, The Chrysalids cleverly strives to denounce acts of the past while including a profound plea for tolerance.

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

Hollie B, Twitter

14. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1818)

We said: Austen'south last completed novel before her untimely death was ane 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 go a second chance at happiness?

You lot said: This continues to be my favourite novel. It is a more mature love story, full of humourous, delightful observations of human being behaviour. It offers us a glimpse of redemption. We modify equally we grow, and the mistakes fabricated in our youth can exist overcome.

Dartmouth_Diva, Twitter

15. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (1851)

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

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

David H, Twitter

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

We said: C.S. Lewis'south 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 go on a snow-laden take a chance with Mr Tumnus.

You said: A beautiful timeless tale of innocence, wonder and sacrifice for young and one-time alike. It was 1 of the first books that I read from encompass to cover without putting down!

Adisha K, Twitter

17. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927)

Nosotros said: To the Lighthouse is a daring novel with footling regard for rules. There's no consequent narrator, scant dialogue and almost no plot. With everything stripped abroad, we're left with a scenic and lyrical meditation on relationships, nature and the folly of perception.

You said: You feel similar yous're stood on top of a cliff with the sea cakewalk blowing correct through your basic.

‏Halcyonbookdays, Twitter

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

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

You said: This book captures the bad-mannered tension and anxieties of the interwar menses through a deeply reflective, only oddly naive, unloved daughter. ‏

Heather O, Twitter

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

We said: Information technology received mixed reviews information technology was first published, in part because it challenged Victorian ethics of purity and sexual morals. But Thomas Hardy's unflinching account of Tess's bid for salvation in a social club gear up to condemn her is a harrowing and powerful read.

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

Abbie H, Twitter

20. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1823)

Nosotros said: Written when Mary Shelley was just 18 years sometime, just don't let that depress yous. Frankenstein is a Gothic masterpiece with entertaining set pieces aplenty.

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

Julie A, Twitter

21.The Principal and Margarita past Mikhail Bulgakov (1966)

We said:This spine-chilling story was censored by Stalin and sadly only published later on Mikhail Bulgakov's decease.

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

Eggfrieddog, Twitter

22. The Go-Between by 50. P. Hartley (1953)

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

You said: As a 17-yr-old, 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'southward Nest by Ken Kesey (1962)

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

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

Darren B, Twitter

24. Nineteen Lxxx-Four past George Orwell (1949)

Nosotros said: The definitive dystopian novel, George Orwell'southward vision of a high surveillance society is gripping from the offset page to the last.

You said: I first read this book years ago, and was glad I would never take to be a part of that kind of society. Yet, here I am in 2018, and so much of that novel has come truthful.

Donna J, Twitter

25. Buddenbrooks past Thomas Mann (1901)

We said:In Thomas Mann'southward semi-autobiographical family unit epic, he portrays the tedious refuse of a wealthy and highly esteemed merchant-family in northern Germany over four generations, as they grapple with the modernism of the 20th century.

You said: It's a great novel about the rise and fall of a family unit, the relationship between fathers and sons, and the disharmonize between art and business. Well, and I have to say I practise love family sagas.

Peter Fifty, Twitter

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

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

You said: Migration in search of work and a improve future. A modern-solar day story. Yet makes my pare tingle.

Morven, Twitter

27. Beloved 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 item of the lengths people went to protect their families from slavery is fantastic.

LittleReigate, Twitter

28. The Lawmaking of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse (1938)

Nosotros said: This is the tertiary full-length novel featuring P. Thou. 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 moo-cow-creamer. What could go wrong?

You lot said: The all-time of the Bertie and Jeeves novels by Wodehouse, the 20th century principal of the light comic novel. Intricate plotting and vivid command of English prose.

Matt F, Twitter

29. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

Nosotros said: Bram Stoker'southward novel is told by multiple narrators in a series of diary entries, letters, newspaper articles and ships' logs; an quondam 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 like our modern vampires aka Edward Cullen.

You said: A Gothic tale of fearfulness and dearest. Would i desire immortality at the cost of one's morality and soul? Loneliness beckons downwardly such a unsafe and fearful path.

Rob K, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Perchance the greatest story ever told, J. R. R. Tolkien's incredible trilogy of otherworldliness brought a world of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs to life in a style never read before. Ultimately a tale of companionship and the boxing between good and evil, the fictional world of Middle Globe has endured to go far greater than the sum of its parts.

Y'all said: Information technology's got the bully sweeping story, romance, heroism, self-sacrifice, social commentary... it's not merely magic and elves!

