List Of Top 10 Classic Books To Read

Reading classic books is in itself a soothing experience. There are some books which have been liked by all ages of people and have earned a special niche for them in the category of classic books. They show you a very distinct but remarkable view of the events and possess power of entertaining you even much ahead of their time. Many writers get their inspiration and style from these literature and many read it as a powerful intellectual tool. Check this list of top 10 classic books to read, with that of yours.

Those who love reading know how to read these books. Those who are not familiar of reading ethics, may find some help from How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles van Doren. If you are looking for some good classic books to amuse your mood and fun-fill you fancies. Here are top ten classic books to read, from categories like Novel, Autobiography, History, Drama and Poem.

Fiction:

Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes)

This is a novel by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. This is a fictional story about Cide Hamete Benengeli, a Moorish Chronicler for Don Quixote. This work from Spanish Golden Age was published in two volume, first of which was published in 1605 and second in 1615, a decade after the first one. This is one of the greatest fictions ever published.

This novel is considered a good satire of orthodoxy, truth, veracity and nationalism. Its prime character Don Quixote became so famous that a new word quixotic was generated, the phrase ‘tilting at windmills’ has also been derived from a scene in Don Quixote.

Gulliver’s Travels (Jonathan Swift) – The name itself fascinates young and old with extremely imaginary exotic safaris of Gulliver. The fiction novel was first written by irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift in 1726 and an amended version was published in 1735. In original version Gulliver was first introduced as a Surgeon, who, in a later amendment, was changed to a Captain of several ships.

The book soon attracted a great readership universally and was even included in academics at many high schools. The book has been divided in four parts namely A Voyage to Lilliput, A Voyage to Brobdingnag, A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib and Japan. The last one is A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms.

Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) – First published in 1813, this is the most popular novel of its author. The novel depicts life in a genteel rural society and starts as a tale of misunderstandings. Liveliness and quick wit of Elizabeth Bennet attracts the readers. Mutual enlightenment between Elizabeth and Darcy gives a good entertainment. The work is light, bright and sparkling.

Autobiographies:

The Confessions (Augustine) – This book tops the list of top 10 classic books to read in autobiographical section, for those who love to read the history of Christianity. This is a 13 books large autobiographical work by St. Augustine of Hippo. It was written in AD 397 and AD 398 and modern versions are available under the title The Confessions of St. Augustine. The books are about Augustine’s sinful youth prior to his initiation to Christianity.

The Complete Essays (Michel de Montaigne) - This French Renaissance writer is responsible for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. He is acclaimed for his natural ability to blend serious intellectual speculation with casual anecdotes and autobiography. His essays have been translated in many languages as ‘Attempts’. Many of the writes, even William Shakespeare, have received their inspiration from works of Montaigne.

Meditations on First Philosophy (Rene Descartes) – This is a philosophical work of Rene Descartes wherein existence of God and the immortality of the soul has been discussed in detail. The book was first published in 1647 under the title Meditations Metaphysiques. The book reveals six meditations practiced by Descartes, each a day. He first discards his belief in material things and practices a transform from ephemeral to eternal. The work was written in several years though.

There are readers with different tastes and interests and that is why I have included works from all categories in this list of top 10 classic books to read. Here are some suggestions for History and Drama lovers:

History:

The Histories (Herodotus) – Written in between 450s to 420s BC, this is an account of ancient traditions, politics, geography and rues of different cultures in Mediterranean and Western Asia then.

The Peloponnesian War (Thucydides) – This is about an ancient Greek war fought around 431 to 404 B. C., between Athens and Peloponnesian League. It is said that Peloponnesian war had reshaped the Ancient Greek world then.

Drama:

Agamemnon (Aeschylus) – This is a perfect drama with sufficient scope for music, dance, gesture, costume, movement, etc. This depicts human characteristics in their most violent and problematic forms like lust for power, violence, gender conflict, crime and punishment. The drama also accompanies other elements viz. emotions v. reason, tribalism v. democracy, pollution, and purification in their extreme as they occur within the family.

Oedipus the King (Sophocles) – This is a super Anthenian tragic drama written in ancient Greek, but is known by its Latin title Oedipus Rex. Written by Sophocles, this is the second of his three Theban plays, followed by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone.

The list is endless. However, this list of top 10 classic books to read is a good thing to start with.

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