Books are one of the greatest legacies humanity. And if before the invention of printing, books were available only to a select caste of people, then books began to spread everywhere. Each new generation gave birth to talented writers who created world masterpieces of literature.
Great works have reached us, but we are reading the classics less and less. Literary portal Hedwig presents to your attention the 100 best books of all time that you must read. In this list you will find not only classical works, but also modern books who left their mark on history quite recently.
1 Mikhail Bulgakov
A novel that does not fit into the usual literary framework. This story mixes philosophy and everyday life, theology and fantasy, mysticism and realism, mysticism and lyricism. And all these components are intertwined with skillful hands into a solid and bright story, which can turn your world upside down. And yes, this is Bookly’s favorite book!
2
Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky
Book from school curriculum, which is difficult to understand in the gentle adolescence. The writer showed duality human soul when black intertwines with white. The story is about Raskolnikov, who is going through an internal struggle.
3
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A small story that contains a huge life meaning. A story that makes you look at familiar things differently.
4
Michael Bulgakov
A surprisingly subtle and sarcastic story about people and their vices. The story is about an experiment that proved that you can make a human out of an animal, but you cannot take an “animal” out of a human.
5
Erich Maria Remarque
It is impossible to tell what this novel is about. You need to read the novel, and then you will understand that this is not just a story, but a confession. Confession about love, friendship, pain. A story of despair and struggle.
6
Jerome Salinger
The story of a teenager who shows with his own eyes his perception of the world, his point of view, his renunciation of the usual principles and principles of morality of society that do not fit into his individual framework.
7
Mikhail Lermontov
A lyrical and psychological novel that tells the story of a man with a complex character. The author shows it from different sides. And the disrupted chronology of events makes you completely immerse yourself in the narrative.
8
Arthur Conan Doyle
The legendary investigations of the great detective Sherlock, which reveal the meanness of the human soul. Stories told by friend and assistant detective Dr. Watson.
9
Oscar Wilde
A story about pride, selfishness and a strong soul. A story that clearly shows what can happen to a person’s soul tormented by vices.
10
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
A fantastic trilogy about people and non-humans who fell under the power of the One Ring and its lord Sauron. The story is about those who are ready to sacrifice the most precious things and even their lives for the sake of friendship and saving the world.
11
Mario Puzo
A novel about one of the most powerful mafia families in America of the last century - the Corleone family. Many people know the film, so it’s time to start reading.
12
Erich Maria Remarque
After the First World War, many emigrants ended up in France. Among them is the talented German surgeon Ravik. This is the story of his life and love against the backdrop of the war he experienced.
13
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol
The story of the Russian soul and stupidity. And the author’s amazing style and language makes the sentences sparkle with colors and shades that fully reveal the history of our people.
14
Colin McCullough
A stunning novel that tells not only about the love of a man and a woman and complex relationships, but also about feelings for family, native places and nature.
15
Emily Brontë
A family lives on a secluded estate and there is a tense atmosphere in their home. Difficult relationships have deep roots that are hidden in the past. The story of Heathcliff and Catherine will not leave any reader indifferent.
16
Erich Maria Remarque
A book about the war from the perspective of a simple soldier. The book is about how war breaks and cripples the souls of innocent people.
17
Hermann Hesse
The book simply turns all ideas about life upside down. After reading it, it is no longer possible to get rid of the feeling that you are one step closer to something incredible. This book has answers to many questions.
18
Stephen King
Paul Edgecombe former employee prison, which served in the block for convicts death penalty. It tells the life story of suicide bombers who were destined to walk the Green Mile.
20
Victor Hugo
Paris 15th century. On one side it is full of grandeur, and on the other it looks like a sewer. On the background historical events A love story unfolds between Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Claude Frollo.
21
Daniel Defoe
The diary of a sailor who was shipwrecked and lived alone on an island for 28 years. He had to go through too many trials.
22
Lewis Carroll
strange and misterious story about a girl who, in pursuit of a white rabbit, finds herself in a different and wonderful world.
23
Ernest Hemingway
There is war on the pages of the book, but even in a world full of pain and fear, there is a place for beauty. To a wonderful feeling called love, which makes us stronger.