Anne O, Twitter

31. The Adventures of Blueberry Finn past Marking Twain (1884)

We said: Meander down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, information technology'southward a simple adventure but dig a little deeper into Mark Twain'south novel and discover undercurrents of slavery, abuse and corruption in what Hemingway described as 'The all-time book nosotros've had'.

Yous said: This book demonstrates how a young boy learns to think for himself, and shows the states how nosotros tin, too. It's funny, sugariness and sad – sometimes all in the same paragraph.

Richard C, Twitter

32. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (1860)

Nosotros said:From the escaped captive lurking in the wild Kent marshes to the eccentric Miss Havisham who has remained in her wedding clothes since the twenty-four hours she was jilted, orphan Pip'southward coming of historic period story is one of Charles Dickens' nigh memorable and iconic novels.

You said: This book is not only important as a literary masterpiece and an evocative story - it also has universal appeal as, unfortunately, many children in today's world undergo the aforementioned suffering as 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 manner that power is hoarded and wielded similar 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 human nature and the futility of conflict. Yous'll come out the other side angry, uplifted, and crazy.

Sam Due west, Twitter

34. The Historic period of Innocence by Edith Wharton (1920)

Nosotros said: A newlywed couple is shaken up by the arrival of the bride's free-spirited and charismatic cousin Ellen, who piques the hubby's interests. He must determine to save a crumbling marriage or pursue his passions. Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for this novel which explores beloved, animalism and social class, fix in the Gilded Age of New York.

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

Lulu B, Twitter

35. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958)

We said: It has come up to be seen equally the archetypal mod African novel in English and is read widely across Africa and Nigeria in which it is set. Information technology follows the Okonowo a keen and famous warrior and the most powerful men of his clan. Merely when outsiders threaten his clan's fashion of life - will his temper and pride be his downfall? Read it to find out.

Yous said: A compelling and important exploration of cultural identity in relation to both the rise tide of British colonialism and the pressures of gender expectations. A poignant tragedy written with pathos. Necessary reading!

Danny N, Twitter

36. Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

We said: Dorothea Brooke and the other inhabitants of Middlemarch grapple with art, religion, science, politics, self and guild in the atomic number 82-up to the First Reform Bill of 1832 in a literary exploration of human follies.This volume is considered by many to be the greatest Victorian novel.

Yous said: This book is superb in course and content. There is no meliorate dissection of and insight into human society. She was the Shakespeare of her day and Middlemarch is her finest novel.

Tim R, Twitter

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

We said: A visceral tale, made of smells and sounds and bumps and knocks. A brilliant manner to immerse yourself in 1 of the most fascinating and turbulent periods of the 20th century, via a wonderfully fantastical conceit.

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

Claudia G, Twitter

38. The Iliad past Homer (eighth century BC)

We said: It is one of the greatest and well-nigh influential epic poems ever written, and (alongside The Odyssey)the oldest surviving work of Western literature. Although the story centres on the disquisitional events of the last year of the Trojan war, Homer also explores themes of humanity, compassion and survival.

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

Max One thousand, Twitter

39. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (1847)

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

Yous said: Because Becky Abrupt is the greatest female person lead character in English literature. Bar none.

Greg R, Twitter

40. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945)

We said: The iconic country house setting of Brideshead see a family consumed by its faith battle with their loyalties. A cogitating and nostalgic novel by Evelyn Waugh nearly class, family and homecomings.

You said: Then evocative of a certain fourth dimension and place, besides as being 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 ane ever forgets.

Y'all said: This novel'southward 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 plan his next life move, only finds happiness in small joys, such as his strong bond 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 acquire a lesson or ii from the resourceful immature girl in Lewis Carroll's tale packed with a troupe of unforgettable characters. A boundless story full of riddles, puns and wordplay, at over 150 years old it features a heroine way alee of her time.

Y'all said: Nosotros should all become lost downwardly a rabbit hole every once in a while and come out believing in half-dozen impossible things before breakfast #whyisaravenlikeawritingdesk

Lauren D, Twitter

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

We said:Maggie Tulliver is passionate, impulsive and intelligence but her desires clash against her family unit'southward expectations and issue in painful consequences. Eliot drew on the frustrations of her own rural upbringing to write i of her about powerful and moving novels.

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

Jess, Twitter

44. Barchester Towers past Anthony Trollope (1857)

We said: The 2d novel in Anthony Trollope's series known as the 'Chronicles of Barsetshire', opens as the Bishop of Barchester lies on his deathbed; soon the battle for power amongst the town'southward key 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 you find yourself caring badly.

