How to Read a Lot of Books J.d. Greear

Image: Ryan MacEachern/Penguin

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

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

And if you lot savour this, yous can also learn near our reader's favourite books by female authors, virtually loved children's books and the best memoirs they've ever read.

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

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1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

We said: It is a truth universally acknowledged that when most people recollect of Jane Austen they call up of this charming and humorous story of dear, difficult families and the tricky job of finding a handsome married man with a proficient fortune.

Y'all said: Philosophy, history, wit, and the most passionate beloved story.

Francesca, Twitter

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

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

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

Greygardens, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic millionaire who throws decadent parties but doesn't attend them, is 1 of the great characters of American literature. This is F. Scott Fitzgerald at his almost sparkling and devastating.

Y'all said: The greatest, most scathing dissection of the hollowness at the heart of the American dream. Hypnotic, tragic, both of its fourth dimension and completely relevant.

Joe T, Twitter

four. One Hundred Years of Confinement by 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 best. Both funny and moving, this volume made me reflect for weeks on the inexorable march of time.

Andre C, Twitter

5. In Common cold Blood past Truman Capote (1965)

We said: The 'true law-breaking' Idiot box show / podcast you're obsessed with probably owes a debt to this masterpiece of reportage by Truman Capote. Chilling and brilliant.

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

Kgjephcott, Twitter

6. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (1966)

We said: JeanRhys wrote this feminist and anti-colonial prequel to Charlotte Bronte'due south novel Jane Eyre which chronicles the events of Mr Rochester's disastrous wedlock to Antoinette Conway or Bertha as nosotros 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

seven. Dauntless New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)

We said: Ane of the greatest and about prescient dystopian novels ever 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 alarm. Will nosotros rise and challenge those who seek to shape our futurity or sleepwalk toward workout by technology?

David G, Twitter

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

We said: Cassandra Mortmain'southward upbringing in a crumbling castle with her eccentric family may not exist everyone's feel, but we can guarantee her coming-of-age story with all its enchanting and disenchanting moments volition resonate for many.

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

Helen Y, Twitter

9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

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

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

Sarah F, Twitter

10. Offense and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

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

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

Angie V, Twitter

xi. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992)

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

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

AnamiAndBooks, Twitter

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

We said: Jack London was a gold prospector in the Canadian wilderness and used his experiences to write about a domestic 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 anybody who loves the earth knows it's true.

Helen D, Twitter

13. The Chrysalids past John Wyndham (1955)

We said:An allegoric dystopia written in the wake of the 2d Earth 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, most intolerance, loneliness, friendship, and what it ways to be human. A fantastic sci-fi novel, equally relevant today every bit it was in the 50s.

Hollie B, Twitter

fourteen. Persuasion past Jane Austen (1818)

We said: Austen's terminal completed novel before her untimely death was 1 tinged with heartache and regret. Anne Elliot'southward feelings for the handsome Captain Wentworth are re-ignited when he returns from sea. Will they get a 2d gamble at happiness?

You said: This continues to be my favourite novel. It is a more mature dear story, full of humourous, delightful observations of man behaviour. It offers us a glimpse of redemption. We modify as 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 author since 1851 has been chasing the same whale: to somehow write a novel equally epic and influential every bit Melville's.

Y'all said: The great American novel: neat characters, wonderful language, thick with the Bible and Thomas Browne, and has the best opening judgement always. What's not to like?

David H, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: C.S. Lewis'southward timeless tale captured the hearts of children everywhere with its fantastical world through the wardrobe, full of fauns, dwarves and anthropomorphised animals. Whether y'all were Peter, Edmund, Susan or Lucy, nosotros all wanted to put on a fur glaze and go on a snowfall-laden gamble with Mr Tumnus.

You said: A beautiful timeless tale of innocence, wonder and sacrifice for immature and sometime alike. Information technology was one of the commencement books that I read from comprehend to cover without putting down!

