Nothing beats reading for fun or education like picking up an excellent book. From novels with captivating figurative language to those making an immense social statement, here are 12 titles considered among the best ever written.
Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species revolutionised our understanding of evolution.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
One of the iconic novels from 19th century American literature, The Scarlet Letter is about Hester Prynne who becomes pregnant out-of-wedlock and must wear a scarlet A as a mark of shame for it. This compelling work examines sin, guilt and redemption.
Hawthorne made use of his Puritan heritage to craft moral allegories through Hester’s willingness to bear consequences for her sin, showing how women can assert their agency and feminism even in oppressive societies. Furthermore, this novel shows the connections between social repression and psychological oppression.
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Madame Bovary is widely recognized as being the first literary realist novel, setting the standards of today’s literature. Flaubert spent up to one week working on each page to perfect his masterpiece.
When Emma was first published in France in 1857, it caused great commotion. Today its moralistic message remains as relevant. Additionally, Emma’s relentless search for pleasure eventually leads her down an unfortunate path toward self-destruction.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
Camus’ classic novel about an Algerian murder. It is best known for demonstrating his philosophical concept of absurdity – that human existence lacks rational structure or meaning.
Although its main theme is absurdity, any literary critic or historian would acknowledge that this is one of the greatest books ever written.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Don Quixote was written over 400 years ago but remains an iconic novel today. Composed in two parts, its groundbreaking nature led to the development of modern novels as we know them today.
Story follows an inebriated hidalgo who becomes enraptured with reading too many romantic knight tales and decides to become a knight-errant and revive chivalry. Quixote recruits Sancho Panza as his companion who uses earthy humor against Quixote’s orations on antiquated knighthood.
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
This book presents an epic tale of one man’s struggle for survival and was the first work of fiction to explore human nature in-depth.
Defoe, who wrote Robinson Crusoe as part of his Christian moralist tradition, often used guides as his medium. Yet Robinson Crusoe goes beyond this traditional framework to explore spiritual patterns and how humans can survive on their own.
Novels that explore themes related to Crusoe include Michel Tournier’s Friday or The Other Island which addresses topics of civilization versus nature and solitude psychology.
1984 by George Orwell
Orwell has written one of the greatest novels ever written; one in which he vividly imagines totalitarianism and government surveillance through personal experience. Today’s society bears witness to Orwell’s vision of Big Brother and Double think.
Virginia Woolf’s classic recounts a day in the life of a London socialite through stream-of-consciousness narration and thoughts from multiple characters, with an unreliable narration style as its hallmark. Virginia’s novel explores love, memory, and art — making this piece one of the signature works in literature history.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
This timeless novel has long been a favorite, showing how strong choices can be and their triumph over adversity.
Bronte’s masterwork follows orphan Jane Eyre as she transitions from childhood to adulthood and encounters Victorian society, with its love, trust, and social roles themes explored throughout. Additionally, it’s considered ahead of its time due to Jane’s individualism as well as explorations into class, sexuality, religion, and proto-feminism – making this novel ahead of its time and thus ahead of its time!
This novel stands as an exquisite example of unreliable narration and stream-of-consciousness storytelling, detailing two lovers in post-Napoleonic France.
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
Literary critics consider this book one of the greatest works ever written, featuring obsession, manipulation and untrustworthy narration. Additionally, the novel vividly portrays Captain Ahab and Queequeg’s inner turmoil – including an early same-sex marriage before such practices were commonplace.
This edition from Library of America boasts original boxwood engravings by Melville himself. He captures vivid glimpses of shipboard life and whale hunting using language ranging from ordinary to sublime – ultimately exploring themes such as morality, freedom and social norms in this masterpiece novel.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams was an unparalleled master of comedy writing. Additionally, he was an extraordinary storyteller; if possible, listen to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as an audio series before reading its books.
Adams’ book will leave your mind spinning with its insightful understanding of life, the universe and everything. Adams takes an unrelenting stance against humanity’s many failings with ruthless conviction; truly this book expands your mind like few others ever have! This masterpiece stands as one of the best reads ever published.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Hulu’s new adaptation of Great Expectations takes the novel in a darker direction than many adaptations do, which may be for the best. You might not recognize this version, and that could be for the better!
From Kentish marshes to London’s elegant surroundings, this tale follows Pip from his humble origins to becoming a man with profound dreams. Along his journey are characters such as Joe Gargery (a kind blacksmith), Magwitch and Estella–some of Dickens’ most unforgettable figures–who make his tale memorable and destructive all at the same time.