What is a classic book? In our opinion, it’s any work that proves a good story will endure. Classic books tend to populate high school reading lists, lists of books everyone should read, and more.
There are books that are considered classics within specific genres, such as classic science fiction books, classic gothic horror novels and classic romance novels. There are classics that distill the voices of certain times and places, such as books from Lost Generation writers or from the Harlem Renaissance.
Classic books also have the tendency to become cultural touchstones—everyone knows what it means to tilt at windmills; to chase a white whale; to ask “to be or not to be” (and if you don’t; it’s high time you cross these classic books off your TBR). They’ve also been turned into iconic films, sparked some of the most hated characters known to man, and invented fantastic places we can only dream of visiting.
While many books that we consider classics were written long ago, the best ones are truly timeless, telling tales that resonate with people around the world and across generations. If you're wondering what all the fuss is about, it's time to see for yourself.
There are so many classic books covering so many different social issues that there is no one best classic book of all time. However, if you’re looking for a good place to start, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is still heavily discussed and recommended today for its knack for tackling social issues that weren’t openly discussed at the time of its publishing, and for its period-defining gothic qualities.
While the most well-known and well-read book of all time is the Bible, after religious texts, several sources cite Don Quixote as the most famous book of all time, as it was the most widely distributed book after the Bible. After Don Quixote, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, specifically books one and four, are some of the most famous books of all time.
There are many classic books that are easier to read than we think, but Catcher in the Rye may be the easiest classic to start with. It’s short in length, uses contemporary language, and as it’s a character-driven novel, it’s easy to understand the author’s goals for the story. Additionally, it’s still a widely-discussed novel in the literary world, making the whole literary scene more accessible for new classic readers.
