Non Fiction Books I Should Read Now

Image: Ryan MacEachern/Penguin

Everyone loves a archetype novel, only where to start? From Jane Austen to Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison to Fyodor Dostoevsky, the fiction canon is so vast you tin hands get lost in it.

So we asked our readers to tell us almost their favourite archetype books. The resulting listing of must-reads is a perfect style to find inspiration to starting time your classics risk. At that place'southward something for everyone, from family sagas and dystopian fiction to romances and historical fiction.

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

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

25 | 50 | 75 | 100

i. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

We said: It is a truth universally acknowledged that when most people recollect of Jane Austen they recall of this charming and humorous story of dearest, difficult families and the catchy task of finding a handsome husband with a expert fortune.

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

Francesca, Twitter

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

We said: A novel earlier its time, Harper Lee's Pulitzer-prize winner addresses issues of race, inequality and segregation with both levity and compassion. Told through the optics of loveable rogues Lookout and Jem, it besides created ane of literature's almost beloved heroes – Atticus Finch, a man determined to right the racial wrongs of the Deep South.

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

Greygardens, Twitter

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

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

You lot said: The greatest, most scathing dissection of the hollowness at the centre of the American dream. Hypnotic, tragic, both of its time and completely relevant.

Joe T, Twitter

4. One Hundred Years of Confinement past Gabriel García Márquez (1967)

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

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

Andre C, Twitter

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

We said: The 'truthful criminal offense' TV prove / 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 six backbreaking years of research, Capote invented a new genre - the 'Nonfiction Novel' - applying prose techniques to fact. It spawned the schoolhouse of New Journalism & invented the true crime genre as we know it.

Kgjephcott, Twitter

6. Wide Sargasso Sea past Jean Rhys (1966)

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

Eric A, Twitter

vii. Brave New Earth by Aldous Huxley (1932)

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

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

David G, Twitter

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

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

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

Helen Y, Twitter

ix. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

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

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

Sarah F, Twitter

10. Crime 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 role can gratis him from the parasitic guilt nested in his soul. A vivid read if you loved Breaking Bad.

You lot said:No other novel has made me feel so much for the primary characters, then securely depicted by the writer. I felt like an orphan when I finished it and it'due south the only novel I've re-read several times.

Angie V, Twitter

11. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992)

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

Y'all said: A mod classic - so well-articulated and written (something that's hard to come past 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 dog named Cadet 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 globe knows it's true.

Helen D, Twitter

13. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham (1955)

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

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

Hollie B, Twitter

fourteen. Persuasion past Jane Austen (1818)

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

You said: This continues to be my favourite novel. Information technology is a more mature love story, full of humourous, delightful observations of human behaviour. Information technology offers us a glimpse of redemption. We change as we grow, and the mistakes made in our youth can be overcome.

Dartmouth_Diva, Twitter

15. Moby-Dick past Herman Melville (1851)

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

You lot said: The corking American novel: neat characters, wonderful language, thick with the Bible and Thomas Browne, and has the best opening sentence always. What'southward non to similar?

David H, Twitter

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

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

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

Adisha K, Twitter

17. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927)

We said: To the Lighthouse is a daring novel with footling regard for rules. In that location's no consequent 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.

Y'all said: You feel like you're stood on tiptop of a cliff with the sea breeze bravado right through your basic.

‏Halcyonbookdays, Twitter

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

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

You said: This book captures the awkward tension and anxieties of the interwar menstruation through a deeply reflective, simply oddly naive, unloved daughter. ‏

Heather O, Twitter

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

We said: It received mixed reviews it was starting time published, in part considering it challenged Victorian ideals of purity and sexual morals. But Thomas Hardy's unflinching account of Tess's bid for salvation in a society ready to condemn her is a harrowing and powerful read.

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

Abbie H, Twitter

xx. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1823)

We said: Written when Mary Shelley was just 18 years old, but don't permit that depress you. 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 become on.

Julie A, Twitter

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

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

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

Eggfrieddog, Twitter

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

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

Y'all 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. 1 Flew Over the Cuckoo'southward Nest by Ken Kesey (1962)

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

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

Darren B, Twitter

24. Nineteen 80-Four past George Orwell (1949)

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

You said: I first read this book years agone, and was glad I would never accept to exist a role of that kind of society. Yet, here I am in 2018, and and then much of that novel has come true.

