I've Read Over 100 Productivity Books and Summarized the 15 Most Important Tips

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Anybody loves a classic novel, only where to offset? From Jane Austen to Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison to Fyodor Dostoevsky, the fiction catechism is so vast you tin can easily become lost in it.

So we asked our readers to tell united states of america most their favourite classic books. The resulting list of must-reads is a perfect style to find inspiration to start your classics adventure. There'southward something for everyone, from family sagas and dystopian fiction to romances and historical fiction.

And if you savour this, you can besides learn about our reader's favourite books by female person authors, most loved children's books and the all-time memoirs they've ever read.

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

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i. Pride and Prejudice past Jane Austen (1813)

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

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

Francesca, Twitter

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

We said: A novel before its time, Harper Lee's Pulitzer-prize winner addresses bug of race, inequality and segregation with both levity and compassion. Told through the eyes of loveable rogues Watch and Jem, it too created one of literature's most beloved heroes – Atticus Finch, a man determined to correct the racial wrongs of the Deep South.

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

Greygardens, Twitter

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

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

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

Joe T, Twitter

4. One Hundred Years of Solitude 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 fabricated me reflect for weeks on the inexorable march of time.

Andre C, Twitter

5. In Cold Claret by Truman Capote (1965)

We said: The 'true criminal offense' TV bear witness / podcast you're obsessed with probably owes a debt to this masterpiece of reportage by Truman Capote. Chilling and brilliant.

You lot said: In this groundbreaking novel, completed afterward six arduous years of inquiry, 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 information technology.

Kgjephcott, Twitter

half dozen. Wide Sargasso Sea past Jean Rhys (1966)

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

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

Eric A, Twitter

vii. Dauntless New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)

We said: One of the greatest and well-nigh prescient dystopian novels ever written, this should be on everyone'south must-read list.

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

David Thousand, Twitter

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

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

Y'all said: A 'children's book' that speaks volumes (ha) well-nigh unrequited love and dysfunctional families. Timeless. And funny. (and we demand some laughs on the 100 Classics list!)

Helen Y, Twitter

9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

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

You said:Because Jane is a role model: she stands up for herself, others and what she believes in, simply isn't besides proud to give 2d chances to those whose fourth dimension is running out.

Sarah F, Twitter

10. Offense and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

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

Y'all said:No other novel has made me experience so much for the main 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 V, Twitter

11. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992)

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

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

AnamiAndBooks, Twitter

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

We said: Jack London was a aureate prospector in the Canadian wilderness and used his experiences to write about a dog 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 earth knows it's true.

Helen D, Twitter

thirteen. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham (1955)

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

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

Hollie B, Twitter

xiv. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1818)

Nosotros said: Austen's concluding completed novel before her untimely death was i tinged with heartache and regret. Anne Elliot's feelings for the handsome Captain Wentworth are re-ignited when he returns from ocean. Volition they get a second chance at happiness?

You said: This continues to be my favourite novel. Information technology is a more mature honey story, full of humourous, delightful observations of human behaviour. It offers u.s. 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 by Herman Melville (1851)

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

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

David H, Twitter

 16. The King of beasts, 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 earth 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 on a snow-laden adventure with Mr Tumnus.

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

Adisha K, Twitter

17. To the Lighthouse past Virginia Woolf (1927)

We said: To the Lighthouse is a daring novel with niggling regard for rules. At that place'southward no consequent narrator, scant dialogue and almost 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: Y'all feel like you're stood on tiptop of a cliff with the sea breeze bravado right through your bones.

‏Halcyonbookdays, Twitter

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

Nosotros said:Considered Elizabeth Bowen'due south masterpiece novel, this is the story of 16-twelvemonth old Portia who is sent to live with her Aunt in London, afterward her mother's death. In that location, she falls for the attractive cad Eddie. A devastating exploration of boyish love and innocence betrayed.