Adisha K, Twitter

17. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927)

We said: To the Lighthouse is a daring novel with little regard for rules. There'southward no consistent narrator, scant dialogue and nigh 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 experience similar you're stood on acme of a cliff with the body of water breeze blowing right through your bones.

‏Halcyonbookdays, Twitter

18. The Death of the Heart past Elizabeth Bowen (1938)

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

You lot said: This book captures the bad-mannered tension and anxieties of the interwar period through a securely reflective, only 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 it challenged Victorian ideals of purity and sexual morals. Merely Thomas Hardy's unflinching account of Tess's bid for salvation in a society prepare to condemn her is a harrowing and powerful read.

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

Abbie H, Twitter

20. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1823)

We said: Written when Mary Shelley was just xviii years old, but don't let that depress y'all. Frankenstein is a Gothic masterpiece with entertaining set pieces aplenty.

You said: Called for all the questions information technology 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 Chief and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (1966)

Nosotros said:This spine-spooky story was censored by Stalin and sadly only published after Mikhail Bulgakov'due south death.

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

Eggfrieddog, Twitter

22. The Become-Between past L. P. Hartley (1953)

We said:A moving exploration by 50. P. Hartley of a immature boy'south loss of innocence and a critical view of gild at the end of the Victorian era.

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

Rapsodiafestiva, Twitter

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

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

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

Darren B, Twitter

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

We said: The definitive dystopian novel, George Orwell's vision of a loftier surveillance society is gripping from the first folio to the concluding.

You lot said: I first read this volume years ago, and was glad I would never have to exist a office of that kind of gild. Nonetheless, 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 Mann's semi-autobiographical family unit epic, he portrays the ho-hum decline of a wealthy and highly esteemed merchant-family in northern Germany over four generations, equally they grapple with the modernism of the 20th century.

You said: Information technology's a great novel virtually the rise and fall of a family, the relationship between fathers and sons, and the disharmonize betwixt art and business organisation. Well, and I have to say I do love family unit sagas.

Peter L, Twitter

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

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

You said: Migration in search of work and a amend futurity. A modern-day story. Nonetheless makes my skin tingle.

Morven, Twitter

27. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987)

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

Y'all 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 Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse (1938)

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

You said: The best of the Bertie and Jeeves novels past Wodehouse, the 20th century master of the calorie-free comic novel. Intricate plotting and brilliant command of English prose.

Matt F, Twitter

29. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

We said: Bram Stoker's novel is told past multiple narrators in a series of diary entries, messages, newspaper articles and ships' logs; an erstwhile folklore tale becomes a frightening reality for solicitor Jonathan Harker and his friends after he visits Count Dracula. And the Count is not a hero similar our modern vampires aka Edward Cullen.

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

Rob K, Twitter

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

We said: Perhaps the greatest story always told, J. R. R. Tolkien's incredible trilogy of otherworldliness brought a earth of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs to life in a style never read before. Ultimately a tale of companionship and the battle between good and evil, the fictional world of Eye Earth has endured to become far greater than the sum of its parts.

You said: It's got the great sweeping story, romance, heroism, self-sacrifice, social commentary... information technology's not just magic and elves!

Anne O, Twitter

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

We said: Meander down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, it's a simple run a risk merely dig a little deeper into Mark Twain'southward novel and detect undercurrents of slavery, corruption and corruption in what Hemingway described as 'The all-time book we've had'.

You said: This book demonstrates how a young male child learns to think for himself, and shows united states how we tin, also. Information technology'southward funny, sweet and distressing – sometimes all in the same paragraph.

Richard C, Twitter

32. Bully Expectations past 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 dress since the day she was jilted, orphan Pip's coming of historic period story is i of Charles Dickens' most memorable and iconic novels.

You said: This book is not but important as a literary masterpiece and an evocative story - it also has universal appeal as, unfortunately, many children in today's globe undergo the same suffering as Pip.