Donna J, Twitter

25. Buddenbrooks by Thomas Isle of mann (1901)

We said:In Thomas Mann's semi-autobiographical family unit epic, he portrays the boring decline of a wealthy and highly esteemed merchant-family in northern Germany over 4 generations, as they grapple with the modernism of the 20th century.

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

Peter 50, Twitter

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

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

You said: Migration in search of work and a ameliorate future. A modernistic-mean solar day story. Still makes my skin tingle.

Morven, Twitter

27. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987)

We said: Toni Morrison's 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)

We said: This is the third full-length novel featuring P. 1000. 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?

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

Matt F, Twitter

29. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

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

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

Rob K, Twitter

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

We said: Maybe the greatest story ever told, J. R. R. Tolkien's incredible trilogy of otherworldliness brought a world of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs to life in a manner never read earlier. Ultimately a tale of companionship and the boxing between good and evil, the fictional globe of Center 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... it's not just magic and elves!

Anne O, Twitter

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

We said: Meander downwardly the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, it's a elementary hazard but dig a piddling deeper into Marking Twain'southward novel and discover undercurrents of slavery, abuse and corruption in what Hemingway described as 'The best volume we've had'.

You lot said: This volume demonstrates how a young boy learns to call back for himself, and shows united states of america how we can, too. It'south funny, sugariness and sad – sometimes all in the same paragraph.

Richard C, Twitter

32. Not bad Expectations by Charles Dickens (1860)

We said:From the escaped convict lurking in the wild Kent marshes to the eccentric Miss Havisham who has remained in her nuptials dress since the twenty-four hours she was jilted, orphan Pip's coming of age story is 1 of Charles Dickens' most memorable and iconic novels.

You said: This book is not merely important equally a literary masterpiece and an evocative story - information technology too has universal entreatment equally, unfortunately, many children in today's world undergo the aforementioned suffering every bit Pip.

Ayesha 1000, Twitter

33. Catch-22 past Joseph Heller (1961)

We said: The perfect read for a cacophonous political moment. Joseph Heller's boundless masterpiece brilliantly illustrates the style that ability is hoarded and wielded like magic, with sleights of manus and rhetorical trickery deployed like weapons to get out normal people baffled and exhausted.

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

Sam W, Twitter

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

We said: A newlywed couple is shaken up by the inflow of the bride'southward free-spirited and charismatic cousin Ellen, who piques the hubby's interests. He must make up one's mind to relieve a crumbling marriage or pursue his passions. Edith Wharton became the first adult female to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for this novel which explores love, lust and social form, fix in the Gilded Age of New York.

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

Lulu B, Twitter

35. Things Autumn Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958)

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

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

Danny Due north, Twitter

36. Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

We said: Dorothea Brooke and the other inhabitants of Middlemarch grapple with fine art, religion, science, politics, cocky and society in the lead-up to the First Reform Bill of 1832 in a literary exploration of human 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 improve 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 by Salman Rushdie (1981)

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

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

Claudia G, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Information technology is i of the greatest and virtually influential epic poems ever 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 too explores themes of humanity, compassion and survival.

Y'all said: This is the ultimate war poem, filled with existential drama, heroic striving, expiry, and the meaning of life.

Max G, Twitter

39. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (1847)

We said: William Makepeace Thackeray'south satirical reflection of society on the whole embodied in a cast of characters who although flawed, we can't help simply honey and root for equally we follow their fortunes and downfalls throughout the Napoleonic wars.

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

Greg R, Twitter

40. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945)

We said: The iconic country business firm setting of Brideshead run into a family unit consumed by its religion boxing with their loyalties. A reflective and nostalgic novel by Evelyn Waugh most class, family unit and homecomings.

You said: Then evocative of a certain time and place, also every bit beingness 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 information technology is. Holden is a graphic symbol no ane always forgets.

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

Alma East, Twitter

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

We said: Alice is a no-nonsense, quick-witted and daring – we could all learn a lesson or two from the resourceful immature 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 one-time information technology features a heroine mode alee of her time.

You said: Nosotros should all become lost down a rabbit hole every once in a while and come out assertive in six incommunicable things before breakfast #whyisaravenlikeawritingdesk

Lauren D, Twitter

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

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

You said: 1 classic everyone must read:The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. A beautifully told story of an intelligent girl who yearns for more than society allows.