24
Jack London
What can love do? Martin's love for the beautiful Ruth made him struggle. He overcame many obstacles to become something great. A story about spiritual development and personality development.
25
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
A fantastic and fascinating fairy tale in which magic intertwines with reality.
26
We are Evgeny Zamyatin
A dystopian novel that describes ideal society, where there is no personal opinion, and everything happens according to schedule. But even in such a society there is a place for freethinkers.
27
Ernest Hemingway
Frederick volunteered to go to war, where he became a doctor. In the sanitary unit, where even the air is saturated with death, love is born.
28
Boris Pasternak
Beginning of the twentieth century. Russian empire has already embarked on the path of revolution. The story is about the life of the intelligentsia of that time, as well as the book raises questions of religion and touches on the mystery of life and death.
29
Vladimir Nabokov
A cautionary tale about people who betrayed their ideals. A book about how bright and wonderful feelings evolve into something dark and disgusting.
30
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
The greatest work that draws you into the story of Faust, who sold his soul to the Devil. By reading this book you can walk the path of learning about life.
31
Dante Alighieri
The work consists of three parts. First we go to Hell to complete all 9 circles. Then Purgatory awaits us, through which we can atone for our sins. And only by reaching the top can you enter Paradise.
32
Anthony Burgess
Not the most pleasant story, but it shows human nature. A story about how you can make an obedient and silent doll out of any person.
33
Victor Pelevin
A complex story that is difficult to understand the first time. A story about the life of a decadent poet who is looking for his own path, and Chapaev leads Peter to enlightenment.
34
William Golding
What will happen to the children if they find themselves completely alone? Children have a delicate nature, which is quite susceptible to vices. And sweet, kind children turn into real monsters.
35
Albert Camus
36
James Clavell
The story of an English sailor who, by the will of fate, ended up in Japan. An epic novel with historical realities, intrigue, adventures and secrets.
37
Ray Bradbury
Collection fantasy stories, which tells about the life of people on Mars. They almost destroyed the Earth, but what awaits the other planet?
38
Stanislav Lem
There is an Ocean on this planet. He is alive and he has a mind. Researchers face the difficult task of transferring knowledge to the ocean. And he will help make their dreams come true...
39
Hermann Hesse
The book is about an internal crisis that can happen to anyone. Inner devastation can destroy a person if one day you don’t meet a person on the way who will give you just one book...
40
Milan Kundera
Plunge into the world of sensations and feelings of the libertine Tomas, who is used to changing women, so that no one dares to take away his freedom.
41
Boris Vian
Each of the group of friends has their own destiny. Everything goes smoothly and easily. Friendship. Love. Conversations. But one event can change everything and destroy your usual life.
42
Iain Banks
Frank tells the story of his childhood and describes the present. He has his own world, which can collapse at any moment. Unexpected turning points in the plot add a special flavor to the whole story.
43
John Irving
This book raises themes of family, childhood, friendship, love, betrayal and betrayal. This is the world we live in with all the problems and shortcomings.
44
Michael Ondaatje
This book contains many themes - war, death, love, betrayal. But the main leitmotif is loneliness, which can take on a variety of forms.
46
Ray Bradbury
Books are our future, but what will happen if they are replaced by TV and one opinion? The answer to this question is given by a writer who was ahead of his time.
47
Patrick Suskind
Story mad genius. His whole life is wrapped in smells. He will go to any lengths to create the perfect scent.
48
1984 George Orwell
Three totalitarian states where even thoughts are controlled. The world is hateful, but there are people who can still resist the system.
49
Jack London
Alaska at the end of the 19th century. The era of the gold rush. And among human greed lives a wolf named White Fang.
50
Jane Austen
The Bennett family has only daughters, and the heir is a distant relative. And once the head of the family dies, the young girls will be left with nothing.
51
Evgeny Petrov and Ilya Ilf
Who doesn’t know Ostap Bender and Kisa Vorobyaninov and their eternal failures, which are associated with the search for ill-fated diamonds.
52
Fedor Dostoevsky
53
Charlotte Bronte
Jane became an orphan early, and life in her aunt's house was far from happy. And love for a strict and gloomy man is far from a romantic story.
