Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book
Sign in with Facebook
I am on a mission to read and reread classic literature. I searched far and wide for a decent book list but all seem incomplete to me. Please add your favorite classic books to the list.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 201 |
|
Out of Africa
by
3.91 avg rating — 47,790 ratings
score: 393,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 202 |
|
The Sword in the Stone (Once and Future King, #1)
by
3.89 avg rating — 28,292 ratings
score: 391,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 203 |
|
The Night Before Christmas
by
4.40 avg rating — 127,315 ratings
score: 387,
and
9 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 204 |
|
A Clockwork Orange
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 765,319 ratings
score: 378,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 205 |
|
Green Eggs and Ham
by
4.31 avg rating — 841,793 ratings
score: 377,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 206 |
|
Howards End
by
3.96 avg rating — 94,525 ratings
score: 376,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 207 |
|
Our Town
by
3.74 avg rating — 58,879 ratings
score: 355,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 208 |
|
The Borrowers (The Borrowers, #1)
by
4.03 avg rating — 100,913 ratings
score: 354,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 209 |
|
Songs of Innocence and of Experience
by
4.09 avg rating — 51,787 ratings
score: 348,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 210 |
|
4:50 from Paddington (Miss Marple, #7)
by
3.97 avg rating — 75,700 ratings
score: 341,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 211 |
|
Dr. Faustus
by
3.80 avg rating — 72,106 ratings
score: 337,
and
8 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 211 |
|
Harold and the Purple Crayon (Harold, #1)
by
4.28 avg rating — 147,229 ratings
score: 337,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 213 |
|
The Nine Tailors (Lord Peter Wimsey, #11)
by
4.03 avg rating — 21,330 ratings
score: 332,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 214 |
|
Kristin Lavransdatter
by
4.31 avg rating — 14,345 ratings
score: 329,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 215 |
|
The Emperor's New Clothes
by
3.98 avg rating — 15,446 ratings
score: 326,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 216 |
|
Daisy Miller
by
3.37 avg rating — 37,694 ratings
score: 315,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 217 |
|
Le Malade imaginaire
by
3.62 avg rating — 19,250 ratings
score: 313,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 217 |
|
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
by
4.07 avg rating — 29,690 ratings
score: 313,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 219 |
|
Gulliver's Travels and ''A Modest Proposal''
by
3.92 avg rating — 5,888 ratings
score: 310,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 219 |
|
Dubliners
by
3.83 avg rating — 174,576 ratings
score: 310,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 221 |
|
The Secret Agent
by
3.58 avg rating — 24,752 ratings
score: 309,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 222 |
|
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by
3.88 avg rating — 348,821 ratings
score: 307,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 222 |
|
Watership Down (Watership Down, #1)
by
4.09 avg rating — 504,014 ratings
score: 307,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 224 |
|
Idylls of the King
by
3.97 avg rating — 10,410 ratings
score: 305,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 225 |
|
Old Yeller
by
4.11 avg rating — 103,339 ratings
score: 301,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 226 |
|
The Custom of the Country
by
4.07 avg rating — 15,983 ratings
score: 298,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 227 |
|
Antigone (The Theban Plays, #3)
by
3.68 avg rating — 175,303 ratings
score: 297,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 228 |
|
Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited
by
4.16 avg rating — 171,267 ratings
score: 290,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 229 |
|
The Illustrated Man
by
4.13 avg rating — 107,269 ratings
score: 288,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 229 |
|
Cold Comfort Farm
by
3.88 avg rating — 54,759 ratings
score: 288,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 231 |
|
The Stranger
by
4.03 avg rating — 1,376,621 ratings
score: 287,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 232 |
|
Make Way for Ducklings
by
4.25 avg rating — 90,797 ratings
score: 286,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 233 |
|
A Study in Scarlet
by
4.13 avg rating — 491,277 ratings
score: 285,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 233 |
|
An Inspector Calls
by
3.82 avg rating — 45,482 ratings
score: 285,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 235 |
|
The House at Pooh Corner (Winnie-the-Pooh, #2)
by
4.38 avg rating — 90,718 ratings
score: 283,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 236 |
|
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
by
3.77 avg rating — 154,199 ratings
score: 282,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 237 |
|
Sister Carrie
by
3.78 avg rating — 41,692 ratings
score: 280,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 238 |
|
Brideshead Revisited
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 125,997 ratings
score: 277,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 239 |
|
Pudd'nhead Wilson
by
3.75 avg rating — 19,437 ratings
score: 275,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 240 |
|
The Ugly Duckling
by
Jerry Pinkney (Adapter, Illustrator)
4.13 avg rating — 43,106 ratings
score: 267,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 241 |
|
The Waves
by
