Many people read books for fun and often times ignore the amazing classic novels that have been written over the centuries. But once you give them a chance, you realize just why they are heralded as classics in the first place. That is why we will be listing 21 classics that eevryone should read at least once!

Like most people, I was not a fan of the classics as I got into reading. A big reason for that is that reading them reminded me of high school and college and reading to pass a test is not the best encouragement. I did end up enjoying classics after taking AP English and seeing classic novels from another lense. But it was only after college that I really decided to read classic novels and I realized that they were some of the best books I came across.

That doesn’t mean books that aren’t classics aren’t great. But to become a classic novel that are read by many generations, the novel has to be great and offer something. There is a reason most people’s book lists contain a bunch of classics. And in this article, we will be choosing 21 that we think are ones that everyone should read at least once in their life. You can see the full list below!

21 Classics That Everyone Should Read

The Count of Monte Cristo

One of my favorite classics of all time is The Count of Monte Cristo by French author Alexandre Dumas . This is a big book and yet, when you are reading it, you will not even notice it. This is a well written adventure novel and even after two centuries after it was first published, it still holds up well. If you haven’t read this novel, then you are missing out on a fantastic book!

The Picture of Dorian Gray

A short read that I recommend to everyone is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. It is about a vain character who sells his soul to stay forever young. First published in 1890, the novel was controversial but has gone on to be recognized as a classic. Few novels can say so much with so little words and this gem by Wilde is a fun and wild adventure that is unlike anything else written.

Dracula

Dracula by Bram Stoker book cover
Dracula by Bram Stoker novel

Many people know of Dracula but few have read the original source material. The novel is a fun read and when it was published in 1897, it terrified many people. You will be amazed to find out some of Dracula’s abilities and how many of his powers have changed over the years and is a lot different than what the mainstream potrays.

The Outsiders

The fist book that I read in school (junior high school) that got me reading because I enjoyed the book was The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. Not only did I read this novel ahead of the given reading assignment, I ended up reading other books be Hinton as a result. This coming of age story has stayed with me over the course of my life and it is a novel I revisit often.

The Secret History

The Secret History by Donna Tartt novel
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Unlike most of the novels on this list, The Secret History by Donna Tartt is not as old as the other books on this list and hasn’t been given the classic label. But make no mistake, this novel is one of the best works of fiction and is a novel that appears on many lists for a reason. Tartt is an exceptionally gifted author and her one flaw is that she takes a decade or more to release a novel but the results are always worth it!

Conclusion

These are the 21 classics that everyone should read at least once in their lives. You might not be a fan of the classics yet but after reading most of these books, you will have a deeper appreciation for them. How many of these books have you read or plan tor read? Let us know in the comments below!

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