Jess, Twitter

44. Barchester Towers past Anthony Trollope (1857)

We said: The second novel in Anthony Trollope's series known as the 'Chronicles of Barsetshire', opens as the Bishop of Barchester lies on his deathbed; before long the battle for power among the boondocks's key players will embark. Told with plenty of wisdom and wit.

You said: This volume has tremendous characters and a plot which sucks yous into such a dissimilar earth, most which you detect yourself caring desperately.

Hilary S, Twitter

45. Another Country past James Baldwin (1962)

We said: Primarily set in New York's Greenwich Hamlet, James Baldwin'southSome other Country tackled many themes that were taboo at the time of its publication including bisexuality, interracial couples and extramarital affairs - all in the sensational earth of Harlem jazz and the Maverick underworld.

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

Jon A, Twitter

46. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (1862)

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

You said: A beautiful story of the power of redemption and a skilful centre forth 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 Mill by Roald Dahl (1964)

We said: Filled with all the sweet treats from your wildest dreams (and proving that nice guys don't always stop final), 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 front of the Television all day. 'It rots the senses in the head!'

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

Isanne V, Twitter

48. The Outsiders past South. Due east. Hinton (1967)

Nosotros said: A coming-of-age tale of teenage rebellion, prepare in a winner-takes-all world of drive-ins, elevate races and switchblades. It created an anti-hero from the wrong side of the form dissever – all written when South. Due east. Hinton was just 17. 'Stay gold Ponyboy… stay gilt'.

You lot said: The original YA novel, which sparked many crushes and made me autumn in love with reading.

Claire C, Twitter

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

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

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

Hayati Y, Twitter

l. Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)

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

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

Pqxzyvr, Twitter

51. 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 take been able to learn about my arts and crafts or profession in all these years.'

They said: Brilliant writing, epic family unit saga, drills deep into homo nature and how we think, feel and deed toward ane another. My all-time favourite novel.

Naomi M, 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 will and morality but information technology'southward likewise a very readable one that's part murder mystery, part court drama.

Y'all said: A delineation of the darkest recesses of human nature. Simply likewise of the brightest ones…

Luca C, Facebook

53. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

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

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

Lesley L, Facebook

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

We said: Frances Hodgson Burnett'south book will awaken the curiosity of any reader, no matter their historic period. There'southward something so completely irresistible about subconscious doors, mysterious noises and secret hiding places. But this is more than a story of adventures and gardening, at its heart, The Secret Garden promises that with time and plenty of nurturing, nosotros can all blossom.

Y'all said: I will never forget reading this book equally a kid. I felt I was in the middle of the story.

Ulrika F, Facebook

55. Scoop past Evelyn Waugh (1938)

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

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

Guy Five, Facebook

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

Nosotros said: Afterward xviii years in the Guardhouse, Dr Manette is released and sent to alive in Britain with a daughter he's never met. Split between Paris and London, A Tale of Ii Cities is a mammoth story set during the vicious years of the French Revolution.

You said: Sitting lone at xvi years old later on the family had gone to bed,  tears streamed down my cheeks as 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 human, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to live a respectable middle-form life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that it inspired an adjective in honour of its main character: 'Pooterish', a self-of import person who takes themselves far likewise seriously.

You said: I have read this book so many times and laugh out loud every fourth dimension. I take a Penguin Classic copy of information technology that'southward falling autonomously only I wouldn't role with it for the world

Emma H, Facebook

58. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

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

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

Chris W, Facebook

59. The Matrimonial by Alessandro Manzoni (1827)

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

You said: This book is on the verge of being forgotten by casual readers, but information technology's entertaining, socially and scientifically progressive for its time, has incredibly moving, beautifully-written passages on staff of life riots and the plague, and information technology has the best surprise trope-subversion at the stop.

Shawna R, Facebook

60. Orlando by Virginia Woolf (1928)

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

Y'all said: What is it to be a woman? Woolf's modernist novel is so fresh even 90 or then years later. Gender fluidity before the term was fifty-fifty coined. And a history of literature every bit a backdrop.

Antonia M, Facebook

61.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957)

We said: Step into the dystopian USA and follow the saga of Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden equally they attempt 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 can be practical to the mod globe.