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 earth of Harlem jazz and the Maverick underworld.

You said: This is a book that shows how anybody tin can live and honey 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 by Victor Hugo. Full of love, anger, drama and wit. Quite possibly the perfect novel.

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

Gary Thou, Twitter

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

We said: Filled with all the sweet treats from your wildest dreams (and proving that prissy guys don't always finish last), Roald Dahl'sCharlie and the Chocolate Manufactory 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 forepart of the TV all day. 'It rots the senses in the head!'

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

Isanne V, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: A coming-of-age tale of teenage rebellion, set up in a winner-takes-all earth of bulldoze-ins, drag races and switchblades. It created an anti-hero from the wrong side of the course dissever – all written when S. E. Hinton was just 17. 'Stay aureate Ponyboy… stay gold'.

Y'all said: The original YA novel, which sparked many crushes and made me fall in dearest with reading.

Claire C, Twitter

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

We said: An ballsy novel by Alexandre Dumas that will have you feeling all the emotions – and a prime number example of the old adage that revenge is a dish all-time served cold.

Yous said: The all-time classic tale! A story of innocence, romance, expose, suffering, revenge and more importantly, Man's 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 virtually famous novel is renowned for its utilise of inner monologue and stream-of-consciousness technique. Whether information technology'due south the greatest novel of the 20th century, or the virtually unreadable, is up for debate.

Y'all said: Reading information technology as a person, an emotional journeying. Reading it equally a writer, technically mesmerizing and inspiring

Pqxzyvr, Twitter

51. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)

We said: By and large fix in California, John Steinbeck'due south most ambitious novel follows 2 families and their interwoven stories. The author himself said, 'It has everything in it I have been able to larn nigh my craft or profession in all these years.'

They said: Vivid writing, epic family saga, drills deep into human nature and how nosotros think, experience and act toward one another. My all-time favourite novel.

Naomi M, Facebook

52. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1880)

We said: Two years in the making, this philosophical novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky questions big topics like faith, free will and morality but it's also a very readable one that's part murder mystery, part courtroom drama.

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

Luca C, Facebook

53. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

We 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 volume takes you into the heed of this awful graphic symbol and lets yous curl effectually in the gorgeous word-play as the story unfurls.

Lesley Fifty, Facebook

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

We said: Frances Hodgson Burnett's book will awaken the curiosity of any reader, no matter their age. There's something and so completely irresistible about subconscious doors, mysterious noises and secret hiding places. But this is more than a story of adventures and gardening, at its center, The Undercover Garden promises that with time and enough of nurturing, we can all flower.

You lot said: I volition 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 paper magnates – volition go to for a story. With modern exposés on hacking scandals and the like, Scoop feels every bit relevant as ever.

You lot 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: After eighteen years in the Bastille, Dr Manette is released and sent to live in U.k. with a daughter he'south never met. Carve up betwixt Paris and London, A Tale of Two Cities is a mammoth story set during the brutal years of the French Revolution.

You said: Sitting lonely at 16 years erstwhile after the family had gone to bed,  tears streamed downwardly my cheeks every bit 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-grade man, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to live a respectable middle-class life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that information technology inspired an describing word in honor of its main character: 'Pooterish', a cocky-important person who takes themselves far too seriously.

You lot said: I have read this book so many times and laugh out loud every fourth dimension. I have a Penguin Classic copy of it that's falling apart simply 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 adult female who seems to have it all. She's married, she'south wealthy, she's well-liked – but she feels her life is empty until she meets Count Vronksy. Leo Tolstoy's novel is substantially a philosophical meditation on the meaning of life and happiness only it'due south a very readable one.

Y'all said: Simply the all-time in-depth characterisation of all time. Tolstoy's psychological insights have never been beaten.

Chris W, Facebook

59. The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni (1827)

We said: Alessandro Manzoni'due south novel takes is the story of 2 young lovers trying to be together, set against a wider backdrop of 17th-century Italian life. The Betrothed is considered by many to be the greatest novel always written in Italian.

You said: This volume is on the verge of being forgotten past casual readers, but it'southward 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

threescore. Orlando by Virginia Woolf (1928)

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

You said: What is it to be a adult female? Woolf's modernist novel is so fresh even ninety or so years later. Gender fluidity before the term was even coined. And a history of literature every bit a backdrop.

Antonia 1000, Facebook

61.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957)

We said: Footstep into the dystopian U.s. and follow the saga of Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden as they effort to bring their Transcontinental railroad into being, and uncover the secrets of a shadowy figure called John Galt along the fashion.