Ayesha Yard, Twitter

33. Take hold of-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)

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

You lot said: In my opinion, at that place is no volume that better captures man 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)

Nosotros said: A newlywed couple is shaken up by the inflow of the bride's free-spirited and charismatic cousin Ellen, who piques the married man's interests. He must decide to save a crumbling union or pursue his passions. Edith Wharton became the offset woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for this novel which explores love, lust and social class, fix in the Golden Age of New York.

Yous said: "When SHE comes she is different, and 1 doesn't know why...".

Lulu B, Twitter

35. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958)

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

You 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 N, Twitter

36. Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

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

You said: This book is superb in form 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's Children past Salman Rushdie (1981)

Nosotros said: A visceral tale, made of smells and sounds and bumps and knocks. A brilliant fashion to immerse yourself in one of the about 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 every bit a delightful allegory.

Claudia G, Twitter

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

We said: It is 1 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 last year of the Trojan war, Homer also explores themes of humanity, pity and survival.

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

Max G, 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, we can't help but dearest and root for as we follow their fortunes and downfalls throughout the Napoleonic wars.

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

Greg R, Twitter

twoscore. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945)

We said: The iconic country house setting of Brideshead run into a family consumed by its faith battle with their loyalties. A reflective and nostalgic novel by Evelyn Waugh about form, family and homecomings.

Y'all said: So evocative of a certain time and place, as well 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 attribute of J.D. Salinger'due south masterpiece is how utterly hilarious it is. Holden is a character no one ever forgets.

You said: This novel's main character, Holden, is coping with tragic loss, equally all of us practice in our lives. As he wanders frantically around the urban center, he struggles to plan his adjacent life move, but finds happiness in small joys, such as his stiff bail with his sister.

Alma Due east, Twitter

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

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

You said: We should all go lost down a rabbit hole every one time in a while and come out believing in six impossible things earlier breakfast #whyisaravenlikeawritingdesk

Lauren D, Twitter

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

We said:Maggie Tulliver is passionate, impulsive and intelligence but her desires clash against her family unit'south expectations and result in painful consequences. Eliot drew on the frustrations of her own rural upbringing to write one of her well-nigh 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 daughter who yearns for more than society allows.

Jess, Twitter

44. Barchester Towers past Anthony Trollope (1857)

We said: The 2d novel in Anthony Trollope'due south series known every bit the 'Chronicles of Barsetshire', opens as the Bishop of Barchester lies on his deathbed; before long the battle for ability amongst the town's central players volition commence. Told with plenty of wisdom and wit.

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

Hilary S, Twitter

45. Some other Land by James Baldwin (1962)

Nosotros said: Primarily set in New York'due south Greenwich Village, James Baldwin'sAnother Country tackled many themes that were taboo at the time of its publication including bisexuality, interracial couples and extramarital diplomacy - all in the sensational earth of Harlem jazz and the Maverick underworld.

Yous said: This is a book that shows how anybody can alive and love together, passionately, dangerously, with exquisite music.  I'll never forget the thrill of first reading information technology.

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, anger, drama and wit. Quite perchance the perfect novel.

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

Gary G, Twitter

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

We said: Filled with all the sweet treats from your wildest dreams (and proving that overnice guys don't always finish concluding), Roald Dahl'sCharlie 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 glue. And don't sit down in front of the Idiot box all day. 'It rots the senses in the head!'

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

Isanne V, Twitter

48. The Outsiders by Due south. East. Hinton (1967)

We said: A coming-of-age tale of teenage rebellion, set in a winner-takes-all world of drive-ins, drag races and switchblades. Information technology created an anti-hero from the wrong side of the class split up – all written when South. 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 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 have you feeling all the emotions – and a prime example of the old adage that revenge is a dish best served cold.

Yous said: The best archetype tale! A story of innocence, romance, betrayal, 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'southward most famous novel is renowned for its utilize of inner monologue and stream-of-consciousness technique. Whether information technology'south the greatest novel of the 20th century, or the most unreadable, is up for argue.