Deanna H, Facebook

62. The Fourth dimension Machine by H. Thousand. Wells (1895)

Nosotros said: When a scientist and inventor creates a time machine, he travels to the distant future to encounter what's in store for humanity. H. K. Wells' novel is the book that popularised time travel, but read deeper and it's also a metaphor for the fractured guild that nosotros still alive in today.

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

Gultekin S, Facebook

63. The Fine art of War by Sun-Tzu

We said: Dominicus-Tzu, author of the world's oldest guide to military strategy, recognised that nosotros live in a conflicted world. The layperson might not exist involved in warfare but the communication within is just as useful for navigating the workplace or daily life.

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

Darren G, Facebook

64. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (1922)

Nosotros 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 alter, from the straight-laced Victorian era to the roaring 20s.

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

Hildegard South, Facebook

65. Travels with Charley past John Steinbeck (1962)

We said: Almost 60 years subsequently Travels with Charley nonetheless proves an eye-opening insight into a country that's 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 mural that's no less disparate today.

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

Edith South, Facebook

66. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (1934)

We said: It was banned in the Usa and the Uk for 30 years for being as well 'pornographic,' and undoubtedly at that place are smutty moments, but Henry Miller uses this to comment on the human condition. Told from a diverseness of start-person characters in 1930s Paris – including Miller'due south own experiences equally a struggling writer – the common thread between each character is their sexual encounters.

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

Brendan P, Facebook

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

We said: Controversial during its time, D. H. Lawrence's sequel to The Rainbow follows the lives of 2 women and the men they become involved with. Women in Love contains some of Lawrence's finest writing.

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

David P, Facebook

68. Staying On past Paul Scott (1977)

We said: Paul Scott passed away at the meridian of his writing career and his final novel, Staying On – which won the Booker Prize in 1977 – gives the states a unique insight into life just after the end of the British rule in India.

You lot said: A funny, tragic, beautifully written study of an English colonial married couple left behind every bit an independent Republic of india moves ahead.

Catherine B, Facebook

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

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

Yous said: You can savor this book at any age – and it's beautifully written.

Vicky A, Facebook

lxx. My Ántonia by Willa Cather (1918)

We said: The novel tells the story of Jim Brunt, 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'south final volume in the Great Plains trilogy and was praised for bringing the American West to life.

Yous said: Quite simply, a beautifully written volume.

Carolyn R, Facebook

71. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)

We said: Controversial at the time of publication, Emily Brontë's archetype love story betwixt Catherine and Heathcliff withal resonates with readers today.  Widely considered a staple of Gothic fiction and the English language literary canon, this book has gone on to inspire many generations of writers – and will continue to exercise then.

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

Tessa J, Facebook

72. Perfume past Patrick Süskind (1985)

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

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

Ivy W, Facebook

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

Nosotros said: LeoTolstoy'due south sweeping epic of human life in all its imperfection and grandeur is universally accustomed as one of the greatest novels of all time.

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

Angela T, Facebook

74. Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham (1915)

Nosotros said: Considered as Somerset Maugham's almost autobiographical of his work, the author stated, 'This is a novel, non an autobiography, though much in information technology is autobiographical, more is pure invention.' Regardless, the story of Philip Carey, a man with ambitions who falls in love with a loud but irresistible waitress is considered 1 of his finest books.

You said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love.

Rajan D, Facebook

75. Bleak House by Charles Dickens (1853)

We said: At the centre of Bleak Business firm is the never-catastrophe legal case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce which draws together a disparate grouping of people who hope in some way to turn a profit from the case. Dickens' scathing reflection of the legal profession went some way to back up a judicial reform move in the 1870s.

Yous said: An amazing story, with so many twists and turns

Jane E, Facebook

76. Lost Illusions past Honoré de Balzac (1837)

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

You lot said: A magnificent story about man nature, ambition and society (in any century).

Isabel M, Facebook

77. Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut (1973)

We said: Role comedy, function searing satire, nosotros're taken to the Midwest to follow Vonnegut's ageing writer Kilgore Trout on an absurd narrative. You lot may love it, you lot may non get the point. Either way, you lot'll detect it hard not to laugh.

