20 Classics that You Must Read

It is important that you read the classics. Not all of them, just a few of them. Some of them are overrated but others are must reads. That is why we have made this list of 20 classics that you must read. Keep reading to find out which books made our list!  

With so many classics to read, it can be hard to choose which ones to read. Ultimately, it comes down to what you like but this list should help you get started. Always branch out and see which books you would enjoy. The best way to do that is to give a new book a try. You can see the full list below!  

20 Classics that You Must Read  

• The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger   
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee   
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas   
• Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell   
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen   
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë   
• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez   
• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky   
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood   
• The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien   
• Dracula by Bram Stoker   
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding   
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley    
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens   
• The Time Machine by H. G. Wells   
• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez   
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott   
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte   
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald  
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy   

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger   

A classic novel that readers see to either love or hate is The Catcher in the Rye. After revisiting this novel, I do believe it deserves the recognition it has gotten over the decades. There is a lot to take away and the novel is even more relevant in this day and age. I do think the novel hasn’t aged as gracefully as other classics but it still captures childhood innocence that we are all familiar with.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee   

I first came across To Kill a Mockingbird in high school and couldn’t put the novel down even if I wanted to. The story is told by the viewpoint of Jean Louise Finch and tells the story of Atticus Finch defending Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a white woman in Maycomb, Alabama.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

One of my all-time favorite novels of all time has to be The Count of Monte Cristo. It is an adventure novel that is unlike anything else. The book is entertaining and has held up well centuries later. Who doesn’t love a good revenge story? Even after a couple centuries, this novel is still considered one of the best works of literature.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell   

One of the most recognized novels on the list is 1984 by George Orwell. It is a dystopian novel that imagines a totalitarianism world where mass surveillance is the norm and people’s freedom is limited. It was a cautionary tale by Orwell and when parts of the novel became reality, the novel started trending.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood   

One of the most popular dystopian novels of all time must is The Handmaid’s Tale. Some people may have read it in school while others read it for fun but either way, it is an impactful novel. Another classic dystopian novel that is up there is 1984. They both tackle serious issues and make us imagine the worst-case scenarios. 

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien   

If you love fantasy novels, then you have to read The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Not only is it an amazing series but it is the formula that many fantasy authors have used to write their novels. If you have read a bunch of fantasy novels, then you have most likely come across troupes that were popularized by Tolkien.  

Dracula by Bram Stoker

A classic horror novel that has become mainstream over the decades is Dracula . First published in 1897, the novel was considered the best vampire novel written in its time and labeled as too frightening for many readers. While Stoker didn’t invent vampires, his take on the creatures is the one that has come to define them.

Conclusion

Classic novels can be some of the most powerful works of fiction that you will come across. These books are heralded as the best of the best for a reason. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that is taught in schools for a reason. And we have seen the importance of novels such as 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale.  

There are many classics out there to read. From timeless novels to horror novels such as Dracula and Frankenstein, you will always have a book to read. If you haven’t gotten around to read these amazing novels, then you are missing out.  

That ends the list of the 20 classics that you must read. How many of these classics have you read? Which classics should we add on our next list? Let us know in the comments below!

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