Read Life as We Knew Full Book Evidence With Pages 65-90

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Anybody loves a classic novel, but where to start? From Jane Austen to Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison to Fyodor Dostoevsky, the fiction canon is then vast you can hands become lost in it.

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

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

Start at the beginning of our list (books are ranked in no particular order) and tick them off every bit y'all go on this handy downloadable list, or you can jump to:

25 | 50 | 75 | 100

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

We said: It is a truth universally acknowledged that when virtually people think of Jane Austen they think of this mannerly and humorous story of love, difficult families and the tricky task of finding a handsome hubby 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 eyes of loveable rogues Scout and Jem, it too created one of literature's nearly beloved heroes – Atticus Finch, a man determined to right the racial wrongs of the Deep S.

Yous said: A jarring & poignantly beautiful story about how humans treat each other.

Greygardens, Twitter

3. The Slap-up Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

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

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

Joe T, Twitter

4. 1 Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (1967)

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

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

Andre C, Twitter

5. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1965)

We said: The 'true criminal offence' TV show / podcast yous're obsessed with probably owes a debt to this masterpiece of reportage past Truman Capote. Spooky and bright.

You lot said: In this groundbreaking novel, completed after half-dozen arduous years of inquiry, Capote invented a new genre - the 'Nonfiction Novel' - applying prose techniques to fact. Information technology spawned the school of New Journalism & invented the true crime genre every bit nosotros know it.

Kgjephcott, Twitter

vi. Wide Sargasso Body of water by Jean Rhys (1966)

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

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

Eric A, Twitter

7. Dauntless New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)

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

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

David Grand, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Cassandra Mortmain'southward upbringing in a aging castle with her eccentric family may not exist anybody's experience, but we tin can 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 we need some laughs on the 100 Classics list!)

Helen Y, Twitter

9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

Nosotros said: One of literature's steeliest heroines, in her short life Jane Eyre has overcome a traumatic childhood simply to exist challenged by secrets, strange noises and mysterious fires in her new habitation 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 first-person narrative.

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

Sarah F, Twitter

x. Crime and Penalisation 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'south part can complimentary him from the parasitic guilt nested in his soul. A brilliant read if you loved Breaking Bad.

Yous said:No other novel has made me feel so much for the master characters, so deeply depicted by the author. I felt similar an orphan when I finished it and it's the only novel I've re-read several times.

Angie 5, Twitter

11. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992)

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

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

AnamiAndBooks, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Jack London was a gilt prospector in the Canadian wilderness and used his experiences to write near a canis familiaris named Buck who becomes a leader of the wild. With themes exploring nature and the struggle for existence in the frozen Alaskan landscape.

You said: Because everyone who loves the world knows information technology'southward truthful.

Helen D, Twitter

13. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham (1955)

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

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

Hollie B, Twitter

14. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1818)

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

Y'all said: This continues to be my favourite novel. It is a more mature love story, full of humourous, delightful observations of human behaviour. It offers us a glimpse of redemption. Nosotros change as we grow, and the mistakes fabricated in our youth can be overcome.

Dartmouth_Diva, Twitter

fifteen. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (1851)

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

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

David H, Twitter

 xvi. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.Due south. Lewis (1950)

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

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

Adisha Grand, Twitter

17. To the Lighthouse past Virginia Woolf (1927)

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

You said: You feel like you're stood on top of a cliff with the ocean breeze blowing right through your bones.

‏Halcyonbookdays, Twitter

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

Nosotros said:Considered Elizabeth Bowen's masterpiece novel, this is the story of 16-year old Portia who is sent to live with her Aunt in London, after her mother's death. There, she falls for the bonny cad Eddie. A devastating exploration of adolescent beloved and innocence betrayed.

You said: This book captures the awkward tension and anxieties of the interwar flow through a securely reflective, but oddly naive, unloved girl. ‏

Heather O, Twitter

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

Nosotros 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'south bid for salvation in a society set to condemn her is a harrowing and powerful read.

You said: This novel teaches us virtually the position of women in the past and their moments of frailty versus moments of forcefulness. Basically, an important insight for everyone to accept!

