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Literature
Titles from classic literature which should be read by everyone.
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.
| 101 |
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Confessions
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3.99 avg rating — 72,077 ratings
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| 102 |
|
The Master and Margarita
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4.28 avg rating — 406,382 ratings
score: 780,
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9 people voted
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| 103 |
|
Peter Pan
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4.03 avg rating — 370,012 ratings
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| 103 |
|
The Trial
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3.94 avg rating — 381,033 ratings
score: 774,
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9 people voted
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| 105 |
|
The Epic of Gilgamesh
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3.75 avg rating — 115,156 ratings
score: 764,
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9 people voted
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| 106 |
|
Gargantua en Pantagruel
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3.65 avg rating — 16,069 ratings
score: 763,
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9 people voted
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| 107 |
|
Romeo and Juliet
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3.74 avg rating — 2,781,938 ratings
score: 749,
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9 people voted
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| 108 |
|
Harry Potter Series Box Set (Harry Potter, #1-7)
by
4.73 avg rating — 300,489 ratings
score: 716,
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8 people voted
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| 109 |
|
Macbeth
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3.89 avg rating — 999,003 ratings
score: 712,
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9 people voted
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| 110 |
|
The Magus
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4.05 avg rating — 62,776 ratings
score: 711,
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8 people voted
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| 111 |
|
The Wind in the Willows
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4.02 avg rating — 236,690 ratings
score: 696,
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9 people voted
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| 112 |
|
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
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3.83 avg rating — 647,168 ratings
score: 692,
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9 people voted
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| 113 |
|
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
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4.03 avg rating — 127,507 ratings
score: 684,
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8 people voted
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| 114 |
|
Walden & Civil Disobedience
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3.94 avg rating — 38,724 ratings
score: 670,
and
9 people voted
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| 115 |
|
North and South
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4.15 avg rating — 180,603 ratings
score: 667,
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8 people voted
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| 116 |
|
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobiography, #1)
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4.30 avg rating — 572,330 ratings
score: 665,
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9 people voted
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| 117 |
|
The Divine Comedy: Inferno - Purgatorio - Paradiso
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4.08 avg rating — 168,574 ratings
score: 659,
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9 people voted
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| 118 |
|
A Room of One’s Own
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4.22 avg rating — 250,238 ratings
score: 644,
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8 people voted
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| 119 |
|
Dune (Dune #1)
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4.29 avg rating — 1,585,843 ratings
score: 634,
and
8 people voted
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| 120 |
|
Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh, #1)
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4.38 avg rating — 390,931 ratings
score: 626,
and
8 people voted
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| 121 |
|
As I Lay Dying
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3.72 avg rating — 183,701 ratings
score: 623,
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8 people voted
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| 122 |
|
Gulliver’s Travels
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3.59 avg rating — 295,272 ratings
score: 611,
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8 people voted
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| 123 |
|
Jude the Obscure
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3.83 avg rating — 75,134 ratings
score: 582,
and
7 people voted
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| 123 |
|
Hunger
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4.04 avg rating — 63,126 ratings
score: 582,
and
7 people voted
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| 125 |
|
The War of the Worlds
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3.83 avg rating — 343,155 ratings
score: 575,
and
8 people voted
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| 126 |
|
To the Lighthouse
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3.81 avg rating — 209,372 ratings
score: 557,
and
7 people voted
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| 127 |
|
The Pilgrim's Progress
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4.07 avg rating — 155,378 ratings
score: 548,