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

Pqxzyvr, Twitter

51. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)

Nosotros said: By and large set in California, John Steinbeck's most ambitious novel follows two families and their interwoven stories. The writer himself said, 'It has everything in it I take been able to learn well-nigh my craft or profession in all these years.'

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

Naomi M, Facebook

52. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1880)

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

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

Luca C, Facebook

53. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

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

Y'all said: Beautifully written. The volume takes y'all into the listen of this awful character and lets you roll around in the gorgeous word-play as the story unfurls.

Lesley L, Facebook

54. The Hush-hush Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)

Nosotros said: Frances Hodgson Burnett'south book volition awaken the marvel of any reader, no matter their age. At that place's something so completely irresistible most subconscious doors, mysterious noises and hugger-mugger hiding places. But this is more than a story of adventures and gardening, at its eye, The Secret Garden promises that with time and plenty of nurturing, we tin all bloom.

You said: I will never forget reading this book as a kid. 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'due south personal experiences, Scoop is a satirical take on the lengths reporters – and paper magnates – will go to for a story. With modern exposés on hacking scandals and the like, Scoop feels every bit relevant equally e'er.

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

Guy V, Facebook

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

Nosotros said: Afterward 18 years in the Bastille, Dr Manette is released and sent to alive in Uk with a daughter he's never met. Carve up betwixt Paris and London, A Tale of 2 Cities is a mammoth story set during the barbarous years of the French Revolution.

You said: Sitting alone at 16 years old later on the family had gone to bed,  tears streamed down 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 man, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to live a respectable middle-course life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that it inspired an adjective in accolade of its principal grapheme: 'Pooterish', a cocky-important person who takes themselves far besides seriously.

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

Emma H, Facebook

58. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

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

You said: But the best in-depth characterisation of all time. Tolstoy'southward psychological insights have never been beaten.

Chris W, Facebook

59. The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni (1827)

Nosotros said: Alessandro Manzoni'south novel takes is the story of two young lovers trying to be together, ready against a wider properties of 17th-century Italian life. The Betrothed is considered past many to be the greatest novel ever written in Italian.

You lot said: This book is on the verge of beingness forgotten by casual readers, only it'southward entertaining, socially and scientifically progressive for its fourth dimension, has incredibly moving, beautifully-written passages on breadstuff riots and the plague, and it has the all-time surprise trope-subversion at the end.

Shawna R, Facebook

60. Orlando by Virginia Woolf (1928)

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

You said: What is information technology to be a woman? Woolf's 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 G, 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 effort to bring their Transcontinental railroad into existence, and uncover the secrets of a shadowy figure called John Galt along the way.

You said: This book engages the reader through its characters and themes, allowing one to be entranced through this cautionary tale that tin be practical to the modern earth.

Deanna H, Facebook

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

Nosotros said: When a scientist and inventor creates a time motorcar, he travels to the distant future to see what's in shop for humanity. H. M. Wells' novel is the book that popularised time travel, but read deeper and it's too a metaphor for the fractured society that nosotros however live in today.

You said: A story of noesis, educational activity, and imagining a hereafter.

Gultekin South, Facebook

63. The Art of War by Sun-Tzu

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

You said: This should be called the little book of common sense. Information technology makes everything easier to empathise.

Darren G, Facebook

64. The Forsyte Saga past 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 equally they live through dramatic social change, from the direct-laced Victorian era to the roaring 20s.

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

Hildegard Southward, Facebook

65. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (1962)

Nosotros said: Near 60 years afterward Travels with Charley still proves an eye-opening insight into a country that's so piece of cake to view as a monolith. Steinbeck and his French Poodle encounter everyone from migrant farmers to KKK members in this reminder of a complicated political landscape that'southward no less disparate today.