Abbie H, Twitter

20. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1823)

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

You said: Chosen for all the questions it raises virtually 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 past Mikhail Bulgakov (1966)

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

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

Eggfrieddog, Twitter

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

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

You said: As a 17-year-old, I was completely absorbed by this story, wishing Leo was my 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 caput nurse, merely 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 to life than following rules. Having joy and being spontaneous are as of import equally anything else in life.

Darren B, Twitter

24. 19 Eighty-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 page to the last.

You lot said: I first read this book years ago, and was glad I would never have to be a part of that kind of gild. Notwithstanding, 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 epic, he portrays the slow reject of a wealthy and highly esteemed merchant-family unit in northern Germany over four generations, every bit they grapple with the modernism of the 20th century.

You said: Information technology's a great novel about the rise and fall of a family, the human relationship between fathers and sons, and the conflict between fine art and business. Well, and I have to say I exercise beloved family unit sagas.

Peter 50, Twitter

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

We said: Mayhap 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 better future. A modern-twenty-four hour period story. Still makes my skin tingle.

Morven, Twitter

27. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987)

We said: Toni Morrison'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 volume is amazing. Beautifully written, haunting and the level of particular of the lengths people went to protect their families from slavery is fantastic.

LittleReigate, Twitter

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

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

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

Matt F, Twitter

29. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

We said: Bram Stoker'southward novel is told by multiple narrators in a serial 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 like our modern vampires aka Edward Cullen.

Yous said: A Gothic tale of fright and love. Would 1 desire immortality at the cost of ane's morality and soul? Loneliness beckons down such a dangerous and fearful path.

Rob K, Twitter

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

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

Y'all said: It'southward got the groovy sweeping story, romance, heroism, self-sacrifice, social commentary... it's not just magic and elves!

Anne O, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Meander down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, information technology'southward a simple adventure just dig a little deeper into Marking Twain's novel and detect undercurrents of slavery, corruption and corruption in what Hemingway described equally 'The best volume nosotros've had'.

You said: This book demonstrates how a young boy learns to think for himself, and shows us how we can, too. Information technology's funny, sugariness and lamentable – sometimes all in the same paragraph.

Richard C, Twitter

32. Bang-up Expectations by Charles Dickens (1860)

We said:From the escaped captive 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 age story is ane of Charles Dickens' virtually memorable and iconic novels.

You said: This book is non only of import equally 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 K, Twitter

33. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)

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

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

Sam Westward, Twitter

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

We said: A newlywed couple is shaken up by the arrival of the bride'south free-spirited and charismatic cousin Ellen, who piques the husband's interests. He must determine to save a crumbling wedlock or pursue his passions. Edith Wharton became the starting time woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for this novel which explores love, lust and social class, set in the Gilt Age of New York.

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

Lulu B, Twitter

35. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958)

We said: It has come to be seen equally the archetypal modern African novel in English and is read widely beyond Africa and Nigeria in which information technology is set. Information technology follows the Okonowo a slap-up and famous warrior and the most powerful men of his association. 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 art, religion, science, politics, self and society in the pb-upward to the First 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 volume is superb in form and content. There is no better dissection of and insight into human club. She was the Shakespeare of her mean solar day and Middlemarch is her finest novel.

Tim R, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: A visceral tale, made of smells and sounds and bumps and knocks. A brilliant way to immerse yourself in ane of the nigh fascinating and turbulent periods of the 20th century, via a wonderfully fantastical conceit.

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

Claudia G, Twitter

38. The Iliad past Homer (eighth century BC)

Nosotros said: Information technology is 1 of the greatest and most influential ballsy poems e'er written, and (alongside 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.

Y'all said: This is the ultimate war verse form, filled with existential drama, heroic striving, death, and the pregnant of life.

Max G, Twitter

39. Vanity Off-white by William Makepeace Thackeray (1847)

We said: William Makepeace Thackeray's satirical reflection of lodge on the whole embodied in a bandage of characters who although flawed, we can't help merely beloved and root for every bit 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

40. Brideshead Revisited past Evelyn Waugh (1945)

We said: The iconic country firm setting of Brideshead see a family unit consumed by its religion battle with their loyalties. A reflective and cornball novel by Evelyn Waugh about class, family and homecomings.

You said: So evocative of a sure fourth dimension and identify, besides every bit existence a compelling story.