You said: This volume captures the awkward tension and anxieties of the interwar period through a securely reflective, simply oddly naive, unloved girl. ‏

Heather O, Twitter

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

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

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

Abbie H, Twitter

20. Frankenstein past Mary Shelley (1823)

Nosotros said: Written when Mary Shelley was only 18 years former, only don't let that depress you. Frankenstein is a Gothic masterpiece with entertaining ready pieces ample.

You said: Chosen for all the questions it raises nearly consequences and taking responsibility for your actions; nature versus nurture; the value of friendship. I could keep.

Julie A, Twitter

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

We said:This spine-chilling story was censored past Stalin and sadly but published afterward Mikhail Bulgakov's death.

You said: This novel has got the Devil mooching effectually Moscow with a massive blackness cat. Oh, and at that place'due south a naked flight lady.

Eggfrieddog, Twitter

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

We said:A moving exploration by 50. P. Hartley of a young boy's loss of innocence and a disquisitional view of order at the end of the Victorian era.

You lot said: Every bit a 17-year-old, I was completely captivated by this story, wishing Leo was my blood brother then that I could protect him from the disappointment that awaited him.

Rapsodiafestiva, Twitter

23. 1 Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest past Ken Kesey (1962)

We said: A psychiatric ward in Oregon is ruled past a tyrannical head nurse, only 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 at that place is more to life than following rules. Having joy and being spontaneous are as important as annihilation else in life.

Darren B, Twitter

24. Nineteen Fourscore-4 by George Orwell (1949)

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

You said: I commencement read this volume years ago, and was glad I would never have to exist a part of that kind of gild. Nonetheless, here I am in 2018, and then 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 Deutschland over four generations, every bit they grapple with the modernism of the 20th century.

You said: It's a great novel nigh the rise and autumn of a family, the relationship between fathers and sons, and the disharmonize between art and business. Well, and I take to say I do love family sagas.

Peter Fifty, Twitter

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

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

You said: Migration in search of work and a better future. A modern-24-hour interval story. Yet makes my skin tingle.

Morven, Twitter

27. Beloved past Toni Morrison (1987)

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

You said: This book is amazing. Beautifully written, haunting and the level of detail of the lengths people went to protect their families from slavery is fantastic.

LittleReigate, Twitter

28. The Code of the Woosters past P. Chiliad. Wodehouse (1938)

We said: This is the 3rd full-length novel featuring P. G. Wodehouse'due south 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 incorrect?

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

Matt F, Twitter

29. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

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

You said: A Gothic tale of fear and dear. Would 1 desire immortality at the cost of one'due south morality and soul? Loneliness beckons downwards such a dangerous and fearful path.

Rob 1000, Twitter

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

We said: Perhaps 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 way never read before. Ultimately a tale of companionship and the battle betwixt good and evil, the fictional world of Middle Earth has endured to become far greater than the sum of its parts.

You said: It's got the dandy sweeping story, romance, heroism, self-cede, social commentary... it's not but magic and elves!

Anne O, Twitter

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

We said: Meander down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, information technology's a simple take a chance just dig a trivial deeper into Marker Twain's novel and notice undercurrents of slavery, abuse and corruption in what Hemingway described equally 'The best book we've had'.

You said: This volume demonstrates how a young boy learns to call back for himself, and shows us how we tin, too. It'south funny, sweet and sad – sometimes all in the aforementioned paragraph.

Richard C, Twitter

32. Great 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 hymeneals dress since the day she was jilted, orphan Pip's coming of age story is one of Charles Dickens' about memorable and iconic novels.

You said: This book is non only important every bit a literary masterpiece and an evocative story - it likewise has universal appeal every bit, unfortunately, many children in today's earth undergo the aforementioned suffering as Pip.

Ayesha K, Twitter

33. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)

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

You said: In my opinion, there is no book that better captures human nature and the futility of disharmonize. You'll come 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 arrival of the bride's free-spirited and charismatic cousin Ellen, who piques the husband's interests. He must decide to save a crumbling matrimony or pursue his passions. Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for this novel which explores love, lust and social class, fix in the Gilded Age of New York.