54
Ernest Hemingway
A short story from my own life ordinary person. But reading this work, you penetrate into amazing world which is full of emotions.
55
Francis Scott Fitzgerald
A great novel that is filled with feelings. On the pages of the book awaits the beginning of the 20th century, when people were full of illusions and hopes. This story is about life values And true love.
56
Alexandr Duma
We are all familiar with the adventures of d'Artagnan and his closest friends. A book about friendship, honor, devotion, fidelity and love. And of course, like other works of the author, it was not without intrigue.
57
Ken Kesey
This story is told to the reader by a patient in a psychiatric hospital. Patrick McMurphy ends up in prison, in a psychiatric ward. But some people think that he is simply faking his illness.
59
Victor Hugo
The novel describes the life of an escaped convict who is hiding from the authorities. After escaping, he had to endure a lot of hardships, but he was able to change his life. But police inspector Javert is ready to do anything to catch the criminal.
60
Victor Hugo
The actor-philosopher met on his way a disfigured boy and a blind girl. He takes them under his wing. Against the background of physical defects, the perfection and purity of souls is clearly visible. It’s also a great contrast to the life of the aristocracy.
61
Vladimir Nabokov
The novel tightens its unhealthy web of passions and unhealthy love. The main characters gradually go crazy, dominated by their base desires, like the entire world around them. This book definitely won't have a happy ending.
62
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
A fantastic story that describes the life of stalker Redrick Shewhart, who anomalous zones on Earth extracts extraterrestrial artifacts.
63
Richard Bach
Even a simple seagull can get bored gray life, and the routine has become boring. And then Chaika devotes her life to her dream. The seagull gives his whole soul on the way to his cherished goal.
64
Bernard Werber
Michel ended up at the court of the archangels, where he will have to undergo the weighing of his soul. After the trial, he faces a choice - to go to earth in a new incarnation or become an angel. The path of an angel is not simple, just like the life of mere mortals.
65
Ethel Lilian Voynich
A story about freedom, duty and honor. And also about different types love. In the first case, it is the love of a father for his son, which has survived many trials and will pass through generations. In the second case, it is love between a man and a woman, which is like a fire, then goes out, then flares up again.
66
John Fowles
He is a simple town hall servant, lonely and lost. He has a passion - collecting butterflies. But one day he wanted to add to his collection a girl who captivated his soul.
67
Walter Scott
The narrative of the novel will take readers into the distant past. During the time of Richard the Lionheart and the first crusades. This is one of the first historical novels, which everyone should read.
68
Bernhard Schlink
There are a lot of questions in the book that remain unanswered. The book makes you think and analyze not only what is happening on the pages, but also your life. This is a story about love and betrayal that will not leave anyone indifferent.
69
Ayn Rand
Socialists come to power and set a course for equal opportunities. The authorities believe that the talented and rich should improve the well-being of others. But instead of a happy future, the familiar world is plunging into chaos.
The story of an actress who has worked in the theater all her life. And what is reality for her: acting on stage or acting in life? How many roles do you have to play every day?
72
Aldous Huxley
Dystopian novel. Novel satire. A world where Henry Ford became a god, and the creation of the first Ford T car is considered the beginning of time. People are simply raised, but they don’t know anything about feelings.
75
Albert Camus
Meursault lives a detached life. It seems that his life does not belong to him at all. He is indifferent to everything and even his actions are saturated with loneliness and renunciation of life.
76
Somerset Maugham
Philip's life story. He is an orphan and throughout his life he not only searches for the meaning of life, but also for himself. And the main thing is to understand the world and people around us.
77
Irvine Welsh
The story of friends who one day discovered drugs and euphoria. Each character is unusual and quite smart. They valued life and friendship, but only until the moment when heroin came first.
78
Herman Melville
Ahab, the captain of a whaling ship, set the goal of his life to take revenge on a whale named Moby Dick. Wit ruin too many lives to let him live. But as soon as the captain starts hunting, mysterious and sometimes terrible events begin to happen on his ship.
79
Joseph Heller
One of the best books about World War II. In it, the author was able to show the senselessness of war and the monstrous absurdity of the state machine.