Patricia C, Twitter

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

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

You said: This novel's main grapheme, Holden, is coping with tragic loss, equally all of the states do in our lives. As he wanders aimlessly around the city, he struggles to programme his next life move, but finds happiness in small joys, such every bit his strong bond with his sis.

Alma E, Twitter

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

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

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

Lauren D, Twitter

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

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

Y'all said: I archetype everyone must read:The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. A beautifully told story of an intelligent girl who yearns for more society allows.

Jess, Twitter

44. Barchester Towers past Anthony Trollope (1857)

Nosotros 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 boxing for power amongst the town'due south key players will embark. Told with plenty of wisdom and wit.

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

Hilary S, Twitter

45. Another Land by James Baldwin (1962)

Nosotros said: Primarily prepare 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 Bohemian underworld.

Yous said: This is a volume that shows how everyone can live and dear together, passionately, dangerously, with exquisite music.  I'll never forget the thrill of first reading information technology.

Jon A, Twitter

46. Les Miserables past Victor Hugo (1862)

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

You said: A beautiful story of the ability of redemption and a skillful middle along with a backdrop of the socio-economic iniquities of 19th century French republic. 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 last), 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 gum. And don't sit in forepart of the Boob tube all day. 'It rots the senses in the head!'

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

Isanne V, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: A coming-of-age tale of teenage rebellion, fix in a winner-takes-all world of bulldoze-ins, elevate races and switchblades. It created an anti-hero from the wrong side of the class divide – all written when South. E. Hinton was but 17. 'Stay aureate Ponyboy… stay gold'.

You lot 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 past Alexandre Dumas (1844)

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

You said: The all-time classic tale! A story of innocence, romance, betrayal, suffering, revenge and more than chiefly, 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 fifty-fifty legal action, James Joyce's most famous novel is renowned for its use of inner monologue and stream-of-consciousness technique. Whether it's the greatest novel of the 20th century, or the nigh unreadable, is upward for debate.

You said: Reading it every bit a person, an emotional journey. Reading it as a writer, technically mesmerizing and inspiring

Pqxzyvr, Twitter

51. Due east of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)

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

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

Naomi Yard, Facebook

52. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1880)

Nosotros said: Two years in the making, this philosophical novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky questions big topics like organized religion, free volition and morality but it's also a very readable 1 that's part murder mystery, part courtroom drama.

You said: A depiction of the darkest recesses of human nature. Merely besides of the brightest ones…

Luca C, Facebook

53. Lolita past Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

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

Y'all said: Beautifully written. The book takes you into the mind of this awful character and lets you curl around in the gorgeous word-play equally the story unfurls.

Lesley 50, Facebook

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

Nosotros said: Frances Hodgson Burnett's book will awaken the curiosity of any reader, no matter their age. At that place'southward something then completely irresistible virtually hidden doors, mysterious noises and surreptitious hiding places. But this is more than a story of adventures and gardening, at its center, The Secret Garden promises that with time and plenty of nurturing, we can all blossom.

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

Ulrika F, Facebook

55. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh (1938)

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

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

Guy 5, Facebook

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

Nosotros said: After 18 years in the Guardhouse, Dr Manette is released and sent to live in Great britain with a daughter he'south never met. Split betwixt Paris and London, A Tale of Two Cities is a mammoth story set during the savage years of the French Revolution.

Y'all said: Sitting alone at 16 years quondam later the family had gone to bed,  tears streamed down 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 center-course man, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to alive a respectable middle-class life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that information technology inspired an adjective in award of its main character: 'Pooterish', a self-important person who takes themselves far too seriously.

Y'all said: I take read this book so many times and express mirth out loud every time. I have a Penguin Classic copy of information technology that'due south falling apart simply I wouldn't part with it for the earth

Emma H, Facebook

58. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

We said: Anna Karenina is a woman who seems to have information technology all. She's married, she's wealthy, she'due south 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 but it's a very readable one.

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

Chris Due west, Facebook

59. The Matrimonial by Alessandro Manzoni (1827)

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

You said: This book is on the verge of beingness forgotten by coincidental readers, merely it's entertaining, socially and scientifically progressive for its time, has incredibly moving, beautifully-written passages on bread riots and the plague, and it has the best surprise trope-subversion at the 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 but powerful novel and follow Orlando from the court of Elizabeth I to a celebrated poet in the 20th century.

