Classic and Essential Reads
Dive into this collection that features a mix of classic or essential works spanning literature, history, science, and modern must-reads. These books are often considered foundational, influential, or timeless in their themes and artistry.
Pride and PrejudiceElizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy instantly loathe one another when they first meet. Can they overcome their first impressions?
1984Published in 1949, this dystopian classic imagines a future of perpetual war, militaristic propaganda, and total government surveillance.
To Kill a MockingbirdIn this classic coming-of-age story, Scout Finch recounts her childhood in Maycomb, Alabama. When Scout's father is appointed to defend a black man in a high-profile trial, racial tensions in the small town come to a head.
The Great GatsbyNick Carraway rents a summer house in Long Island where he befriends his mysterious neighbor Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who hides behind an extravagant and decadent lifestyle.
Jane EyreJane is a strong-willed young woman who finds employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the mysterious Edward Rochester and learns his darkest secret.
Wuthering HeightsCatherine Earnshaw's father takes in an orphan boy named Heathcliff, setting in motion a chain of events that will haunt the Earnshaw family for generations.
Crime and PunishmentA classic of Russian literature, this novel explores the psyche of a poor young man who plots to murder and rob a wealthy pawnbroker.
Anna KareninaThis classic Russian novel, translated by Constance Garnett, details the ill-fated relationship between Countess Anna Karenina and Count Alexei Vronsky.
Moby DickAfter signing up as a sailor on the Pequod, Ishmael discovers that Captain Ahab, unlike his crew, does not hunt a whale to make money off its oil, but rather, to get revenge for his lost leg.
FrankensteinIn this groundbreaking novel, Dr. Victor Frankenstein works feverishly to bring an inanimate creature to life — but when he finally succeeds, he is horrified by what he has unleashed.
DraculaA vampire makes his way from Transylvania to England to spread his evil curse, but a small team led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing is prepared to fight him. Read the full text here.
The Picture of Dorian GrayOscar Wilde scandalized Victorian audiences with this macabre story of a man who trades his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Read the full text here.
The IliadTranslated from the original Greek by Robert Fagles, this epic poem relates events from the Trojan War, including the exploits of Achilles.
The OdysseyIn this epic poem, clever Odysseus attempts to find his way home after the end of the Trojan War. Learn these words from the translation by Robert Fagles.
A Tale of Two CitiesSet in both London and Paris, this novel brings the French Revolution vividly to life.
Great ExpectationsPip's life is changed when an anonymous benefactor pays for an expensive education in London, but he quickly discovers that you can't escape who you really are.
And Then There Were NoneInvestigate these words from Agatha Christie's masterpiece to figure out why it's the world's best-selling mystery novel.
The Lord of the Rings CollectionJ.R.R. Tolkien's high fantasy novels — the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit, a companion novel — have spawned numerous adaptations and influenced generations of fantasy writers.
The Harry Potter CollectionJ.K. Rowling's beloved series follows Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley as they complete their magical education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and battle an evil wizard named Voldemort.
The Chronicles of NarniaIn this classic fantasy series by C.S. Lewis, children visit the magical realm of Narnia — and change the course of its history.
The Catcher in the RyeIn J.D. Salinger's classic novel, Holden Caulfield leaves his prep school and experiences disillusionment and alienation while wandering around New York City.
The AlchemistSantiago is a young Andalusian shepherd whose desire for a different life leads him on a journey of self-discovery. 2004 HarperOne edition.
The Diary of a Young GirlWhile in hiding with her family in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, 13-year-old Anne Frank kept a diary of her experiences. Published after Anne's death in a Nazi concentration camp, the diary remains a powerful testament to the everyday horrors of the Holocaust.
Fahrenheit 451In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury imagines a dystopian future in which firemen burn banned books and people are constantly bombarded with mindless entertainment. This classic novel is as powerful and relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1953.