80
William Faulkner
Four characters, each telling their own version of events. And to understand what we're talking about, you need to read to the end, where the puzzles will fit into a single picture of life and secret desires.
82
Joanne Rowling
83
Roger Zelazny
A classic of the fantasy genre. The chronicles are divided into two volumes of 5 books. In this cycle you will find travel in space and time, wars, intrigue, betrayal, as well as loyalty and courage.
84
Andrzej Sapkowski
One of the best fantasy series. The series includes 8 books, with the last one being “Season of Thunderstorms”, which is best read after the first or second book. This is a story about the Witcher and his adventures, his life and love, and also about the girl Ciri, who can change the world.
85
Honore de Balzac
An amazing story about the boundless and sacrificial love of a father for his children. About love that was never mutual. About the love that destroyed Father Goriot.
86
Gunter Grass
The story is about a boy named Oskar Matzerath, who, when the National Socialists came to power in Germany, refuses to grow up in protest. Thus, he expresses his protest to the changes in German society.
87
Boris Vasiliev
A poignant story of war. About true love for parents, friends, and the Motherland. This story must be read to feel the entire emotional component of this story.
88
Stendhal
The story is about Julien Sorel and the soul, in which there is a confrontation between two feelings: passion and ambition. These two feelings are so intertwined that it is often impossible to distinguish between them.
89
Lev Tolstoy
An epic novel that describes an entire era, delving into historical realities and art world that time. War will be replaced by peace, and the peaceful life of the characters depends on the war. Many heroes with unique personalities.
90
Gustave Flaubert
This story is recognized greatest work world literature. Emma Bovary dreams of being beautiful social life, but her husband, a provincial doctor, cannot satisfy her requests. She finds lovers, but will they be able to fulfill Madame Bovary's dream?
91
Chuck Palahniuk
No matter how much the work of this author is criticized, it cannot be denied that his book “Fight Club” is one of the symbols of our generation. This is a story about people who decided to change this dirty world. The story is about a man who was able to resist the system.
92
Markus Zusak
Winter Germany in 1939, when Death has too much work, and after six months the work will increase significantly. A story about Liesel, about fanatical Germans, about a Jewish fighter, about thefts and about the power of words.
93
Alexander Pushkin
The novel in verse tells the story of the fate of the noble intelligentsia with their vices and selfishness. And at the center of history love story no happy ending.
94
George Martin
A fantastic story about another world ruled by kings and dragons. Love, betrayal, intrigue, war and death, all for the sake of power.
95
David Mitchell
History of past, present and future. Stories of people from different times. But these stories make up a single picture of our entire world.
96
Stephen King
A fantastic series of novels by the master of horrors. This series interweaves genres. The books closely coexist with horror, western, Science fiction and other genres. This is the story of the gunslinger Roland, who is searching for the Dark Tower.
97
Haruki Murakami
A story about human destinies in Japan in the 60s of the twentieth century. A story about human loss. Memoirs of Tooru, which will introduce the reader to different people and their stories.
98
Andy Weir
By chance, an astronaut is left alone at a space base on Mars. He has a limited amount of resources, but no connection with people. But he doesn’t give up, he believes that they will come back for him.
100
Samuel Beckett
An amazing play where everyone determines for themselves mysterious person Godot. The author gives you the opportunity to find the answer to the question “who is he?” A specific person? Strong personality? Collective image? Or God?
I would like to include many more books in this top. Therefore, dear readers, write in the comments about those books that you consider the best. We will add books to the top and, with your help, expand it to the 1000 best books of all times.
Many of us have been left with the conviction since school that for the most part Russian classics are rather boring and unimaginably drawn out works of several hundred pages about the hardships of life, mental suffering and the philosophical quests of the main characters. We have collected Russian classics that are impossible not to read to the end.
Anatoly Pristavkin “The golden cloud spent the night”
“The golden cloud spent the night” by Anatoly Pristavkin- a piercingly tragic story that happened to orphaned twin brothers Sashka and Kolka Kuzmin, evacuated along with the rest of the pupils orphanage during the war in the Caucasus. Here it was decided to establish a labor colony to develop the land. Children turn out to be innocent victims of government policies towards the peoples of the Caucasus. This is one of the most powerful and honest stories about war orphans and the deportation of the Caucasian peoples. “The Golden Cloud Spent the Night” has been translated into 30 languages and is rightfully one of the best works Russian classics. 10th place in our ranking.