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

Antonia M, Facebook

61.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957)

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

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

Deanna H, Facebook

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

Nosotros said: When a scientist and inventor creates a time car, he travels to the distant future to encounter what'due south in store for humanity. H. G. Wells' novel is the book that popularised time travel, but read deeper and it'due south also a metaphor for the fractured lodge that we still live in today.

Y'all said: A story of noesis, education, and imagining a future.

Gultekin Southward, Facebook

63. The Art of War by Sun-Tzu

We said: Sunday-Tzu, writer of the world's oldest guide to armed forces strategy, recognised that we live in a conflicted globe. The layperson might not exist involved in warfare but the communication within is just every bit useful for navigating the workplace or daily life.

Yous said: This should exist called the little book of mutual sense. It makes everything easier to understand.

Darren One thousand, Facebook

64. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (1922)

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

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

Hildegard South, Facebook

65. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (1962)

Nosotros said: Almost sixty years later on Travels with Charley still proves an heart-opening insight into a country that'southward so easy to view equally a monolith. Steinbeck and his French Poodle encounter everyone from migrant farmers to KKK members in this reminder of a complicated political landscape that's no less disparate today.

You said: I of the true 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 United kingdom for xxx years for beingness as well 'pornographic,' and undoubtedly there are smutty moments, but Henry Miller uses this to comment on the human condition. Told from a diverseness of starting time-person characters in 1930s Paris – including Miller'southward own experiences as a struggling writer – the common thread between each character is their sexual encounters.

Yous said: Loud, funny, sexual Paris in the 1930s. I read information technology when I was xx, and it changed the way I look at the world.

Brendan P, Facebook

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

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

You said: This is Lawrence at his all-time… although I practise recall Lady Chatterley'south Lover is under-rated…

David P, Facebook

68. Staying On by Paul Scott (1977)

We said: Paul Scott passed away at the peak of his writing career and his last novel, Staying On – which won the Booker Prize in 1977 – gives us a unique insight into life just after the cease of the British rule in Republic of india.

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

Catherine B, Facebook

69. The Current of air in the Willows past Kenneth Grahame (1908)

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

You said: You tin can enjoy this volume at any age – and it'due south beautifully written.

Vicky A, Facebook

70. My Ántonia past Willa Cather (1918)

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

You lot said: Quite simply, 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 honey story betwixt 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 volition go on to do and then.

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

Tessa J, Facebook

72. Perfume by Patrick Süskind (1985)

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

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

Ivy W, Facebook

73. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1867)

Nosotros said: LeoTolstoy's sweeping ballsy of human life in all its imperfection and grandeur is universally accepted every bit one of the greatest novels of all fourth dimension.

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

Angela T, Facebook

74. Of Homo 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 than is pure invention.' Regardless, the story of Philip Carey, a homo with ambitions who falls in love with a loud but irresistible waitress is considered i of his finest books.

Yous said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love.

Rajan D, Facebook

75. Bleak Business firm past Charles Dickens (1853)

Nosotros said: At the centre 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 manner to profit from the case. Dickens' scathing reflection of the legal profession went some way to support a judicial reform movement in the 1870s.

Y'all said: An amazing story, with and then many twists and turns

Jane E, Facebook

76. Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac (1837)

We said: Would-exist poet Lucien Chardon moves from the French Provinces to the glamorous fellow monde of Paris where he rapidly discovers a earth far more dangerous than he always imagined. Honoré de Balzac paints a vivid and brutal movie of the hypocrisy and moral history of his times.

You said: A magnificent story about man nature, ambition and society (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's ageing writer Kilgore Trout on an absurd narrative. You may love it, you may non get the signal. Either mode, you lot'll find it hard not to laugh.

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

Kleber Fifty, Facebook

78. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

Nosotros said: This is arguably Dickens' most 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 said: A masterpiece. The ultimate story of hope 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 second chance to transform his life when he adopts a young orphaned child. With themes of religion, industrialisation and customs, the book besides provides us with a glimpse of a vanished rural world.