One Hundred Years of SolitudeTranslated from the original Spanish by Gregory Rabassa, this classic of magical realism relates the saga of the Buendía family and the isolated town they founded in Colombia.
Animal FarmWhat would happen if the Russian Revolution of 1917 took place on a small English farm? This provocative novella blends fable, satire, and allegory while grappling with some of the twentieth-century's most consequential political ideas.
Gone with the WindPublished in 1936, this historical novel traces the life of Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara before, during, and after the American Civil War.
The Grapes of WrathDuring the Great Depression, the Joad family leaves a failing farm in Oklahoma in hopes of a better life out west.
Brave New WorldIn the futuristic World State, the genetically altered citizens are happy and free of pain—but they cannot exercise free will. Learn these words from Huxley's influential dystopian novel, first published in 1932.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyWhen Earth is destroyed to make way for a freeway, Arthur Dent joins his friend Ford Prefect on a hilarious odyssey through space. Learn these words from the first book in Douglas Adams's popular science fiction series.
The Hunger Games TrilogyIn this trilogy of dystopian novels, children from the twelve districts of Panem must fight to the death in a televised spectacle.
The Kite RunnerSet in Afghanistan during a time of political and social upheaval, this novel traces the decades-long friendship of two boys from different social classes.
The StrangerTranslated by Matthew Ward, Camus’s seminal 1942 novel follows Meursault — a young Frenchman in Algeria — who is condemned for his unemotional response to the death of his mother.
Things Fall ApartCentered around Okonkwo, an Igbo leader who is banished from his community, this novel explores the tension between white missionaries and tribal culture in Nigeria.
The Book ThiefLiesel Meminger is a foster child living in Nazi Germany in 1939. Surrounded by violence, hardship, and war, Liesel is watched over by Death, who narrates her story.
PersepolisThe Story of a ChildhoodIn this memoir, presented in graphic form, Marjane Satrapi describes growing up during the Iranian revolution.
SiddharthaIn this translation from German by Hilda Rosner, a young man named Siddhartha, not entirely satisfied with the religious ways of his Brahmin family and Gotama the Buddha, decides to seek his own path to spiritual enlightenment.
The ProphetIn this collection of fables, published in 1923, a prophet tells instructive stories to a group of listeners. Read the full text here.
BelovedWinner of the Pulitzer Prize, Morrison's novel tells the story of Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman who is haunted by her past.
The Handmaid's TaleIn this dystopian novel, America is a totalitarian theocracy in which young women are conscripted to serve the political elite.
The RoadIn this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, a man and a boy struggle for survival in a desolate, post-apocalyptic landscape. 2006 Vintage International edition.
Life of PiWhen a violent storm sinks the ship carrying his family from India to North America, Pi is trapped alone in a lifeboat with an orangutan, a hyena, a zebra, and a man-eating tiger named Richard Parker.
A Man Called OveOve is known around his neighborhood as an irritable, bitter man — until a new family moves in next door and befriends him.
AmericanahThis novel tells the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, Nigerians who immigrate to the United States and London, respectively, and eventually reunite in their homeland.
The PrinceIn this classic treatise, Machiavelli outlines the traits and strategies of an effective ruler. Learn these words from the translation by Peter Bondanella.
WaldenIn this classic of the transcendentalist movement, Thoreau explains what he learned by living simply and in seclusion near a pond in eastern Massachusetts.
The Souls of Black FolkW.E.B. Du Bois explores the struggles and triumphs of generations of African Americans in this collection of essays.
In Cold BloodIn a groundbreaking work of nonfiction, Truman Capote investigates the brutal murder of a small-town Kansas family and the trial of the killers.
SapiensA Brief History of HumankindDrawing on both historical and scientific research, this book traces the evolution of human beings over tens of thousands of years.
A Brief History of TimeIn this groundbreaking book, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking attempts to answer some of the most formidable questions about the universe.
CosmosIn this engaging and accessible book, scientist Carl Sagan explores fourteen billion years of cosmic history and evolution.
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