Boris Pasternak "Doctor Zhivago"
Novel Boris Pasternak "Doctor Zhivago", which brought him world fame and the Nobel Prize - in 9th place in the list of the best works of Russian classics. For his novel, Pasternak was sharply criticized by representatives of the country's official literary world. The book's manuscript was banned from publication, and the writer himself, under pressure, was forced to refuse to receive the prestigious award. After Pasternak's death, it was transferred to his son.
Mikhail Sholokhov " Quiet Don»
In terms of the scale and scope of the period of life of the main characters described in it, it can be compared with “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy. This is an epic story about the life and destinies of representatives of the Don Cossacks. The novel covers three most difficult eras of the country: the First world war, the revolution of 1917 and Civil War. What was going on in the souls of people in those days, what reasons forced relatives and friends to stand on opposite sides of the barricades? The writer tries to answer these questions in one of the best works of Russian classical literature. “Quiet Don” is in 8th place in our ranking.
Stories by Anton Chekhov
A generally recognized classic of Russian literature, they occupy 7th place on our list. One of the most famous playwrights in the world, wrote more than 300 works different genres and died very early, at 44 years old. Chekhov's stories, ironic, funny and eccentric, reflected the realities of life of that era. They have not lost their relevance even now. Its peculiarity short works– do not answer questions, but ask them to the reader.
I. Ilf and E. Petrov “Twelve Chairs”
Novels by writers with a wonderful sense of humor I. Ilf and E. Petrov “The Twelve Chairs” and “The Golden Calf” take 6th place among the best works of Russian classics. After reading them, every reader will understand that classic literature– it’s not only interesting and exciting, but also funny. The adventures of the great schemer Ostap Bender, the main character of the books by Ilf and Petrov, will not leave anyone indifferent. Immediately after the first publication, the writers' works were received ambiguously in literary circles. But time has shown their artistic value.
In fifth place in our ranking of the best works of Russian classics - "The Gulag Archipelago" by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. It's not only great novel about one of the most difficult and terrible periods in the history of the country - repressions in the USSR, but also an autobiographical work based on personal experience the author, as well as letters and memoirs of more than two hundred prisoners of the camps. The release of the novel in the West was accompanied by loud scandal and persecution launched against Solzhenitsyn and other dissidents. Publication of The Gulag Archipelago became possible in the USSR only in 1990. The novel is among best books of the century.
Nikolai Gogol “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka”
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is a universally recognized classic of world significance. The crowning achievement of his work is considered the novel " Dead Souls", the second volume of which was destroyed by the author himself. But our ranking of the best works of Russian classics includes the first book Gogol – “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka”. It’s hard to believe that the stories included in the book and written with sparkling humor were practically Gogol’s first experience in writing. Pushkin left a flattering review of the work, who was sincerely amazed and fascinated by Gogol’s stories, written in a living, poetic language without feigned affectation and stiffness.
The events described in the book take place in different time periods: in XVII, XVIII XIX centuries.
Fyodor Dostoevsky "Crime and Punishment"
Novel “Crime and Punishment” by F. M. Dostoevsky takes third place in the list of the best works of Russian classics. He received the status cult book of global significance. This is one of the most frequently filmed books. It's not only deep philosophical work, in which the author poses to readers the problems of moral responsibility, good and evil, but also a psychological drama and a fascinating detective story. The author shows the reader the process of transforming a talented and respectable young man into a killer. He is no less interested in the possibility of Raskolnikov’s atonement for his guilt.
Great epic novel Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy "War and Peace", the volume of which has terrified schoolchildren for many decades, is actually very interesting. It covers the period of several military campaigns against the strongest France at that time, led by Napoleon Bonaparte. This is one of the brightest examples of the best works of not only Russian, but also world classics. The novel is recognized as one of the most epic works in world literature. Here every reader will find his favorite topic: love, war, courage.