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

Lulu B, Twitter

35. Things Fall Autonomously by Chinua Achebe (1958)

We said: Information technology has come up to be seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English language and is read widely across Africa and Nigeria in which it is set. It follows the Okonowo a nifty and famous warrior and the almost powerful men of his association. But when outsiders threaten his clan'south way of life - will his atmosphere and pride be his downfall? Read it to find out.

You said: A compelling and of import 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 North, Twitter

36. Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

We said: Dorothea Brooke and the other inhabitants of Middlemarch grapple with art, religion, science, politics, cocky and gild in the lead-up to the Outset Reform Nib of 1832 in a literary exploration of human follies.This volume is considered past many to be the greatest Victorian novel.

You said: This book is superb in form and content. There is no better 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'due south Children past Salman Rushdie (1981)

Nosotros 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 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 M, Twitter

38. The Iliad by Homer (eighth century BC)

We said: Information technology is one of the greatest and about 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 concluding yr of the Trojan war, Homer also explores themes of humanity, compassion and survival.

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

Max G, Twitter

39. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (1847)

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

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

Greg R, Twitter

xl. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945)

We said: The iconic country house setting of Brideshead meet a family consumed by its organized religion battle with their loyalties. A cogitating and cornball novel by Evelyn Waugh about class, family and homecomings.

You said: So evocative of a certain time and place, besides as being a compelling story.

Patricia C, Twitter

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

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

You said: This novel'south main character, Holden, is coping with tragic loss, every bit all of us do in our lives. As he wanders aimlessly effectually the city, he struggles to plan his next life motion, but finds happiness in small joys, such equally his stiff bond with his sister.

Alma Eastward, Twitter

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

We said: Alice is a no-nonsense, quick-witted and daring – we could all 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 sometime it features a heroine way ahead of her time.

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

Lauren D, Twitter

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

We said:Maggie Tulliver is passionate, impulsive and intelligence simply her desires disharmonism confronting her family'southward expectations and event in painful consequences. Eliot drew on the frustrations of her own rural upbringing to write i of her nigh powerful and moving novels.

Y'all said: One 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 by Anthony Trollope (1857)

Nosotros said: The second novel in Anthony Trollope's series known equally the 'Chronicles of Barsetshire', opens as the Bishop of Barchester lies on his deathbed; shortly the boxing for power amongst the boondocks's fundamental players will commence. Told with enough of wisdom and wit.

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

Hilary S, Twitter

45. Another Country by James Baldwin (1962)

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

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

Jon A, Twitter

46. Les Miserables past Victor Hugo (1862)

We said: Vive la révolution! A sweeping epic and a completely satisfying read past Victor Hugo. Total of love, acrimony, drama and wit. Quite mayhap the perfect novel.

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

Gary Yard, 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 nice guys don't always finish terminal), Roald Dahl'sCharlie and the Chocolate Factory is a cautionary tale for both children and adults. Don't exist greedy. Don't spoil your children. Don't chew gum. And don't sit down in front of the Television set all twenty-four hours. 'It rots the senses in the head!'

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

Isanne V, Twitter

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

We said: A coming-of-age tale of teenage rebellion, set in a winner-takes-all earth of drive-ins, drag races and switchblades. It created an anti-hero from the wrong side of the form divide – all written when S. E. Hinton was merely 17. 'Stay golden Ponyboy… stay gilt'.

Yous 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 take you lot feeling all the emotions – and a prime example of the old adage that revenge is a dish best served cold.

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

Hayati Y, Twitter

50. Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)

Nosotros said: Having survived censorship, controversy and even legal action, James Joyce's almost famous novel is renowned for its use of inner monologue and stream-of-consciousness technique. Whether it'south the greatest novel of the 20th century, or the nigh unreadable, is upwardly for argue.

