Back in school, you had to read the classics because your teacher said they were great and would change your life. Maybe you didn't care too much back then, but reading these classics today, being older and wiser, makes you realise that they are classic for a reason. Your teacher was right all along. But don’t tell him that. Here are 10 historical books you might have had read in school and if you didn't enjoy them back then, you should definitely give them another try.
1. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
The best and most gripping dystopian book ever written about a man’s struggle against totalitarianism. Orwell’s novel shows how a government can overrule every aspect of life and how it's impossible for an individual to rebel against it. The book is both prescient and pessimistic, but it’s a classic that really makes the reader think about society today.
2. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The greatest costume drama for the hopelessly romantic from Jane Austin. This book describes the development of characters and relationships in the most beautiful and detailed way, with the protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, who learns about the error of making hasty judgements. The book is set in the 19th century, but the issues of marriage, money, education and moral rightness still appeal to a large audience today.
3. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
This book makes the reader immediately fall in love with the charismatic Jay Gatsby. Fitzgerald’s masterpiece takes you back to the roaring twenties, the time of the economic depression and epic parties. This story about obsessive love will sweep you off your dancing shoes.
4. Crime and Punishment - Fjodor Dostojevski
The book discusses an act of murder and succeeds in convincing the reader that the crime was justified. Crime and punishment are not only about justice, but gives an extraordinary insight into the human mind and the psyche of a murderer.
5. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
The story was originally written for the nine-year-old daughter of the Liddell family, to whom Lewis Carroll was very close. But the story is fascinating for adults as well, taking readers away through the looking glass, to the land of rabbits, tea parties and the queen of hearts. So let your imagination run wild and feel like a child again.
6. Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
This novel tells about a week in the life of teenager Holden Caulfield, who is expelled from a prep school and goes through a difficult phase. Holden’s character feels familiar to teenagers and reminds adults of the uncertainties and difficulties of growing up. It’s revered as the greatest coming of age novel.
7. On the Road – Jack Kerouac
This beat generation bible takes you on an epic journey with Sal Paradise, Dean Moriarty and other free spirits all across the United States. The road trip of the century represents the feeling of ultimate freedom.
8. Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
This story about Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged man who is obsessed with the young Lolita, is filled with great style and narrative. The story is about obsessive love and uncontrolled desires. It describes the villain you want to love, conflicting the reader in a moral dilemma.
9. Don Quixote - Miguel De Cervantes
The story about the gentle and funny knight Don Quixote, who goes crazy after reading too many books, has already been considered one of the greatest books for over 400 years.
10. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
Dorian Gray sells his soul to hold on to eternal beauty and youth. This elegantly written book raises the question of beauty and sensual fulfilment, asking if they are the only things worth pursuing in life.
Even when school is over, reading these classics can still be a pleasure for every book lover. If you are interested in obtaining a classic for yourself. This is a good list, but there are hundreds of other classic titles out there that are worth discovering. Take a look at our Books auction and be amazed our great selection of rare books and literature.