You said: This volume engages the reader through its characters and themes, assuasive 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. Chiliad. Wells (1895)

We said: When a scientist and inventor creates a time machine, he travels to the afar futurity to see what's in shop for humanity. H. G. Wells' novel is the book that popularised time travel, merely read deeper and information technology'southward also a metaphor for the fractured order that we withal live in today.

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

Gultekin Due south, Facebook

63. The Art of War by Dominicus-Tzu

We said: Sun-Tzu, writer of the world's oldest guide to military strategy, recognised that we alive in a conflicted world. The layperson might not be involved in warfare simply the advice within is just equally useful for navigating the workplace or daily life.

You lot said: This should be called the little book of mutual sense. Information technology makes everything easier to understand.

Darren G, 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's fortunes and downfalls as they live through dramatic social change, from the straight-laced Victorian era to the roaring 20s.

You said: This book gives you lot a wonderful impression of life in the 19th and early on 20th century. Information technology's both enthralling and touching.

Hildegard S, Facebook

65. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (1962)

Nosotros said: Almost lx years later Travels with Charley notwithstanding proves an centre-opening insight into a country that'south so 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 mural that'south no less disparate today.

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

Edith S, Facebook

66. Tropic of Cancer past Henry Miller (1934)

We said: It was banned in the US 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 offset-person characters in 1930s Paris – including Miller's own experiences as a struggling writer – the common thread betwixt each grapheme is their sexual encounters.

You said: Loud, funny, sexual Paris in the 1930s. I read information technology when I was 20, and information technology changed the way I expect at the earth.

Brendan P, Facebook

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

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

Yous 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 summit of his writing career and his last novel, Staying On – which won the Booker Prize in 1977 – gives usa a unique insight into life just later the cease of the British rule in India.

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

Catherine B, Facebook

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

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

You said: You can bask this volume at any age – and it's beautifully written.

Vicky A, Facebook

lxx. My Ántonia by Willa Cather (1918)

We said: The novel tells the story of Jim Burden, an orphan male child and Ántonia Shimerda who are brought as children to exist pioneers in Nebraska in the tardily 19th century. This is Willa Cather'south concluding book in the Great 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 by Emily Brontë (1847)

We said: Controversial at the time of publication, Emily Brontë's classic dearest story between Catherine and Heathcliff still 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 keep to do so.

Y'all said: Passion, heartbreak – this is the greatest novel ever written.

Tessa J, Facebook

72. Perfume by Patrick Süskind (1985)

Nosotros said: In 18th-century France, one man's greatest passion and gift leads him down a path of sensual depravity. Later on discovering he has no scent of his own – despite having a remarkable sense of odour – Jean-Baptiste Grenouille trains in the art of perfume-making so he can create the ultimate olfactory property – one that is made from 25 young virgin girls.

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

Ivy Westward, Facebook

73. State of war and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1867)

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

You said:This novel is just gripping and beautifully written. Kept me enthralled for weeks...

Angela T, Facebook

74. Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham (1915)

We said: Considered as Somerset Maugham's most autobiographical of his work, the author stated, 'This is a novel, not an autobiography, though much in it 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.

Y'all said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love.

Rajan D, Facebook

75. Dour Business firm past Charles Dickens (1853)

Nosotros said: At the center of Dour House is the never-catastrophe legal instance of Jarndyce and Jarndyce which draws together a disparate group of people who promise in some way to profit from the case. Dickens' scathing reflection of the legal profession went some way to support a judicial reform motility in the 1870s.

You said: An astonishing story, with so 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 apace discovers a world far more unsafe than he ever imagined. Honoré de Balzac paints a vivid and brutal motion-picture show of the hypocrisy and moral history of his times.

Yous said: A magnificent story about human nature, appetite and society (in whatsoever century).

Isabel K, Facebook

77. Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut (1973)

We said: Part comedy, role searing satire, nosotros're taken to the Midwest to follow Vonnegut's ageing writer Kilgore Trout on an cool narrative. You lot may love it, you may not become the indicate. Either way, you'll find it difficult non to laugh.

You lot 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 Fifty, Facebook

78. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

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

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

Sergeant_Tibbs, Twitter

79. Silas Marner past George Eliot (1861)

Nosotros said: Silas Marner was Eliot'due south favourite of her novels. Information technology tells the story of an isolated miser, who is given a 2nd run a risk to transform his life when he adopts a young orphaned child. With themes of religion, industrialisation and community, the book also provides united states of america with a glimpse of a vanished rural earth.