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

Pqxzyvr, Twitter

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

We said: Mostly fix in California, John Steinbeck's most ambitious novel follows two families and their interwoven stories. The author himself said, 'Information technology has everything in it I have been able to learn near my arts and crafts or profession in all these years.'

They said: Brilliant writing, epic family unit saga, drills deep into human being 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)

We said: Two years in the making, this philosophical novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky questions big topics similar religion, free will and morality but information technology'due south also a very readable ane that's part murder mystery, part courtroom drama.

You said: A depiction of the darkest recesses of human nature. But as well of the brightest ones…

Luca C, Facebook

53. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

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

Yous said: Beautifully written. The book takes you into the mind of this awful graphic symbol and lets you lot coil around in the gorgeous discussion-play every bit the story unfurls.

Lesley L, Facebook

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

We said: Frances Hodgson Burnett's book will awaken the curiosity of any reader, no affair their age. At that place's something so completely irresistible about hidden doors, mysterious noises and hole-and-corner hiding places. Simply this is more than than a story of adventures and gardening, at its centre, The Underground Garden promises that with time and plenty of nurturing, nosotros can all flower.

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

Ulrika F, Facebook

55. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh (1938)

We said: Partly based on Evelyn Waugh'due south personal experiences, Scoop is a satirical take on the lengths reporters – and paper magnates – will go to for a story. With mod exposés on hacking scandals and the like, Scoop feels as relevant as e'er.

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

Guy V, Facebook

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

We said: Subsequently xviii years in the Bastille, Dr Manette is released and sent to live in United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland with a daughter he's never met. Split between Paris and London, A Tale of Two Cities is a mammoth story set during the fell years of the French Revolution.

Yous said: Sitting alone at 16 years old afterwards 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 man, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to alive a respectable center-class life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that it inspired an adjective in honour of its main graphic symbol: 'Pooterish', a self-important person who takes themselves far besides seriously.

Yous said: I have read this book so many times and laugh out loud every time. I have a Penguin Classic copy of information technology that's falling apart only I wouldn't function with information technology for the world

Emma H, Facebook

58. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

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

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

Chris West, Facebook

59. The Betrothed past Alessandro Manzoni (1827)

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

You said: This volume is on the verge of being forgotten past casual readers, but it'due south entertaining, socially and scientifically progressive for its fourth dimension, has incredibly moving, beautifully-written passages on bread riots and the plague, and it has the best surprise trope-subversion at the stop.

Shawna R, Facebook

sixty. Orlando past Virginia Woolf (1928)

We said: Immense yourself in the dazzling breadth of Virginia Woolf'south 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 information technology to exist a woman? Woolf's modernist novel is so fresh even 90 or so years later on. Gender fluidity before the term was even coined. And a history of literature as a backdrop.

Antonia Chiliad, Facebook

61.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957)

We said: Step into the dystopian Usa and follow the saga of Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden as they endeavor to bring their Transcontinental railroad into beingness, and uncover the secrets of a shadowy effigy chosen John Galt along the fashion.

Yous said: This book engages the reader through its characters and themes, allowing ane to be entranced through this cautionary tale that can be applied to the modern globe.

Deanna H, Facebook

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

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

Yous said: A story of noesis, education, and imagining a future.

Gultekin South, Facebook

63. The Art of War by Sun-Tzu

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

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

Darren G, Facebook

64. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (1922)

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

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

Hildegard S, Facebook

65. Travels with Charley past John Steinbeck (1962)

We said: Almost 60 years later Travels with Charley withal proves an eye-opening insight into a country that's then easy to view as a monolith. Steinbeck and his French Poodle encounter anybody from migrant farmers to KKK members in this reminder of a complicated political mural that'southward no less disparate today.