Mikhail Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita"
Topping our list of examples of the best classical literature is the amazing novel. The author never lived to see the publication of his book - it was published 30 years after his death.
The Master and Margarita is such a complex work that not a single attempt to film the novel has been successful. The figures of Woland, the Master and Margarita require filigree accuracy in conveying their images. Unfortunately, no actor has yet managed to achieve this. The film adaptation of the novel by director Vladimir Bortko can be considered the most successful.
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The most recognized classic literature - a list of the best books. World foreign and Russian classics. Highly recommended. 😉
Sylvia Plath. Under a glass cover
Esther Greenwood is invited to New York for an internship at a magazine about women's fashion. She goes there, determined to conquer the city and become a writer. But behind the magnificent scenes hides an indifferent society and difficulties adult life. Esther loses control of herself and is overcome by depression and loneliness. Further
Ken Kesey. Over the cuckoo's nest
A work that describes harsh and extremely honest images of points of contact common sense and madness, brought Ken Kesey the title of the most talented writer. At the time of its appearance, the novel was popular among representatives of the beat movement and hippies, but even today it has not lost its relevance. Further
William Somerset Maugham. Theater
What does the book hide in itself? A graceful and sarcastic narrative by an incomparable, witty actress who experiences a midlife crisis while dating a young kidnapper women's hearts? Vanity stories of the roaring twenties? Or is this an exciting romance for all times? One thing is for sure, “Theatre” will appeal to even the most fastidious reader. Further
This book will be an assistant for schoolchildren of all ages. With it, neither children nor parents will have to spend a lot of their time searching for certain work: the collection already contains a large amount of necessary literature that teachers advise reading. Further
The main character, who is a bank employee, is suddenly arrested on the day he turns 30. But he is not taken into custody, and he, taking advantage of this, tries to figure out what he did wrong. In this process, he becomes more and more immersed in the judicial world. Will the hero be able to figure out what the accusation is? Further
Kerouac became famous all over the world thanks to his work On the Road, although the attitude towards him different people it was very controversial. The novel, in a very unusual, non-linear way, tells the story of the plight and suffering of one generation of people, and in the center of attention is Dean, a witty man who loves drink and women. Further
Famous novel in Polish classics, written in historical genre. Events take place in the mid-16th century. Then the Swedes were eager to conquer Poland. But the Poles also caused confusion among their people: some went over to the side of their enemies, others tried with all their might to defend their land. And in the center of events are the adventures of a couple in love. Further
A novel that will be relevant at all times. The book touches on themes of religion and philosophy, which are perfectly revealed in an ideally constructed plot: the actions of each hero carry within them makes a lot of sense. In this work, the author showed how one can avoid immorality in society. Further
The original opposite of the well-known dystopia “Wonderful World”. What's worse for people? A consumerist society driven to the point of meaninglessness? Or a society with a predominance of ideas, which led to ideal perfection? Orwell believes that the worst thing is the massive loss of freedom. Further
The book tells the story of generations of the Buendia family. Events during the war Forbidden love between family members, the appearance of new people, magic - all this can be found in the work of Marquez. The novel involves the reader in the feelings of each character: his experiences and loneliness are acutely felt. Further
The tragedies of people in wartime, the problems of the lost generation. This book will reveal the range of all feelings from love to betrayal. The heroes of the novel are three friends who are united by the front; their feelings, thoughts about the past, desires and dreams are described. This work is for those who want to immerse themselves in the life of the last century. Further
The book that laid the foundation for the culture of European postmodernism. It can be perceived in different ways: a masterpiece novel of avant-gardeism, written in the style of surrealist philosophy, or, on the contrary, a masterpiece philosophical story, written in the style of a novel with surrealism. Further
The busy life of the 20s of the last century, when it was popular to throw luxurious parties, when people were confident that they would find happiness only after achieving great heights of power and wealth. And Gatsby, who unsuccessfully chased the dream of love, was inherent in all this. Further
The boys, who had only recently graduated from school and had not yet had time to experience adult life, found themselves in a war that spares no one, together with their teacher. Young men try to find joy in the most ordinary things, in things that they never paid attention to before, because every day could be their last. Further
