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Classic Books - Must Read Once In a Lifetime
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items A collection of books that have inspired me, entertained me, or simply made me think.
The novel is characterized by its nightmarish, surreal atmosphere, which reflects Kafka's themes of powerlessness, anxiety, and the absurd. It's often interpreted as a meditation on the nature of guilt, identity, and the absurdity of human existence.
The Trial - Franz Kafka
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is one of the greatest novels ever written, a sweeping epic that spans the Napoleonic Wars and explores the lives of Russian aristocracy, military leaders, and ordinary citizens during a time of great social and political...
War and Peace
Step into a masterpiece of literature with The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andrić, Nobel Prize winner in Literature. Experience the power of storytelling in its purest form – The Bridge on the Drina is a timeless classic that will leave you thinking l...
The Bridge on the Drina
The Stranger by Albert Camus is a thought-provoking existential novel that explores the absurdity of life and the nature of human existence. This book is a cornerstone of existential literature, challenging readers to question their own beliefs about...
The Stranger
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo is a sweeping, epic novel that explores themes of justice, love, redemption, and the struggles of the human spirit. The novel also offers a rich portrayal of social and political unrest, the aftermath of the French Revol...
Les Miserables
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is a masterpiece of Russian literature, renowned for its deep psychological insight and exploration of love, family, and society. The novel tells the story of Anna Karenina, a beautiful, passionate woman trapped in an unf...
Anna Karenina
Love in the Time of Cholera is a novel by Gabriel García Márquez, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982.It is a story about the enduring power of love, spanning decades and exploring themes of passion, obsession, and the passage of time.
Love in the Time of Cholera
Gone With the Wind—winner of the Pulitzer Prize and one of the bestselling novels of all time. It is a sweeping historical novel set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. It became a cultural phenomenon, although it has also sparked s...
Gone With the Wind
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, first published in 1868, is a beloved coming-of-age novel that follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—growing up in Civil War-era New England. The novel explores themes of family, self-di...
Little Women (150th Anniversary Edition)
The book explores themes of social expectations, class, relationships, and personal integrity, all while offering sharp commentary on society's norms and the nature of true love. It's a romantic, insightful, and enduring work that's remained popular ...
Pride and Prejudice
The Red and the Black by Stendhal, first published in 1830, is a psychological novel set in post-Napoleonic France. With its keen psychological insight, The Red and the Black is a sharp critique of social class, the complexities of human nature, and ...
The Red and the Black Stendhal
The 1001 Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights, is a legendary collection of Middle Eastern folktales and stories that were compiled during the Islamic Golden Age, spanning from the 8th to the 13th century. The tales are framed around the story of...
Kay Nielsen. 1001 Nights
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, first published in 1967, is a landmark novel in Latin American literature. The book is known for its lyrical prose, intricate narrative structure, and its ability to intertwine the everyday wit...
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Recognized as one of the most significant works to emerge from the former Yugoslavia, this novel delves into themes of identity, isolation, and the struggle for personal freedom. This novel offers readers a chance to reflect on personal resilience, t...
The Fortress
1984 by George Orwell is a chilling dystopian novel set in a totalitarian society where surveillance, censorship, and mind control are the tools of power. A must-read for anyone concerned about the preservation of liberty and individual rights in an ...
1984 Deluxe Edition
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a dark and passionate tale of love, obsession, and revenge set on the windswept moors of Yorkshire. A haunting, unforgettable classic, this novel delves deep into the complexities of human emotion and the conseque...
Wuthering Heights
The novel highlights issues like poverty, social injustice, and the mistreatment of the vulnerable, while also offering a message of hope and redemption.
Oliver Twist
The title refers to the idea that it's a sin to harm innocent creatures like mockingbirds, symbolizing the innocence of people like Tom Robinson who are unfairly targeted by society.
To Kill a Mockingbird
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,” highlights the hypocrisy and corruption that can occur when power is abused.
Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel
Great Expectations is one of Charles Dickens' most famous and widely read novels, first published in 1860.
Great Expectations Charles Dickens
A Journal of the Plague Year is a novel by Daniel Defoe, published in 1722. It's presented as a fictionalized account of the Great Plague of London in 1665, written by a narrator who witnessed the devastating events firsthand. The book captures the t...
A Journal of the Plague Year (Daniel Defoe)
Published posthumously in 1926, The Castle is one of Kafka's most famous and complex works. Kafka's work often reflects existential concerns about the individual’s place in society, and The Castle is no exception, remaining an enigmatic and thought-p...
The Castle
The Great Gatsby is a poignant critique of the American Dream and a tragic story of unattainable ideals. Published in 1925, is a classic novel set in the Jazz Age of the 1920s.
The Great Gatsby: The Only Authorized Edition
Novel by Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov, written in the 1930s but published posthumously in 1966-1967. It's considered one of the most important works of Russian literature in the 20th century. The work is known for its exploration of freedom, total...
The Master and Margarita
Dead Souls is a satirical novel published in 1842 and is one of the most important works in Russian literature. The novel is also known for its exploration of absurdities, and it has been highly influential in the development of Russian literary trad...
Dead Souls
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a philosophical novel first published in 1890. The Picture of Dorian Gray is Wilde's only novel and is celebrated for its sharp social commentary, vivid characters, and exploration of moral and aesthetic questions. It re...
The Picture of Dorian Gray (World Classics, Unabridged)
The iconic, idealistic knight from Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. A character who, despite his delusions of grandeur and mistaken identity as a chivalrous knight, captured the hearts of readers through his relentless pursuit of his ...
Don Quixote
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is an epic tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption. The twists and turns in his quest for revenge are thrilling, and the complexity of the characters, both good and bad, makes for an unforgettable read...
The Count of Monte Cristo
This novel is a coming-of-age exploration of alienation and the universal struggle to find one’s place in the world. Holden’s voice, sarcastic and raw, resonates with readers, embodying the tumult of youth and the pain of growing up. "The Catcher in ...
The Catcher in the Rye.
Vladimir Nabokov, in interviews and writings, explained that Lolita was not simply a book about sexual obsession or a mere exploration of taboo. For him, it was about the complexity of human emotion, the intricacies of language, and the exploration o...
Lolita
Jane Eyre is a novel by Charlotte Brontë, first published in 1847 under the pen name "Currer Bell." It's a coming-of-age story about an orphaned girl, Jane Eyre, who grows up in a harsh, abusive environment but ultimately becomes a strong, independen...
Jane Eyre
It is considered one of Mann's greatest works and a key text in 20th-century literature. The Magic Mountain is a complex, dense work with a blend of philosophy, psychology, and social commentary.
The Magic Mountain
At its core, Invisible Man is a critique of the societal forces that shape and constrain identity, particularly for African Americans in a racially oppressive society. It also challenges ideas about the construction of identity, the illusion of visib...
Invisible Man
It is often considered one of Hemingway's finest works and a quintessential text of the Lost Generation, a group of American expatriates who were disillusioned by the aftermath of World War I.
The Sun Also Rises
It is widely regarded as one of the most important works of African American literature and a cornerstone of the Harlem Renaissance. The novel follows the life of Janie Crawford, a Black woman in the early 20th century, as she embarks on a journey of...
Their Eyes Were Watching God (Deluxe Edition)
It is widely regarded as one of the most influential works in American literature and a cornerstone of American poetry. Whitman’s poetry in Leaves of Grass breaks traditional boundaries, rejecting formal rhyme and meter to create a more natural, flow...
Leaves of Grass
Dune is a science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, first published in 1965. It is the first book in the Dune series and is considered one of the greatest and most influential works of science fiction. The novel is set in the distant future, where nobl...
Dune