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7 people voted
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| 128 |
|
Things Fall Apart (The African Trilogy, #1)
by
3.74 avg rating — 405,479 ratings
score: 533,
and
7 people voted
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| 129 |
|
A Modest Proposal
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4.02 avg rating — 48,615 ratings
score: 507,
and
7 people voted
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| 129 |
|
The Collector
by
3.97 avg rating — 90,132 ratings
score: 507,
and
6 people voted
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| 131 |
|
Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3)
by
4.21 avg rating — 299,973 ratings
score: 506,
and
6 people voted
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| 132 |
|
A Passage to India
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3.68 avg rating — 84,766 ratings
score: 489,
and
6 people voted
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| 133 |
|
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
by
4.51 avg rating — 215,058 ratings
score: 484,
and
7 people voted
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| 134 |
|
Just So Stories
by
4.05 avg rating — 49,287 ratings
score: 483,
and
6 people voted
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| 135 |
|
The Maltese Falcon
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3.87 avg rating — 113,803 ratings
score: 477,
and
6 people voted
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| 136 |
|
The Crucible
by
3.61 avg rating — 454,799 ratings
score: 466,
and
6 people voted
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| 137 |
|
The Age of Innocence
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3.97 avg rating — 191,580 ratings
score: 465,
and
5 people voted
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| 138 |
|
12 Years a Slave
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4.23 avg rating — 123,664 ratings
score: 459,
and
5 people voted
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| 138 |
|
The Red and the Black
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3.86 avg rating — 81,782 ratings
score: 459,
and
6 people voted
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| 140 |
|
Mansfield Park
by
3.86 avg rating — 374,062 ratings
score: 454,
and
6 people voted
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| 141 |
|
Madeline
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4.26 avg rating — 217,635 ratings
score: 453,
and
6 people voted
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| 142 |
|
A Farewell to Arms
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3.82 avg rating — 346,933 ratings
score: 450,
and
6 people voted
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| 143 |
|
Three Men in a Boat
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3.83 avg rating — 78,828 ratings
score: 448,
and
6 people voted
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| 144 |
|
The Last of the Mohicans (The Leatherstocking Tales, #2)
by
3.70 avg rating — 101,427 ratings
score: 437,
and
6 people voted
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| 145 |
|
Love in the Time of Cholera
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3.94 avg rating — 538,954 ratings
score: 435,
and
5 people voted
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| 146 |
|
Little House in the Big Woods (Little House, #1)
by
4.21 avg rating — 282,919 ratings
score: 434,
and
5 people voted
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| 147 |
|
The Snow Goose
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4.15 avg rating — 5,496 ratings
score: 426,
and
6 people voted
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| 148 |
|
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
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4.28 avg rating — 322,955 ratings
score: 425,
and
5 people voted
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| 149 |
|
The Night Before Christmas
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4.40 avg rating — 126,705 ratings
score: 422,
and
6 people voted
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| 150 |
|
Villette
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3.78 avg rating — 79,011 ratings
score: 411,
and
5 people voted
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| 151 |
|
A Room with a View
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3.89 avg rating — 198,816 ratings
score: 402,
and
5 people voted
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| 152 |
|
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)
by
4.57 avg rating — 4,100,429 ratings
score: 401,
and
5 people voted
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| 153 |
|
I Capture the Castle
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3.99 avg rating — 113,761 ratings
score: 399,
and
5 people voted
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| 154 |
|
The Portrait of a Lady
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3.80 avg rating — 84,351 ratings
score: 394,
and
5 people voted
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| 155 |
|
Germinal
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4.20 avg rating — 42,024 ratings
score: 386,
and
5 people voted
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| 156 |
|
The Jungle
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3.78 avg rating — 152,935 ratings
score: 385,
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5 people voted
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| 157 |
|
Bridge to Terabithia
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4.06 avg rating — 582,554 ratings
score: 382,
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5 people voted
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| 158 |
|
The Perilous Gard
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4.10 avg rating — 9,046 ratings
score: 381,
and
4 people voted
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| 158 |
|
Mere Christianity
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4.36 avg rating — 449,264 ratings
score: 381,
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5 people voted
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| 160 |
|
A Moveable Feast
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4.02 avg rating — 164,082 ratings
score: 377,
and
4 people voted
