10 Best Classic Books Everyone Should Read

Classic books are called classics for a reason. Some were written decades or even centuries ago, but the stories, characters, and ideas still feel relevant today.

If you are just getting into classic literature, the number of books available can be a little overwhelming. There are famous novels everyone seems to recommend, but where should you actually start?

We have put together a list of 10 of the best classic books everyone should read, covering different styles, time periods, and themes.

1. Pride and Prejudice — Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is one of the most famous classic novels ever written.

The story follows Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with family, relationships, social expectations, and her complicated relationship with Mr. Darcy.

What makes the book so enjoyable is the combination of romance, humour, memorable characters, and Austen's observations about society.

If you want to start with a classic that is still surprisingly easy to connect with, this is a great place to begin.

2. 1984 — George Orwell

1984 is a dystopian classic about a society where the government has extreme control over people's lives, information, and even their thoughts.

Winston Smith lives under constant surveillance and begins questioning the system around him.

The book explores power, propaganda, censorship, freedom, and control, making it one of those classics that can stay with you long after you finish reading it.

3. The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Set during the Jazz Age, The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carraway as he becomes involved in the mysterious world of the wealthy Jay Gatsby.

Behind the parties and glamour, the novel explores love, ambition, wealth, class, and the American Dream.

It is a relatively short classic, which also makes it a good choice if you are new to classic literature.

4. Jane Eyre — Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre follows Jane, an orphan who grows into an independent young woman while facing difficult circumstances, love, and social expectations.

The novel combines romance, Gothic elements, mystery, and personal growth.

Jane's struggle to maintain her independence and identity is one of the reasons the story continues to attract readers.

5. The Picture of Dorian Gray — Oscar Wilde

What if you could remain young while a portrait of you carried the consequences of your actions?

That is the basic idea behind The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Oscar Wilde uses the story to explore beauty, morality, temptation, vanity, and corruption. It is dark, philosophical, and filled with Wilde's sharp observations about society.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird tells its story through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in the American South.

Her father, Atticus Finch, becomes involved in a court case that exposes serious racial injustice within the community.

The novel explores prejudice, morality, justice, childhood, and empathy through a story that remains widely read today.

7. Frankenstein — Mary Shelley

Frankenstein is much more than a story about a monster.

Mary Shelley's novel follows Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a living being and then struggles with the consequences of his actions.

The book raises questions about ambition, responsibility, isolation, creation, and what it means to be human.

It is also a fascinating choice if you want to explore the origins of modern science fiction.

8. The Great Expectations — Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens' Great Expectations follows Pip, a young orphan whose life changes after a mysterious benefactor gives him the opportunity to become a gentleman.

The story takes Pip through ambition, love, wealth, disappointment, and self-discovery.

Like many Dickens novels, it also gives you a detailed look at class and society.

9. The Stranger — Albert Camus

The Stranger is a short but thought-provoking novel about Meursault, a man whose unusual response to life and society sets him apart from the people around him.

The novel explores absurdism, meaning, alienation, morality, and the human experience.

If you enjoy philosophical books but don't want to begin with a huge philosophical text, this is an interesting place to start.

10. One Hundred Years of Solitude — Gabriel García Márquez

One Hundred Years of Solitude follows several generations of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo.

The novel blends family history, politics, love, tragedy, and magical realism into one huge story.

It can take some time to get used to its style, but if you want to experience a completely different kind of classic literature, it is worth exploring.

Where Should You Start?

If you are new to classic books, you don't need to start with the longest or most difficult novel you can find.

For romance and society, try Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre.

For dystopian fiction, start with 1984.

For something short and philosophical, try The Stranger.

If you want Gothic fiction, pick up Frankenstein or The Picture of Dorian Gray.

And if you want to experience a large, unforgettable literary world, One Hundred Years of Solitude is worth adding to your list.

The best classic book is ultimately the one that makes you want to keep reading.

Explore and buy your next classic at BookPangs.