There are many best book lists online and we love looking at some of them. That gives us an idea of the best books and how a certain group or institution thinks. Today, we will be looking at Pan Macmillian’s 50 best books of all time list. Keep reading to see which books made their list. 

What is Pan Macmillian? 

You might be wondering what Pan Macmillian is and what hey do. Pan Macmillian is one of the biggest publishing companies in the United Kingdom. You may have some of their imprints such as Tor, Macmillan, Mantle, and Boxtree. The company was first founded in 1843 and is one of the powerhouses in the publishing business.  

I think this is a good list but some of these books wouldn’t even make my top 100 list. Pan Macmillian lists these books as must reads before you die and I don’t think that is true. About half of the list would fall under that claim but the other half can be ignored. 

It also comes down to what people like and that is different for every person. So, while this list may be true for the person who created it, I imagine another person on the editorial board would have a different list. Some of these picks feel a bit personal and while they may be critically acclaimed, that doesn’t automatically make a book a must read. 

That gives them a sense of credibility. These lists always have personal bias and should be taken with a grain of salt though. You can see the full list below. 

Pan Macmillian’s 50 Best Books of All Time 

Station Evelen

Station Eleven dystopian novel
Station Eleven book review

Emily St. John Mendel’s novel Station Eleven is a fantastic dystopian novel that highlights the best the genre has to offer. It is about a band of actors and musicians who travel around the Great Lake region in a post-apocalyptic word. But the band runs into trouble when they encounter a self-proclaimed ‘Prophet’ who uses violence to get whatever he desires.

The Handmaid’s Tale

Even if you aren’t an avid book reader, there is a good chance you read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. It is taught in most schools across the United States. The brilliant dystopian novel tackles heavy themes which has made it one of the most censored books in the world.

1984

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, people said Orwell was right.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

One of my all-time favorite novels and series on the list has to be The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The writing is brilliant and the humor is timeless. The fate of planet Earth is at stake yet Adams has the reader laughing throughout the book. This novel changed the way I saw sci-fi novels and became a lifelong fan

Dracula

A classic horror novel that has become mainstream over the decades is Dracula by Bram Stoker. 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 

That is all for Pan Macmillian’s 50 best books of all time list. What do you make of it? What books would you have included on the list? Let us know in the comments below! 

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