You lot said: Redemption and love. Beautifully written

Rhiannon C, Facebook

80. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)

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

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

Marianna Southward, Facebook

81. Trivial Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

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

You said: A story of growing up and changing and the world set around a group of young girls. This volume is as timeless as information technology is beautiful.

Luke East, Twitter

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

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

You said: This book left me speechless, while reading and after reading and I still can't find the words to describe why it is 1 of the about impressive pieces of writing I have ever read.

H, Twitter

83. The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969)

We said: Both Mario Puzo's book and 1972 flick adaptation became global phenomena with this searing portrayal of New York's Mafia underworld. A powerful story of tradition, blood, honour and of course, family unit allegiance.

You said: This novel teaches the reader most the strengths and failures of human nature.

Louisa J, Twitter

84. The Castle by Franz Kafka (1926)

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

Yous said: This book leads the reader into a maze of conundrums, defoliation, iciness and moral fog. Never to be forgotten once read.

Arnold F, Twitter

85. I, Claudius by Robert Graves (1934)

You said: Written in the class 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 equally pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction, every bit well as gripping reads.

You 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 upwards 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 quondam.

Y'all said: A book that reminds everyone to never grow upwardly within!

Jennifer G, 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'.

You said: I chose this volume just because the characters are fantastic, and it makes me express mirth.

Sharon, Twitter

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

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

You said: A profound story of one homo's journey to discover himself.

Holden M, Twitter

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

You said: Many will remember the recent BBC series of the same name; Lark Rise 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 end of the 19th century.

You said: Possibly a little bit out of left field, merely I love this book. Information technology's simple, it'due south beautifully written and it's all nigh capturing a vanishing style of life every bit countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... really eloquent, really moving!

Vicky, Twitter

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

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

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

Linda Thousand, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: A Portrait of the Artist as a Boyfriend was James Joyce's first novel and details the young artist discovering his voice, craft and identity through his literary change ego, Stephen Dedalus. There are echoes of his techniques here before they are refined in his later works such as Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

You said: Joyce is not only the greatest stylist in English, merely the novel contains i of the almost complex discussions of aesthetics in the 20th century.

Donald K, Twitter

92. Centre of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)

Nosotros said: JosephConrad'southward novella has been deemed by many equally a 'difficult read', but this enigmatic and atmospheric piece of fiction of Charles Marlow's journey up the Congo river – which also provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now – volition get out you unfolding its many layers for a long time after.

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

Tracey Fifty, Twitter

93. Northward and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)

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

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

Alina, Twitter

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

We said: 'When it first came out it was viewed equally being far-fetched,' said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The continued regression of abortion laws and women's rights across the world has merely fabricated Atwood's dystopian all the more pertinent; and ensuring the book – and TV testify'southward – place in history every bit a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

You said: I chose this book because it gives a feminist perspective on the world. Too, Atwood uses events from history to create the story, which I find important. History is a circumvolve.

Emma H, Twitter

95. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (2004)

We said: A novel of two halves, Suite Francaise is well-nigh life and decease in occupied France, and finding honey and hope in the nigh unexpected of places.

You said: This is my favourite volume. It is an extremely moving account of the kinds of things that actually happened in Nazi-occupied France during the Second Globe War. Information technology presents the dilemmas, fears and choices that were felt and had to be made by ordinary people.

Jim H, Twitter

96. 1 Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1962)

Nosotros 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 be one of the greats of contemporary literature.

You said: Solzhenitsyn's writing from personal feel of life/beingness in a forced labour camp nether Stalin'southward communist regime is a stark, fell, masterpiece.

Brian T, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: The Winshaw family unit are the most powerful and cruellest family in England that is until their biographer Michael Owen starts investigating the family'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 so much to say about human being nature, political power and the aristocracy, and always will do. Caustic, heartfelt, funny, devastating; a beautiful book.

Declan C, Twitter

98. Zen and the Art of Motorbike Maintenance past Robert Pirsig (1974)

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

You said: An astonishing philosophical chance that influenced a generation.

Jason F, Twitter

99. White Nights past Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1848)

Nosotros said: Ane of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's underrated works, this short story is divided into vi sections. With themes of loneliness and unrequited love told past a nameless narrator – it'due south quintessential Dostoyevsky.

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

Melly, Twitter

100. Hard Times byCharles Dickens (1854)

Nosotros said: Dickens uses the fictional boondocks of Coketown and its inhabitants to explore the harsh realities of the Industrial Historic period and the importance of imagination in a world driven by fact.

You lot said: Desolation, humour, social comment, politic and incredibly well-fatigued, believable characters.

Angela, Twitter

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

Books ranked in no particular order. 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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