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

Kleber L, Facebook

78. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

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

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

Sergeant_Tibbs, Twitter

79. Silas Marner by George Eliot (1861)

We said: Silas Marner was Eliot's favourite of her novels. It tells the story of an isolated miser, who is given a 2d chance to transform his life when he adopts a young orphaned child. With themes of religion, industrialisation and community, the book likewise provides u.s.a. with a glimpse of a vanished rural world.

Y'all said: Redemption and dear. Beautifully written

Rhiannon C, Facebook

eighty. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)

Nosotros said: One of literature's well-nigh famous parties - this groundbreaking postmodernist novel centres around Clarria Dalloway's preparations for a party she's hosting, exploring themes of mental wellness, modernity and time.

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

Marianna S, Facebook

81. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

We said: In Lilliputian 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 upward and the irreplaceable bond of sisterhood.

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

Luke East, Twitter

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

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

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

H, Twitter

83. The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969)

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

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

Louisa J, Twitter

84. The Castle past Franz Kafka (1926)

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

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

Arnold F, Twitter

85. I, Claudius by 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'south sequel Claudius the God are regarded today as pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction, also equally gripping reads.

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

Ian One thousand, Twitter

86. Peter Pan by J.1000. Barrie (1904)

Yous said:The story that fabricated every kid want to dance on tiptoes over midnight rooftops and soar away to Neverland, J. M. Barrie'southward tale of the boy who could never grow up brought magic to bedtimes everywhere. From the Lost Boys to fearsome pirates, the enchanting adventure of Peter Pan has, both literally and metaphorically, never grown old.

You said: A volume that reminds anybody to never abound upward inside!

Jennifer M, Twitter

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

You said: A medievalist protagonist encounters a series of misadventures in a comedic exploration of the man condition. John Kennedy Toole's novel is widely regarded today as a tragicomic archetype that exposes 'intellectualism'.

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

Sharon, Twitter

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

You said: Featuring Maugham himself as a grapheme and adapted twice for the large screen, The Razor'south Border tells the story of an American pilot trying to adjust dorsum to normal life following the First Earth War. It's a gruelling expect at the devastating effects of post-war trauma, and a philosophical journeying to find significant in life.

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

Holden M, Twitter

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

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

You said: Peradventure a piddling bit out of left field, just I love this book. It's uncomplicated, it's beautifully written and it's all about capturing a vanishing manner of life equally countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... actually eloquent, actually moving!

Vicky, Twitter

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

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

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

Linda M, Twitter

91. A Portrait of the Artist equally a Young Man by James Joyce (1916)

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

Y'all said: Joyce is not only the greatest stylist in English, but the novel contains 1 of the most 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 'hard read', but this enigmatic and atmospheric piece of fiction of Charles Marlow's journey up the Congo river – which besides provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now – will leave you unfolding its many layers for a long fourth dimension after.

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

Tracey L, Twitter

93. North and Due 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 between Margaret Unhurt and John Thornton.

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

Alina, Twitter

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

We said: 'When it get-go came out it was viewed as being far-fetched,' said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The continued regression of ballgame laws and women's rights across the globe has but made Atwood'southward dystopian all the more than pertinent; and ensuring the book – and Boob tube bear witness'south – identify in history as a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

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

Emma H, Twitter

95. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (2004)

We said: A novel of two halves, Suite Francaise is most life and decease in occupied French republic, and finding love and hope in the most unexpected of places.

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

Jim H, Twitter

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

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

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

Brian T, Twitter

97. What A Cleave 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's corrupt and immoral activities. A dark and wickedly funny story which makes a profound statement on the Thatcherite era.

You said: This novel has then much to say about human nature, political power and the elite, and ever will do. Caustic, heartfelt, funny, devastating; a cute book.

Declan C, Twitter

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

We said: Anyone looking for an introduction to philosophy need expect no further. Information technology's also 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's underrated works, this short story is divided into 6 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 information technology!

Melly, Twitter

100. Hard Times pastCharles Dickens (1854)

We 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, humour, social annotate, politic and incredibly well-fatigued, believable characters.

Angela, Twitter

What'due south your favourite classic read? Let us know at @penguinukbooks.

Books ranked in no particular guild. Some answers have been edited for clarity and way.

Back to top

Interested in classics? Watch these videos about our classics...

• How A Clockwork Orangish's encompass was designed

  

  half dozen:34

  

  

• Penguin Classics in Audio

  

  i.08

  

  

garciawargiry.blogspot.com

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

Share this post