4.14 avg rating — 53,040 ratings
score: 266,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 242 |
|
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
by
4.50 avg rating — 1,113,890 ratings
score: 264,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 243 |
|
The History of the Kings of Britain
by
3.71 avg rating — 6,867 ratings
score: 257,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 243 |
|
The Snowy Day (Peter, #1)
by
4.20 avg rating — 119,141 ratings
score: 257,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 245 |
|
Kindred
by
4.31 avg rating — 268,263 ratings
score: 254,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 246 |
|
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
by
3.98 avg rating — 124,455 ratings
score: 251,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 246 |
|
The Turn of the Screw
by
3.38 avg rating — 178,537 ratings
score: 251,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 248 |
|
The Complete Fairy Tales
by
4.16 avg rating — 33,332 ratings
score: 249,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 249 |
|
Native Son
by
4.04 avg rating — 104,359 ratings
score: 248,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 250 |
|
Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1)
by
3.98 avg rating — 487,103 ratings
score: 246,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 251 |
|
Little Bear (Little Bear, #1)
by
4.25 avg rating — 59,418 ratings
score: 244,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 252 |
|
Harry the Dirty Dog
by
4.20 avg rating — 56,616 ratings
score: 242,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 253 |
|
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by
3.92 avg rating — 1,012,428 ratings
score: 240,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 254 |
|
The Cask of Amontillado
by
4.07 avg rating — 87,591 ratings
score: 238,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 255 |
|
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
by
3.97 avg rating — 62,519 ratings
score: 236,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 256 |
|
Little Dorrit
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 49,736 ratings
score: 235,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 257 |
|
Melmoth the Wanderer
by
3.73 avg rating — 5,578 ratings
score: 234,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 257 |
|
Go Tell It on the Mountain
by
4.05 avg rating — 80,862 ratings
score: 234,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 259 |
|
Daddy-Long-Legs
by
4.13 avg rating — 75,124 ratings
score: 228,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 260 |
|
The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats
by
4.23 avg rating — 39,994 ratings
score: 227,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 260 |
|
The Call of the Wild
by
3.91 avg rating — 469,443 ratings
score: 227,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 262 |
|
We the Living
by
3.96 avg rating — 30,709 ratings
score: 226,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 262 |
|
The Monk
by
3.86 avg rating — 33,328 ratings
score: 226,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 264 |
|
Lord Jim
by
3.61 avg rating — 32,892 ratings
score: 225,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 265 |
|
The Selfish Giant
by
4.07 avg rating — 10,079 ratings
score: 223,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 266 |
|
The Kreutzer Sonata
by
3.86 avg rating — 35,222 ratings
score: 222,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 267 |
|
When We Were Very Young (Winnie-the-Pooh, #3)
by
4.23 avg rating — 26,910 ratings
score: 221,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 268 |
|
The Murders in the Rue Morgue: The Dupin Tales (C. Auguste Dupin, #1-3)
by
3.74 avg rating — 11,877 ratings
score: 219,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 268 |
|
Guess How Much I Love You
by
4.39 avg rating — 147,000 ratings
score: 219,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 268 |
|
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
by
4.38 avg rating — 444,663 ratings
score: 219,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 271 |
|
Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1)
by
4.57 avg rating — 235,536 ratings
score: 217,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 272 |
|
The Rage of Achilles
by
Terence Hawkins (Goodreads Author)
3.42 avg rating — 196 ratings
score: 216,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 273 |
|
The Haunting of Hill House
by
3.81 avg rating — 389,234 ratings
score: 212,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 274 |
|
The Souls of Black Folk
by
4.31 avg rating — 44,727 ratings
score: 204,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 275 |
|
Five Children and It (The Psammead Trilogy, #1)
by
3.86 avg rating — 28,130 ratings
score: 203,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 276 |
|
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
by
4.21 avg rating — 53,832 ratings
score: 201,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 277 |
|
12 Years a Slave
by
4.23 avg rating — 124,533 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 278 |
|
Where the Wild Things Are
by
4.25 avg rating — 1,056,712 ratings
score: 199,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 279 |
|
The Nightingale
by
Fiona Black (Adaptation)
4.06 avg rating — 1,863 ratings
score: 198,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 280 |
|
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds
by
3.80 avg rating — 5,582 ratings
score: 197,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 280 |
|
The Pigman (The Pigman, #1)
by
3.60 avg rating — 28,672 ratings
score: 197,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 282 |
|
Holy Bible: New International Version
by
4.63 avg rating — 96,045 ratings