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

Edith South, Facebook

66. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (1934)

Nosotros said: It was banned in the US and the Britain for xxx years for existence also 'pornographic,' and undoubtedly there are smutty moments, but Henry Miller uses this to annotate on the human status. Told from a variety of starting time-person characters in 1930s Paris – including Miller's own experiences as a struggling author – the common thread between each character is their sexual encounters.

You said: Loud, funny, sexual Paris in the 1930s. I read it when I was xx, and it inverse the way I look at the world.

Brendan P, Facebook

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

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

Y'all said: This is Lawrence at his best… although I exercise think Lady Chatterley'south Lover is under-rated…

David P, Facebook

68. Staying On by Paul Scott (1977)

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

Yous said: A funny, tragic, beautifully written study 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 by Kenneth Grahame (1908)

Nosotros said:What began equally a series of letters to Kenneth Grahame'south sickly son evolved into 1 of England's about dear children's 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 can savor this volume at whatsoever age – and information technology'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'southward final volume in the Great Plains trilogy and was praised for bringing the American West to life.

You said: Quite simply, a beautifully written book.

Carolyn R, Facebook

71. Wuthering Heights past Emily Brontë (1847)

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

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

Tessa J, Facebook

72. Perfume past Patrick Süskind (1985)

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

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

Ivy Due west, Facebook

73. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1867)

Nosotros said: LeoTolstoy'due south sweeping epic of human life in all its imperfection and grandeur is universally accepted as ane of the greatest novels of all fourth dimension.

Yous said:This novel is merely gripping and beautifully written. Kept me enthralled for weeks...

Angela T, Facebook

74. Of Human Chains by Somerset Maugham (1915)

We said: Considered as Somerset Maugham's near autobiographical of his work, the writer stated, 'This is a novel, not an autobiography, though much in it is autobiographical, more is pure invention.' Regardless, the story of Philip Carey, a human being with ambitions who falls in love with a loud only irresistible waitress is considered ane of his finest books.

You said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love.

Rajan D, Facebook

75. Bleak Firm by Charles Dickens (1853)

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

You said: An astonishing story, with and then many twists and turns

Jane Eastward, 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 world far more dangerous than he ever imagined. Honoré de Balzac paints a bright and brutal picture of the hypocrisy and moral history of his times.

Yous said: A magnificent story about human nature, ambition and lodge (in any century).

Isabel K, Facebook

77. Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut (1973)

We said: Part comedy, part searing satire, we're taken to the Midwest to follow Vonnegut's ageing writer Kilgore Trout on an absurd narrative. Yous may love information technology, you may non go the point. Either mode, you'll find it hard not to express mirth.

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

Kleber L, 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 every bit Santa, turkey and Christmas pudding.

You 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'south favourite of her novels. It tells the story of an isolated miser, who is given a 2d take a chance to transform his life when he adopts a young orphaned kid. With themes of religion, industrialisation and customs, the book likewise provides us with a glimpse of a vanished rural world.

You said: Redemption and honey. Beautifully written

Rhiannon C, Facebook

80. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)

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

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

Marianna South, Facebook

81. Little Women past Louisa May Alcott (1868)

We said: In Footling Women, Louisa May Alcott set out to write a book in which girls would meet them themselves accurately reflected. The March sisters, with their 4 very different personalities and ambitions, accurately embody both the challenges of growing upwardly and the irreplaceable bond of sisterhood.

You lot said: A story of growing upwardly and changing and the world set effectually a group of young girls. This book is as timeless as it is beautiful.

Luke E, Twitter

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

Nosotros said: Winner of the Man 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 world to an isolated home by the sea. An unforgettable story, beautifully told.

Yous said: This book left me speechless, while reading and after reading and I still can't find the words to describe why information technology is i of the most impressive pieces of writing I have ever read.

H, Twitter

83. The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969)

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

Yous said: This novel teaches the reader about 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 accomplish into an autocratic world. Bamboozling from start to the very unfinished stop (the novel ends mid-judgement), this is Franz Kafka'southward finest commentary on oppression and bureaucracy.