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

Edith S, Facebook

66. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (1934)

We said: Information technology was banned in the US and the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland for 30 years for being too 'pornographic,' and undoubtedly at that place are smutty moments, but Henry Miller uses this to annotate on the human condition. Told from a variety of start-person characters in 1930s Paris – including Miller'southward own experiences every bit a struggling writer – the mutual thread between each graphic symbol is their sexual encounters.

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

Brendan P, Facebook

67. Women in Love past 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 become involved with. Women in Love contains some of Lawrence'south finest writing.

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

David P, Facebook

68. Staying On by Paul Scott (1977)

We said: Paul Scott passed abroad 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 after the end of the British dominion in Republic of india.

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

Catherine B, Facebook

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

We said:What began every bit a serial of letters to Kenneth Grahame'southward sickly son evolved into 1 of England's nearly dearest children's books. A whimsical foray through the Berkshire countryside, the camaraderie between Ratty, Badger, Mole and Mr Toad withal embodies traditional British eccentricities to a tee.

You said: Y'all tin can relish this book at any age – and it's beautifully written.

Vicky A, Facebook

70. My Ántonia by Willa Cather (1918)

We said: The novel tells the story of Jim Burden, an orphan boy and Ántonia Shimerda who are brought equally children to be pioneers in Nebraska in the late 19th century. This is Willa Cather'south concluding book in the Neat Plains trilogy and was praised for bringing the American W to life.

You said: Quite simply, a beautifully written book.

Carolyn R, Facebook

71. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)

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

Yous said: Passion, heartbreak – this is the greatest novel e'er written.

Tessa J, Facebook

72. Perfume past Patrick Süskind (1985)

We said: In 18th-century France, one man's greatest passion and souvenir leads him downwards a path of sensual depravity. Later on discovering he has no odour of his ain – despite having a remarkable sense of smell – Jean-Baptiste Grenouille trains in the art of perfume-making then he tin can create the ultimate olfactory property – 1 that is made from 25 young virgin girls.

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

Ivy W, Facebook

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

Nosotros said: LeoTolstoy'due south sweeping epic of man life in all its imperfection and grandeur is universally accepted every bit 1 of the greatest novels of all time.

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

Angela T, Facebook

74. Of Homo Chains by Somerset Maugham (1915)

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

You lot said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love.

Rajan D, Facebook

75. Bleak Firm by Charles Dickens (1853)

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

You said: An amazing story, with 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 swain monde of Paris where he quickly discovers a world far more unsafe than he always imagined. Honoré de Balzac paints a bright and brutal film of the hypocrisy and moral history of his times.

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

Isabel K, Facebook

77. Breakfast of Champions past Kurt Vonnegut (1973)

We said: Part comedy, part searing satire, nosotros're taken to the Midwest to follow Vonnegut'south ageing writer Kilgore Trout on an cool narrative. You may love it, yous may not get the signal. Either way, you'll observe it hard non to laugh.

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

Kleber 50, Facebook

78. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

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

You lot 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's 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 kid. With themes of faith, industrialisation and community, the volume too provides us with a glimpse of a vanished rural earth.

You lot said: Redemption and love. Beautifully written

Rhiannon C, Facebook

eighty. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)

We said: 1 of literature'due south most famous parties - this groundbreaking postmodernist novel centres around Clarria Dalloway'due south preparations for a political party she'southward hosting, exploring themes of mental health, modernity and fourth dimension.

You lot said: A reminder that no life is besides minor.

Marianna S, Facebook

81. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

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

Yous said: A story of growing upward and changing and the globe ready around a grouping of young girls. This book is as timeless as it is beautiful.

Luke E, Twitter

82. The Body of water, The Bounding main by Iris Murdoch (1978)

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

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

H, Twitter

83. The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969)

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

Yous said: This novel teaches the reader about 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 earth. Bamboozling from offset to the very unfinished terminate (the novel ends mid-sentence), this is Franz Kafka'southward finest commentary on oppression and bureaucracy.

