“Barely legible”, “boring”, “outdated”, “never-ending”. These are just a few of the words many use to describe classic literature. In some way, they are correct. The sheer amount of novels, plays and poetry compiled over the centuries in a writing style that 21st-century readers struggle to understand seems intimidating. What is more, beginner guides tend to include popular classics that usually put the reader off. So here is a list of actually good classic literature books for actual beginners.
1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott. Fitzgerald
A world-renowned international bestseller, The Great Gatsby is a novel that gives us a sneak peek of what it is to live in the Roaring 20s (or the Jazz Age as coined by Fitzgerald himself) in New York. Through the eyes of the narrator, Nick Carraway, the reader is forced to follow the tragic life of a mysterious man known as Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a young wealthy woman whom he loved in his youth. Fitzgerald introduces themes such as hedonism, materialism, wealth and the American Dream, idealised concepts that became the pillars of 1920s American society. However, when looked at more closely, one cannot help but realise the large cracks and rotting plaster throughout the whole structure of said society.
2. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carol
Regardless of whether you are a child or an adult, Alice in Wonderland is a must-read fantasy novel. We all know what the book is about, but to give a brief introduction, the novel narrates the wondrous and bizarre adventures of a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantastical world. Even though it is considered a children’s book, one should attempt to move beyond that label and read the novel as a fantasy book with a deeper meaning.
3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
If you are interested in Gothic literature and the aesthetic movement, Oscar Wilde’s The
Picture of Dorian Gray* is a book that you should read. Wilde presents to us a seemingly good-natured young man called Dorian Gray who discovers the power behind his exceptional beauty, and how he would try to preserve that beauty by any means possible. The novel explores the relationship between beauty and morality, especially when it comes to the predisposed notion that gorgeous people are inherently morally good and that “ugly” people are therefore bad.
*You may want to check the uncensored version of The Picture of Dorian Gray as it was originally censored by publishing companies as some scenes were considered to have homoromantic undertones.
4. Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe
American writer Edgar Allan Poe is known for his great influential presence in the realms of detective stories, short stories and gothic horror. His works, from stories to plays, range from detective stories to psychological thrillers to raw horror. A good place to start is by reading his short story The Tell-Tale Heart, centred around an unnamed narrator’s attempt to convince you, the reader, of his sanity whilst he is describing to you, the reader, of the crimes he committed. When it comes to his poetry, The Raven and Annabelle Lee are personal favourites.
5. 1984 by George Orwell
Listed as one of the 100 books you need to read before you die, 1984 is a dystopian novel written by political satirist George Orwell in 1949. It offers a nightmarish vision of a world ruled by a totalitarian, omnipresent government where manipulation, war and technological surveillance are rife. What is most disturbing about the novel is its ability to construct such an accurate and modern prediction of a reality that is becoming more and more realistic in this digital age.
6. Starlight and Moonshine - Poetry of the Supernatural by William Shakespeare
Reading Shakespeare sometimes feels like reading in another language. However, this poetry book for children is a compilation of extracts from Shakespeare’s most famous plays of poetry and prose. The neat way in which this book structures the extracts as well as the illustrations alongside them help the reader understand Shakespeare’s writing a little bit better.
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
By no means a light-hearted book, To Kill a Mockingbird is an easy-to-read classic that discusses innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humour and pathos. The “simple love story” the author claimed it was turned into an American classic and a Pulitzer-Prize winning novel that has sold over 18 million copies.
*This book contains various trigger points, so check the trigger warnings before reading this book.
8. Virginia Woolf
Any essays or novels by Virginia Woolf will provide an insightful perspective on feminist literature in the 19th century. Some of her most famous works are To The Lighthouse, Orlando and A Room of One’s Own.
9. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
This Russian classic follows the devil arriving in Moscow with his witch friend and a talking black cat with an affinity for chess and vodka. This endearingly chaotic book of inexhaustible energy and humour is a must-read for those who live a chaotic life.
10. The Collector by John Fowles
This disturbing novel follows the life of a man’s obsession with collecting butterflies because they are beautiful, and how he then tries to collect a woman he meets because she is beautiful too.
Now that you have a selection of top-tier classical literature books, read and enjoy your journey into the world of classics.
Written by Anna Alandete
31/08/2022
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