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

Arnold F, Twitter

85. I, Claudius past Robert Graves (1934)

You said: Written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius, Robert Graves' novel captures the madness and debauchery of ancient Rome. Both I, Claudius and Graves'southward sequel Claudius the God are regarded today as pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction, as well as gripping reads.

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

Ian M, Twitter

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

You said:The story that made every child want to dance on tiptoes over midnight rooftops and soar away to Neverland, J. M. Barrie's tale of the boy who could never grow 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 book that reminds everyone to never grow up inside!

Jennifer G, Twitter

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

You said: A medievalist protagonist encounters a series of misadventures in a comedic exploration of the human condition. John Kennedy Toole'due south novel is widely regarded today equally a tragicomic classic that exposes 'intellectualism'.

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

Sharon, Twitter

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

Y'all said: Featuring Maugham himself every bit a character and adjusted twice for the large screen, The Razor's Edge tells the story of an American pilot trying to adjust back to normal life following the Get-go World State of war. It'south a gruelling look at the devastating effects of postal service-war trauma, and a philosophical journey to find meaning in life.

You said: A profound story of one human's journey to notice himself.

Holden One thousand, Twitter

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

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

Y'all said: Perhaps a picayune chip out of left field, but I love this book. It's simple, it's beautifully written and information technology'south all about capturing a vanishing fashion of life as countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... really eloquent, really moving!

Vicky, Twitter

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

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

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

Linda Thousand, Twitter

91. A Portrait of the Artist equally a Young Human past James Joyce (1916)

We said: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Homo was James Joyce'south first novel and details the young artist discovering his voice, craft and identity through his literary modify ego, Stephen Dedalus. At that place are echoes of his techniques hither before they are refined in his later works such as Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

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

Donald Thou, Twitter

92. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)

Nosotros said: JosephConrad's novella has been deemed by many as a 'hard read', but this enigmatic and atmospheric piece of fiction of Charles Marlow's journey up the Congo river – which likewise provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola'southward Apocalypse Now – will leave y'all unfolding its many layers for a long time after.

You said: What an amazing piece of writing from someone who had to learn the language get-go...

Tracey L, Twitter

93. North and S by Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)

Nosotros said: A swooningly romantic volume 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 Hale and John Thornton.

You lot said: This novel combines a beautiful love story and discussion of important economical and social problems of its fourth dimension.

Alina, Twitter

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

We said: 'When it first came out it was viewed every bit being far-fetched,' said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The connected regression of abortion laws and women'due south rights across the earth has just made Atwood's dystopian all the more than pertinent; and ensuring the volume – and Television receiver evidence's – place in history as a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

You said: I chose this volume because it gives a feminist perspective on the world. Also, Atwood uses events from history to create the story, which I detect 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 well-nigh life and decease in occupied France, and finding dear and promise in the nearly unexpected of places.

You said: This is my favourite volume. Information technology is an extremely moving account of the kinds of things that actually happened in Nazi-occupied French republic during the 2d World War. It presents the dilemmas, fears and choices that were felt and had to be made by ordinary people.

Jim H, Twitter

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

We said: This deeply personal and unforgettable account of a twenty-four hours in the life at a Soviet labour camp in the 1950s is highly considered to be one of the greats of gimmicky literature.

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

Brian T, Twitter

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

We said: The Winshaw family unit are the virtually powerful and cruellest family in England that is until their biographer Michael Owen starts investigating the family unit'due 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 and then much to say about human nature, political power and the elite, and always will exercise. Caustic, heartfelt, funny, devastating; a beautiful book.

Declan C, Twitter

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

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

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

Jason F, Twitter

99. White Nights past Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1848)

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

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

Melly, Twitter

100. Difficult Times pastCharles Dickens (1854)

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

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

Angela, Twitter

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

Books ranked in no particular lodge. Some answers accept been edited for clarity and mode.

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

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