You said: This book leads the reader into a maze of conundrums, confusion, iciness and moral fog. Never to exist forgotten one time 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's sequel Claudius the God are regarded today every bit pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction, besides every bit gripping reads.

Y'all said: A beautifully written novel about absolute power. Very relevant.

Ian M, Twitter

86. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (1904)

Yous 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.

You lot said: A book that reminds anybody to never abound up inside!

Jennifer K, 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 human condition. John Kennedy Toole'south novel is widely regarded today as a tragicomic archetype that exposes 'intellectualism'.

You said: I chose this book simply because the characters are fantastic, and it makes me express joy.

Sharon, Twitter

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

You said: Featuring Maugham himself as a character and adapted twice for the big screen, The Razor's Edge tells the story of an American pilot trying to adjust dorsum to normal life following the First Globe State of war. It's a gruelling wait at the devastating furnishings of postal service-war trauma, and a philosophical journeying to detect meaning in life.

You said: A profound story of one man's journey to observe himself.

Holden M, Twitter

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

Yous said: Many will think the recent BBC series of the same proper name; Distraction Rise to Candleford is writer Flora Thompson's semi-autobiographical recollections of her youth and growing up in Oxfordshire, and paints a delightful portrait of country life at the stop of the 19th century.

Y'all said: Perhaps a little flake out of left field, but I dearest this book. Information technology'southward unproblematic, it's beautifully written and it'due south all about capturing a vanishing style of life as countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... really eloquent, really moving!

Vicky, Twitter

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

We said: When proud and passionate Eustacia Vye marries Clym Yeobright, she believes she can finally get out her rural life at Egdon Heath behind. But their unhappy marriage causes a chain 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 - every bit are many women.

Linda M, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: A Portrait of the Artist as a Swain was James Joyce'southward first novel and details the young artist discovering his vox, arts and crafts and identity through his literary modify ego, Stephen Dedalus. There are echoes of his techniques here before they are refined in his after works such equally Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

You said: Joyce is non simply the greatest stylist in English, but the novel contains one of the almost complex discussions of aesthetics in the 20th century.

Donald K, Twitter

92. Middle of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)

We said: JosephConrad's novella has been accounted by many as a 'difficult read', but this enigmatic and atmospheric piece of fiction of Charles Marlow's journey upwardly the Congo river – which also provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse At present – volition leave you unfolding its many layers for a long time after.

Y'all said: What an astonishing piece of writing from someone who had to learn the language first...

Tracey Fifty, Twitter

93. Northward and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)

We said: A swooningly romantic book with an exhilaratingly combative pairing at the eye. 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 honey story and discussion of important economic and social issues of its fourth dimension.

Alina, Twitter

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

We said: 'When information technology beginning came out it was viewed equally beingness far-fetched,' said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The continued regression of ballgame laws and women'due south rights beyond the world has only fabricated Atwood'south dystopian all the more pertinent; and ensuring the book – and Tv set prove'south – identify in history as a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

You said: I chose this volume because information technology gives a feminist perspective on the world. Also, 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)

Nosotros said: A novel of two halves, Suite Francaise is about life and death in occupied France, and finding dear and promise in the near unexpected of places.

Y'all 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 World War. Information technology presents the dilemmas, fears and choices that were felt and had to be made by ordinary people.

Jim H, Twitter

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

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

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

Brian T, Twitter

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

We said: The Winshaw family are the most powerful and cruellest family in England that is until their biographer Michael Owen starts investigating the family'south 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 nature, political ability and the elite, and always will exercise. Caustic, heartfelt, funny, devastating; a beautiful book.

Declan C, Twitter

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

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

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

Jason F, Twitter

99. White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1848)

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

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

Melly, Twitter

100. Hard Times byCharles Dickens (1854)

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

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

Angela, Twitter

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

Books ranked in no particular order. Some answers accept 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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