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| 161 |
|
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, #1)
by
3.99 avg rating — 426,616 ratings
score: 373,
and
5 people voted
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| 162 |
|
Daddy-Long-Legs
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4.13 avg rating — 74,232 ratings
score: 364,
and
4 people voted
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| 162 |
|
Antigone (The Theban Plays, #3)
by
3.68 avg rating — 171,785 ratings
score: 364,
and
5 people voted
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| 164 |
|
Walden, or Life in the Woods
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3.77 avg rating — 201,829 ratings
score: 352,
and
5 people voted
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| 165 |
|
Cry, the Beloved Country
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3.93 avg rating — 78,838 ratings
score: 342,
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4 people voted
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| 166 |
|
Under the Volcano
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3.76 avg rating — 26,498 ratings
score: 333,
and
4 people voted
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| 167 |
|
Angelique (Angelique: Original version, #1)
by
4.19 avg rating — 3,097 ratings
score: 329,
and
4 people voted
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| 168 |
|
Jewgeni Onegin
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4.10 avg rating — 69,280 ratings
score: 327,
and
5 people voted
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| 169 |
|
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, #2)
by
4.01 avg rating — 142,205 ratings
score: 326,
and
4 people voted
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| 170 |
|
Felix Holt, the Radical
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3.71 avg rating — 4,308 ratings
score: 324,
and
4 people voted
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| 171 |
|
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
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4.02 avg rating — 214,718 ratings
score: 308,
and
5 people voted
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| 171 |
|
Ivanhoe
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3.76 avg rating — 98,265 ratings
score: 308,
and
5 people voted
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| 173 |
|
The Return of the Native
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3.88 avg rating — 40,040 ratings
score: 307,
and
4 people voted
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| 173 |
|
Othello
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3.89 avg rating — 430,173 ratings
score: 307,
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4 people voted
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| 175 |
|
The Art of War
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3.95 avg rating — 555,980 ratings
score: 305,
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4 people voted
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| 176 |
|
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
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4.13 avg rating — 132,646 ratings
score: 300,
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4 people voted
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| 177 |
|
The Moonstone
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3.91 avg rating — 97,706 ratings
score: 290,
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4 people voted
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| 178 |
|
The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy
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3.73 avg rating — 22,803 ratings
score: 280,
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3 people voted
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| 179 |
|
The Souls of Black Folk
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4.31 avg rating — 44,447 ratings
score: 274,
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3 people voted
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| 180 |
|
A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1)
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4.01 avg rating — 352,146 ratings
score: 272,
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3 people voted
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| 180 |
|
Kim
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3.70 avg rating — 39,551 ratings
score: 272,
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4 people voted
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| 180 |
|
Jane Eyre
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4.16 avg rating — 2,275,976 ratings
score: 272,
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3 people voted
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| 183 |
|
Crónicas marcianas
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4.16 avg rating — 281,321 ratings
score: 267,
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3 people voted
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| 184 |
|
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
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4.06 avg rating — 372,764 ratings
score: 265,
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3 people voted
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| 185 |
|
The Firm
by
John Grisham (Goodreads Author)
4.06 avg rating — 636,015 ratings
score: 260,
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3 people voted
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| 186 |
|
My Cousin Rachel
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4.01 avg rating — 66,879 ratings
score: 259,
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3 people voted
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| 187 |
|
The Old Curiosity Shop
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3.79 avg rating — 23,494 ratings
score: 255,
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3 people voted
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| 187 |
|
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (World of Beatrix Potter, #6)
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4.17 avg rating — 16,961 ratings
score: 255,
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3 people voted