score: 189,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 283 |
|
A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1)
by
4.01 avg rating — 357,900 ratings
score: 186,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 284 |
|
U.S. Constitution (Saddlewire) (Books of American Wisdom)
by
4.52 avg rating — 27,133 ratings
score: 183,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 285 |
|
A Town Like Alice
by
4.16 avg rating — 61,618 ratings
score: 181,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 286 |
|
Wind in the Willows
by
4.02 avg rating — 239,232 ratings
score: 179,
and
7 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 287 |
|
Light in August
by
3.94 avg rating — 66,463 ratings
score: 176,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 288 |
|
The Pearl
by
3.56 avg rating — 268,889 ratings
score: 175,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 289 |
|
The Book Thief
by
Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author)
4.39 avg rating — 2,854,382 ratings
score: 174,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 290 |
|
Lady Susan
by
3.66 avg rating — 52,424 ratings
score: 171,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 290 |
|
Agnes Grey
by
3.71 avg rating — 81,220 ratings
score: 171,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 290 |
|
Three Men in a Boat
by
3.83 avg rating — 79,728 ratings
score: 171,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 293 |
|
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
by
4.03 avg rating — 159,879 ratings
score: 170,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 294 |
|
The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1)
by
3.94 avg rating — 167,569 ratings
score: 168,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 294 |
|
A Girl of the Limberlost
by
4.17 avg rating — 22,663 ratings
score: 168,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 296 |
|
The Pit and the Pendulum
by
4.14 avg rating — 72,106 ratings
score: 166,
and
5 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 297 |
|
The Fall
by
4.03 avg rating — 133,406 ratings
score: 165,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 298 |
|
Green Mansions
by
3.69 avg rating — 3,323 ratings
score: 164,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 299 |
|
The Purloined Letter (C. Auguste Dupin, #3)
by
3.62 avg rating — 14,021 ratings
score: 163,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 300 |
|
The Declaration of Independence / The Constitution of the United States
by
4.44 avg rating — 27,287 ratings
score: 159,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
634 books ·
522 voters ·
list created June 21st, 2008
by Crystal.
Tags:
classic, literature
Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Tamora
(new)
Apr 04, 2009 11:38AM
I'm just clicking on what I've read, not on what I liked. When you're dealing with books like these, that generally drop into everyone's life before they're 20, what you like and what you don't like is highly individual. I don't think you can really go by the opinion of the next person, because you're all forming your opinions. I liked TARZAN, but had no interest in CHARLOTTE'S WEB. My classmates had spasms over CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, so much so that I never told them that I kinda liked it. They were okay with THE SCARLET LETTER, which made me crazy. You really have to try the books that our parents, teachers, and peers think are probably classic, and decide for yourself if they're good reads as far as you're concerned!
reply
|
flag
I would just like to say that I believe 'Les Miserables' by Victor Hugo is the best book on this list. And nooooo, I'm not basing it on the hit musical (even though I love that as well), because it did get a lot wrong. I'm currently reading A Tale of 2 Cities, nad let me say I've made a lot of connections to Les Miserables. It's just an amzing and epic Book!
I agree with Tamora, There are several books i've been told are must reads by people who don't read much themselves. I have been disappointed in many of them most books are classics because they've been around forever and a day. Much of the language is outdated and stale. occasionally you do stumble upon a book with a plot that holds up but it is a rare find. That being said, I loved Scarlett Letter and The hunchback of Notra Dame but found Pride and Prejudice tedious at best shallow and mindless at worst
i just discovered my interest in reading so i've read only a few. i just finished che's book on social revolution. so far from what i've read dracula is the best they describe the events as if one was there. my second best is lady chaterley's lover
This is a great list! I have this sort of mission too, although I gotta find a good library to hold all of these books. Too bad I don't have it in the area, or money to but some..
@CrystalI've tried adding other books than then ones originally written in English, apart from voting for the ones already on the list I mean, as there are so many great classics worth reading. All of which are available in English translations, by the way. Books I've added are, for instance, Alle fabels, Lustgebed, Avondgezichten, Het hoofdkussenboek, Het boek van Dede Korkoet, Nibelungenlied, De ring van de duif, Het boek der koningen, De rozentuin and Rubaiyat, to name just a few.
By the way, 'Classics' = 'Modern Classics' too? As there are plenty of those on your list.
Related News
As you might expect, we are book people here at Goodreads World Headquarters—rather intense book people, actually. And when the holidays roll...
Anyone can add books to this list.
How to Vote
To vote on existing books from the list, beside each book there is a link vote for this book clicking it will add that book to your votes.
To vote on books not in the list or books you couldn't find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or simply search.
