8 Classic Books that You Should Read

Classics belong to a league of their own. They are books that hoist themselves up to a high standard, influencing the thoughts of the generations that follow. With literature students reading extensively and keen on dissecting these pieces of fiction, classics still rule, being one of the most broadly read categories. These eight classics deserve a place in your list and are among one of the best books to read.

1.Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

A handsome and intelligent young man. And a moneylender. And then there's death. Raskolnikov, a former student believes his way of out of poverty is by murdering a pawnbroker and taking her money. Little does he know that this would soon initiate a pathway for a life plagued by complexity, dilemma and guilt.

2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This Gothic masterwork was born out of a competition between three literary visionaries: Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron and herself. Who could write the best horror story? The novel observes an over-ambitious and greedy man facing the consequences of his talents, which costs the life of others. Also, don't forget that Mary Shelley started writing this masterpiece when she was just eighteen!

3. Dracula by Bram Stoker

Beginning with a young solicitor’s travel to Transylvania, a series of events marked by horror unfolds, plunging the readers into a world of fantasy inhabited by the eponymous villain. Articulated through journal entries, newspaper articles and letters, it accounts the terrors that befall the characters who become entangled with the mysterious being.

4. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

A coming-of-age novel tracing the life of the titular character, Charles Dickens has penned Copperfield's climb from childhood to maturity, described through his adventures and acquaintances. A movie based on the book, titled "The Personal History of David Copperfield" was released in 2019 with Dev Patel as the lead.

5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

With the use of the first-person narrative, this Brontë sister tells the tale of an ambitious young woman. Surpassing a dreadfulchildhood, followed by a string of 'supposedly' supernatural experiences at Thornfield Hall, Jane experiences love with Mr Rochester while struggling under the pressures of the Victorian society and its ever-present class system. The 2011 movie starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender does justice to the book.

6. Les Misérablesby Victor Hugo

One of the greatest novels of the nineteenth-century with a notable place in the French literature, this work was inspired by the true story of a criminal, Eugène-François Vidocq, who established the Bureau des Renseignements, which was ostensibly the first detective agency in the world. Anne Hathaway's performance as Fantine in the movie adaption earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The cast also includes Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.

7. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Wrongful incarceration leadsto a quest for revenge. This is the protagonist EdmondDantès' life in a sentence. The Count of Monte Cristo is a tale propelled into action by envy, exploring retribution and mercy as the protagonist tries to transcend human limitations of justice, which begets devastation.

8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Finally, here we have the book you've been searching for, ever since you clicked on this article. It is a truth universally acknowledged that in every list of classics, Austen's literary gem should make an appearance. An amusing, unique and passionate story of two lovers, with an abundance of family drama in the backdrop, this has been adapted into a popular movie starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden, and a TV series with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as leads.

Abhirami M G

About Author: Abhirami M G is a BA Honours student in English, who is extremely enthusiastic when it comes to classic rock. She enjoys reading and has a penchant for history and science fiction. She hopes to pursue a Masters in Anthropology and is an avid Netflix binge-watcher.

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