Not many of us read all the books our parents recommended that we do. Maybe back then they were a little too boring for us, and maybe even beyond our understanding. But there are some classics that deserve to be read, at least once. Whether they’re written for children, sci-fi lovers, physicists, or fiction aficionados, certain stories transcend their genre and should be read by everyone. Here’s a list of such books, according to their publication dates. Now could there be a better way to spend your weekend than curled up on the sofa with one of these gems?
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Published in 1844
Full of intrigue, love, fight scenes, and social satire, “The Count of Monte Cristo” is one of the best revenge books ever written. It follows Edmond Dantès, a young sailor in 19th century France who is falsely accused of being a Bonapartist traitor and imprisoned for six years. After acquiring a secret fortune from a fellow prisoner, he remakes himself and sets out to find and repay everyone in his old life.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Published in 1847
Jane Eyre follows the emotions and experiences of its title character, including her growth to adulthood and her love for Mr. Rochester, the Byronic master of fictitious Thornfield Hall. In its internalization of the action – the focus is on the gradual unfolding of Jane’s moral and spiritual sensibility, and all the events are colored by a heightened intensity that was previously the domain of poetry – Jane Eyre revolutionized the art of fiction.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Published in 1866
Crime and Punishment is the story of Rodion Raskolnikov, a poor ex-student in St. Petersburg who formulates a plan to kill a pawnbroker for her cash, arguing that he can perform good deeds to counterbalance the crime. A master at understanding human nature, Dostoyevsky weaves a world set against 19th century St. Petersberg as the murder takes a toll on Raskolnikov’s conscience.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Published in 1852
Bleak House was first published between March 1852 and September 1853 in 20 monthly installments, and is considered to be one of Dickens’ finest novels, containing vast, complex and engaging arrays of characters and sub-plots. Besides Dickens’ ability to turn a phrase better than anyone else, the interwoven story lines, the very clever character doubling, and the unexpected depth he gives characters that could easily have remained garden variety are what makes Bleak House a worthy read.
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Published in 1881
When the beautiful Isabel Archer is brought from America to Europe by her wealthy Aunt Touchett, she is expected to find a suitable match. But the stubborn Isabel almost immediately turns down two eligible suitors in a desire for independence. However, the American heiress soon finds herself the target of a con by two American expatriates, and must struggle with a loveless marriage, cruelty, and intrigue in one of Henry James’ finest novels, The Portrait of a Lady.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Published in 1884
Considered to be one of the great American novels, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows Huck Finn and his friend Tom Sawyer as they travel along the Mississippi River and through the 19th century antebellum South with a freed slave named Jim. It was the first book written in vernacular English, and though it’s frequently challenged for use in the U.S. public school system’s curriculum due to racial stereotypes and frequent slurs, many modern academics argue the book is an attack on racism.
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Published in 1899
One of the most boundary-pushing and feminist novels of its era, Kate Chopin tells the story of a Louisiana housewife who loses herself in an extramarital affair and yearns for independence from her husband and children. Originally thought too provocative by the 19th century critics who panned the book, Chopin’s realism, depiction of female sexuality and questioning of societal expectations in The Awakening is why it remains a moving novel to this day.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Published in 1908
One of Mark Twain’s favorite books, Anne of Green Gables is the story of a couple on Prince Edward Island who send for a boy orphan to help them out on the farm. Instead, they are given the 11-year-old redhead Anne Shirley. Her imagination and penchant for trouble inspires plenty of comedic adventures as she ages from 11 to 16, meets new friends, and begins an arch rivalry with Gilbert Blythe.
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
Published in 1940
This graphic war story follows Robert Jordan, a young and idealistic American demolitions expert, fighting in the 1937 Spanish Civil War with the antifascist guerrilla forces. For Whom the Bell Tolls takes place over 68 hours while Jordan is trying to find a way to blow up an enemy bridge, struggling with the passive leader of the guerrilla forces, and falling in love with a young Spanish woman.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Published in 1943
Originally published in French as Le Petit Prince, this novella tells the story of pilot who crashes his plane in the Sahara desert and is greeted by a young boy who claims to be from a different planet. As the pilot repairs his plane, he learns the life of “the little prince” who yearns to return to his home planet. Though told as a children’s story, The Little Prince is one of the most poignant and profound books in French literature.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Published in 1953
Fahrenheit 451 is set in a dystopian future where literature (and all original thought) is on the brink of extinction. Guy Montag is a fireman whose job is to burn printed books as well as the houses where they’re hidden. But when his wife commits suicide and a young neighbor who introduced him to reading disappears, Guy begins hoarding books in his own home.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Published in 1960
To Kill a Mockingbird is the Pulitzer Prize-winning story of local attorney Atticus Finch and his children Scout and Jem as they grow up in a community divided and defined by racism. Based on Harper Lee’s own hometown of Maycomb, Alabama, Finch is asked to defend an African-American man accused of rape, which sends the small Southern town into a frenzy and launches Scout and Jem into the center of the conflict.
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