Classics are usually considered boring, stale time consuming. But, the readers can neither deny their existence nor their importance. Reading broadens one’s image of life and heightens mind’s imaginative powers. Below is the list of Classic novels that I have chosen, these are not the best Classic novels but needless to say are a must read. Novels cannot be put in descending order yet I have tried my best to list them for the reader’s convenience. Here are the top 10 most popular classical novels to read.
10. Pride and Prejudice
The author of the novel being ‘Jane Austen’, it is quite a spectacular one, witty, humorous, and thoughtful and inevitably revolving around the ladies of the early 19th century, and the required suitable men. Jane Austen is also considered the Stephanie Meyer of her time, though her novels teach morals and the inner conflicts remarkably.
9. Moby Dick
It is the most read novel of Herman Melville. It is by many one of the greatest American novels. Moby Dick (The Whale) is a story of a sea wanderer ‘Ishmael’ and his encounter with a revenge stricken ‘Captain Ahab’ and his pursuit to capture a white whale as a revenge for his bitten leg. It is a perfect adventure book, with a monstrous sea creature and some crazy drunken men.
8. Dracula
Vampires! Who doesn’t know them! And who introduced the blood thirsty Count to the world? It was ‘Bram Stoker’, the author of the Gothic Horror novel ‘Dracula’. The mysterious Count living in a Castle like structure and the rumors running through the state of Transylvania are all put in danger when a guest arrives at the Count’s estate and discovers horrors beyond human anticipation.
7. Heart of Darkness
Have you ever heard of the name ‘Kurtz’? ‘Kurtz’ is the villain or Anti Hero of the short novel written by Joseph Conrad. It explores the theme of savagery versus civilization and puts quite a few questions in the readers’ mind. The tension and horror the novel puts one through is worth every penny as the truth is disclosed. The novel depicts postcolonial world seen from the eyes of a native African. This novel is Conrad’s most popular novel.
6. Things Fall Apart
It is part of the African literature. Things Fall Apart was originally written in English by Chinua Achebe is the story of a leader named ‘Okonkwo’ and his life as affected by British colonization and Christian missionaries. It is a radical novel depicting African life, their tradition and their language. This particular novel is part of African studies in all major universities.
5. Wuthering Heights
Going by the pseudonym of ‘George Eliot’, ‘Wuthering Heights’ is the masterpiece of Charlotte Bronte. The epic story of two star crossed lovers and their fate intertwined together; leading to destruction of themselves and their families. The lead characters, Heathcliffe and Catherine are both stubborn, ill fated beings and when Catherine dies; life becomes hell for the conflicted Heathcliffe. This novel is mostly read by females as it is termed as a feminist transcript in literature.
4. The Mayor of Casterbridge
Considered by all as Thomas Hardy’s best piece of writing, ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’ effectively portrays Hardy’s pessimistic approach towards life. The novel is well written, the language highly ecstatic. It is the story of Michael Henchard and his hypocritical life after he auctions his wife and child, drunk at a fair.
3. To Kill a Mocking Bird
The Pulitzer Prize winner and the Modern Classic of American Literature, ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’ by Harper Lee is a story of a closely wrung family and their black friend who is charged with the rape of a white woman, ‘Atticus Finch’, the head of the family and a lawyer tries to defend the accused of the injustice done to him. The determination and patience of Atticus Finch has served as a role model for many Americans.The opening line of the novel is: “When he was thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm broken badly at the elbow.”
2. A tale of Two Cities
A novel set during the French Revolution, written by Charles Dickens and considered as his best work. It is a love lore which revolves around three people, Charles Darnay, Sidney Carter and Darnay’s wife. The novel depicts vividly the French Aristocracy demoralizing the peasantry, and the London suburban life and its social evils.
1. The Picture of Dorian Gray
It is Oscar Wilde’s most popular novel in which the relation between art and artist is presented in a way different to all other novelists. This beautiful and passionate work tangled with the horrors of addiction to evil. The novel starts with a painter (Basil Hallward) and his model (Dorian Gray) working tirelessly to complete the painting. Once the painting is completed, the main character dies making the novel to live in the hearts of millions of readers.
