The literary world is a wide one, full of books that have overturned cultures, inspired several generations, and faced the test of time. Amongst more read forms of literature, classic literature, in particular, allows readers to get a glimpse of ancient times, different societies, and varied human experiences.
The Count of Monte Cristo", an adventurous tale of betrayal, revenge, and redemption, was published in 1844. Alexandre Dumas contrives a complicated plot that follows Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who has been imprisoned on the grounds of treason.
Beginning in 1877, "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy is considered one of the monumental works of Russian literature, for it shows the complexity of love, family, and society. The novel plays off the tragic love affair of Anna and Count Vronsky with the more stable relationship of Konstantin Levin and Kitty.
First published in 1884, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is a cornerstone of American literature by the inimitable Mark Twain. The story traces the journey of Huck Finn and Jim, an escaped enslaved person, as they make their way down the Mississippi River.
First published serially between 1871 and 1872, "Middlemarch" is a deeply insightful exploration of the life of the British provinces in the 19th century by George Eliot, the pseudonym for Mary Ann Evans. The novel weaves together multiple storylines, with Dorothea Brooke and Tertius Lydgate at its centre.
Albert Camus's "The Stranger" (1942) is one of the most important works of existentialism; it faces its readers with its bare storyline and depth of philosophy. The novel tells the story of Meursault, an apathetic French-Algerian man who commits an illogical murder.
First published in 1967, Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" is a landmark in world literature, combining magical realism with a multigenerational saga. This novel narrates the story of the Buendía family within the fictional town of Macondo, covering nearly all the aspects of love, power, and fate.
Bram Stoker's "Dracula," published in 1897, is a Gothic horror novel that has had a lasting impact on popular culture. The novel introduces Count Dracula, a vampire who seeks to expand his undead influence in Victorian England. Through journal entries, letters, and newspaper clippings, Stoker builds a suspenseful narrative that explores themes of fear, superstition, and the unknown.
Published in 1929, "The Sound and the Fury" is one of William Faulkner's most celebrated works. The novel is known for its innovative narrative structure, with multiple perspectives and a stream-of-consciousness style. It tells the story of the Compson family, once Southern aristocrats, now in decline.
Toni Morrison's "Beloved," published in 1987, is a modern classic that delves into the haunting legacy of slavery in America. The novel centres on Sethe, a woman who escapes slavery only to be haunted by the ghost of her dead daughter. Morrison's powerful prose and her exploration of trauma, memory, and motherhood make "Beloved" a profoundly moving and important work in American literature, one that continues to resonate deeply.
Published in 1939, John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" is an American epic that tells of the Joad family and their struggles in moving westward during the Great Depression. For most of the novel, a picture of poverty, injustice, and human resilience provides a poignant glimpse into one very critical period in American history.