Events take place in a sanatorium where there are people suffering from tuberculosis. I feel acutely cut off from the rest of the world, with which I can occasionally communicate via mail. Here no one is afraid of death anymore, everyone desperately clings to the slightest manifestations of relationships between people, this helps not to go crazy. Further
A masterpiece of literary art that will never lose its relevance: people of all times will read this book with great pleasure. Jane Austen was the first to show that the novel could be a serious genre without the superficiality of its plot. With this she won everyone's love. Further
A book that takes you headlong into the story of the plight of two brothers and a sister who begin to live separate lives after their father dies. Everyone along the way encounters many obstacles that prevent them from finally achieving their dreams. The work teaches you to find happiness in what you already have, but have not yet learned to appreciate. Further
Hugo writes about how people who are not accepted by society live. For example, a man who was sentenced to 20 years because he was caught forcibly stealing bread, because his poor family starved; or the boy who lived on the street. The novel touches on themes of crime, police, politics and the church. Further
At the time of the first submission of the novel, books were subject to strict censorship; the publication of forbidden topics could not be allowed, therefore this work was cut by almost a third. This option The book is compiled from all the materials that were found in the archive, it is the first complete edition that you can read. Further
An excellently written work, which was awarded a film adaptation. But if you want to feel the whole gamut of emotions and be completely immersed in deep history about a crazy woman leading nowhere, unrequited love beautiful paralyzed girl to a soldier, it's worth reading this novel Zweig. Further
It was the world's most popular classic literature - a list of the best books. Not everyone here is Russian and foreign classics, but if you have favorite works, write about them in the comments and we will add them to the list. 😉
The jury of 'The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books', led by a New York Times columnist, included: famous writers like: Jonathan Franzen, recognized by Times magazine as the best American novelist, author of the novel “The Emperor's Children” Claire Mesud, Joyce Carol Oates, famous American novelist, and many others. Writers have compiled lists of 10 best novels and writers, reviewing 544 titles. The novels were scored from 1 to 10.
Ten greatest writers of all times, according to the total number of points scored:
1. Leo Tolstoy – 327
One of the most widely known Russian writers and thinkers, revered as one of the world's greatest writers. Participant in the defense of Sevastopol.
A writer recognized during his lifetime as the head of Russian literature, whose work marked new stage in the development of Russian and world realism, becoming a kind of bridge between traditions classic novel XIX century and literature of the XX century.
The most famous works of Tolstoy are the novels “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina”, “Resurrection”, autobiographical trilogy“Childhood”, “Adolescence”, “Youth”, the stories “Cossacks”, “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”, “The Kreutzer Sonata”, “Hadji Murat”, a series of essays “ Sevastopol stories", dramas "The Living Corpse" and "The Power of Darkness", autobiographical religious and philosophical works "Confession" and "What is my faith?" and etc.
2. William Shakespeare – 293
English poet and playwright, often considered the greatest writer in the English language and one of the world's best playwrights. Often called the national poet of England. The surviving works, including some written jointly with other authors, consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, 4 poems and 3 epitaphs. Shakespeare's plays have been translated into all major languages and are performed more often than the works of other playwrights.
Most of Shakespeare's works were written between 1589 and 1613. His early plays are mainly comedies and chronicles, in which Shakespeare excelled considerably. Then a period of tragedies began in his work, including the works “Hamlet”, “King Lear”, “Othello” and “Macbeth”, which are considered among the best in history. English language. At the end of his career, Shakespeare wrote several tragicomedies and also collaborated with other writers.
3. James Joyce – 194
Irish writer and poet, representative of modernism, Joyce significantly influenced world culture. He remains one of the most widely read English-language prose writers in our time. In 1998, Modern Library compiled a list of the Modern Library's 100 Best Novels, which included all three of James Joyce's novels: Ulysses (number 1 on the list), A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (number 3), and Finnegans Wake "(number 77). In 1999, Time magazine included the writer in its list of “100 Heroes and Idols of the 20th Century,” saying that Joyce carried out an entire revolution. Ulysses has been called "a demonstration and summing up of everything modern movement[modernism]."