Yous said: Redemption and love. Beautifully written

Rhiannon C, Facebook

fourscore. Mrs Dalloway past Virginia Woolf (1925)

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

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

Marianna S, Facebook

81. Little Women past Louisa May Alcott (1868)

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

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

Luke Due east, Twitter

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

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

You said: This volume left me speechless, while reading and after reading and I all the same tin't find the words to depict why it is one of the nearly impressive pieces of writing I have ever read.

H, Twitter

83. The Godfather past Mario Puzo (1969)

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

You said: This novel teaches the reader nearly 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 globe. Bamboozling from start to the very unfinished stop (the novel ends mid-judgement), this is Franz Kafka's finest commentary on oppression and hierarchy.

You lot 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 by Robert Graves (1934)

Y'all 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'south sequel Claudius the God are regarded today as pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction, every bit well as gripping reads.

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

Ian 1000, Twitter

86. Peter Pan past J.One thousand. Barrie (1904)

You said:The story that made every child want to trip the light fantastic on tiptoes over midnight rooftops and soar away to Neverland, J. Chiliad. Barrie's tale of the boy who could never abound upwardly brought magic to bedtimes everywhere. From the Lost Boys to fearsome pirates, the enchanting run a risk of Peter Pan has, both literally and metaphorically, never grown old.

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

Jennifer M, Twitter

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

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

You said: I chose this book but because the characters are fantastic, and information technology makes me express joy.

Sharon, Twitter

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

You said: Featuring Maugham himself every bit a character and adapted twice for the big screen, The Razor's Border tells the story of an American pilot trying to adjust back to normal life following the First World War. It's a gruelling expect at the devastating furnishings of postal service-state of war trauma, and a philosophical journey to notice meaning in life.

Yous said: A profound story of one man's journey to detect himself.

Holden M, Twitter

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

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

You said: Perhaps a little bit out of left field, but I love this book. It's simple, it's beautifully written and it'due south all well-nigh capturing a vanishing style of life equally countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... really eloquent, really moving!

Vicky, Twitter

ninety. The Render of the Native by Thomas Hardy (1878)

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

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

Linda M, Twitter

91. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Homo past James Joyce (1916)

We said: A Portrait of the Artist as a Swain was James Joyce'due south offset novel and details the young creative person discovering his voice, craft and identity through his literary alter ego, Stephen Dedalus. There are echoes of his techniques hither before they are refined in his after works such as Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

You said: Joyce is not only the greatest stylist in English, simply the novel contains one of the most complex discussions of aesthetics in the 20th century.

Donald K, Twitter

92. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)

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

You said: What an amazing piece of writing from someone who had to learn the linguistic communication kickoff...

Tracey L, Twitter

93. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)

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

You said: This novel combines a beautiful dearest story and discussion of important economical and social issues of its time.

Alina, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: 'When information technology first came out it was viewed as being far-fetched,' said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The connected regression of ballgame laws and women'southward rights beyond the world has simply fabricated Atwood's dystopian all the more pertinent; and ensuring the book – and Television show's – place in history every bit a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

Yous said: I chose this book because it gives a feminist perspective on the world. As well, Atwood uses events from history to create the story, which I detect of import. History is a circle.

Emma H, Twitter

95. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (2004)

Nosotros said: A novel of 2 halves, Suite Francaise is about life and decease in occupied France, and finding honey and hope in the almost 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 2d Earth 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 Solar 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 military camp in the 1950s is highly considered to be 1 of the greats of contemporary literature.

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

Brian T, Twitter

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

We said: The Winshaw family are the near 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 lot said: This novel has so much to say about human nature, political power and the elite, and always volition do. Caustic, heartfelt, funny, devastating; a beautiful book.

Declan C, Twitter

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

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

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

Jason F, Twitter

99. White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1848)

Nosotros said: One of Fyodor Dostoyevsky'south underrated works, this short story is divided into six sections. With themes of loneliness and unrequited dear told by a nameless narrator – it'southward quintessential Dostoyevsky.

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

Melly, Twitter

100. Difficult Times byCharles Dickens (1854)

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

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

Angela, Twitter

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

Books ranked in no particular lodge. Some answers have been edited for clarity and fashion.

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

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