4. Vladimir Nabokov – 190
Russian and American writer, poet, translator and entomologist.
Nabokov's works are characterized by complex literary technique, deep analysis emotional state characters combined with an unpredictable, sometimes almost thriller plot. Among the most famous examples of Nabokov’s creativity are the novels “Mashenka”, “The Defense of Luzhin”, “Invitation to Execution”, “The Gift”. The writer gained fame among the general public after the publication of scandalous romance"Lolita", which was subsequently made into several film adaptations (1962, 1997).
5. Fyodor Dostoevsky – 177
One of the most significant and famous Russian writers and thinkers in the world. Dostoevsky's work had a great influence on Russian and world culture. Literary heritage The writer is assessed differently both at home and abroad. In the West, where Dostoevsky's novels have been popular since the early twentieth century, his work has had a significant influence on such generally liberal-minded movements as existentialism, expressionism and surrealism. Many literary critics see it as the forerunner of existentialism. However, abroad Dostoevsky is usually assessed primarily as an outstanding writer and psychologist, while his ideology is ignored or almost completely rejected.
1. Gabriel José de la Concordia "Gabo" García Márquez(b. March 6, 1927, Aracataca, Colombia) - famous Colombian prose writer, journalist, publisher and political figure; winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 1982. Representative literary direction"magical realism". His novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad, 1967) brought him worldwide fame.
2. Umberto Eco(b. January 5, 1932, Alessandria, Italy) - Italian scientist-philosopher, medievalist historian, semiotics specialist, literary critic, writer. Most famous novels- "The Name of the Rose" and "Foucault's Pendulum".
3. Otfried Preusler(b. October 20, 1923) - German children's writer, by nationality - Lusatian (Lusatian Serb). Most famous works: “Little Baba Yaga”, “Little Ghost”, “Little Waterman” and “Krabat, or Legends of the Old Mill”.
4. Boris Lvovich Vasiliev(born May 21, 1924) - Soviet and Russian writer. Author of the story “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” (1969), the novel “Not on the Lists” (1974), etc.
5. Ion Druta(b. 09/03/1928) - Moldavian and Russian writer and playwright.
6. Fazil Abdulovich Iskander(03/06/1929, Sukhum, Abkhazia, USSR) - an outstanding Soviet and Russian prose writer and poet of Abkhaz origin.
7. Daniil Alexandrovich Granin(b. January 1, 1919, Volsk, Saratov province, according to other sources - Volyn, Kursk region) - Russian writer and public figure. Knight of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, Hero Socialist Labor(1989), President of the Society of Friends of the Russian National Library; Chairman of the Board of the International charitable foundation them. D. S. Likhacheva.
8. Milan Kundera(b. April 1, 1929) is a modern Czech prose writer who has lived in France since 1975. He writes in both Czech and French.
9. Thomas Tranströmer(b. April 15, 1931 in Stockholm) is the largest Swedish poet of the 20th century. Winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature "for the way his brief, translucent images give us a renewed view of reality."
10. Max Gallo(b. January 7, 1932, Nice) - French writer, historian and politician. Member of the French Academy
11. Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa(b. 03/28/1936) - Peruvian-Spanish prose writer and playwright, publicist, politician, winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature.
12. Terry Pratchett(b. April 28, 1948) is a popular English writer. The most popular is his satirical fantasy series about Flat world(eng. Discworld). The total circulation of his books is about 50 million copies.
13. Yuri Vasilievich Bondarev(b. 03/15/1924) - Russian Soviet writer. Author of the novel “Hot Snow”, the story “Battalions Ask for Fire”, etc.
14. Stephen Edwin King(b. September 21, 1947, Portland, Maine, USA) is an American writer working in a variety of genres, including horror, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and drama.
15. Victor Olegovich Pelevin(born November 22, 1962, Moscow) - Russian writer. The most famous works: “The Life of Insects”, “Chapaev and Emptiness”, “Generation “P””
16. Joan Rowling(b. July 31, 1965, Yate, Gloucestershire, England) is a British writer, author of the Harry Potter series of novels, translated into more than 65 languages and sold (as of 2008) more than 400 million copies.