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| 189 |
|
All the President’s Men
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4.18 avg rating — 57,207 ratings
score: 249,
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4 people voted
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| 189 |
|
Tom Jones
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3.75 avg rating — 34,126 ratings
score: 249,
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3 people voted
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| 191 |
|
The Remains of the Day
by
Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 348,264 ratings
score: 248,
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3 people voted
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| 192 |
|
I, Juan de Pareja
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3.77 avg rating — 8,753 ratings
score: 244,
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3 people voted
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| 193 |
|
The Monk
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3.85 avg rating — 32,056 ratings
score: 243,
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3 people voted
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| 194 |
|
The Adventures of Robin Hood
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4.07 avg rating — 14,298 ratings
score: 240,
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3 people voted
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| 195 |
|
The Pickwick Papers
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3.85 avg rating — 31,636 ratings
score: 234,
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3 people voted
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| 196 |
|
My Ántonia
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3.84 avg rating — 145,579 ratings
score: 232,
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3 people voted
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| 196 |
|
Howard's End
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3.96 avg rating — 93,847 ratings
score: 232,
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3 people voted
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| 198 |
|
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Agnes Grey
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4.07 avg rating — 438 ratings
score: 230,
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3 people voted
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| 198 |
|
Women in Love
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3.66 avg rating — 33,247 ratings
score: 230,
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3 people voted
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| 200 |
|
Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)
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4.20 avg rating — 710,026 ratings
score: 229,
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Tags:
classic-literature
jb
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Lisa
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Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)
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message 1:
by
jb
(new)
Feb 05, 2010 02:07PM
This is a work in progress list.....
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Lisa - I think you're my kind of literary girl. Is there some way we can chat through this site/list? I have been a voracious reader of quality literature for many years ( thanks to my upbringing, amazingly aewlf taught Welsh father, and finding my passion early) Have met very few people as eclectic in their tastes or widely read in the current canon ( and previous canons) . Language and what it reveals is my passion and while not confined to one genre or historical period - to me a book well written has an impact similar to what people claim music can do in their lives . Hope that doesn't seem to incoherent but time constriction here and have to sign off Jo
Great list. I'm very surprised you included Alan Watts, especially Does it Matter. Though it certainly is an interesting book.
Hmm...I'm having a hard time seeing Artemis Fowl as a classic at all, but multiples w/in the series?
NOT classic literatureThe Kite Runner (2003, if ever - modern classic)
Isn't it pretty to think so (2012)
Artemis Fowl
Ðɑηηɑ wrote: "The Narnia Chronicles is so Christian, I think you should wipe it off"Your comment is absurd and senseless. The Chronicles of Narnia will always be a classic, and trying to deny it that title simply because it is based off of Christianity is ridiculous. If you don't like to read anything that is considered Christian, then simply don't read it. But this classic literature should NOT be removed from this list. The Chronicles of Narnia will always be a classic, and that will never change just because it reflects Christianity.
Nicole wrote: "Ðɑηηɑ wrote: "The Narnia Chronicles is so Christian, I think you should wipe it off"Your comment is absurd and senseless. The Chronicles of Narnia will always be a classic, and trying to deny it ..."
That was a really stupid comment. I can't believe I wrote it!
Such a nice idea for a list.But. Whoever put in Coelho, the Hunger Games and John Green for the list does not understand the meaning of the term classic literature (I'm not saying those are in default bad books, but in no way classics).
Removed for not being classified as 'classic' under any circumstances:The AlchemistThe Fault in Our Stars
The classic novels that intrigued me the most are picture of dorian gray, lolita, and les miserables. The list actually gave a good tip on what to read next.
why do these lists always forget to include Dune by Frank Herbert it should definitely be up there
jennbunny wrote: "This is a work in progress list....."I sure hope so. The best ones are not listed.
Hi how could i read these literagures full version ? Pls help me
I dn't belive in the ratings,it dsn't indicates the worthness of a literary work.
Why would people of other countries need to read the American Constitution?
I just removed 11 (!) duplicates, which is quite a lot, considering there are 285 books on this list now.
George wrote: "This list is a joke."I'm afraid I tend to agree... There are books on this list which I would definitely not consider 'Best Classic Literature Ever'. I mean, Harry Potter?? Come on people. I loved the Harry Potter books, but they can't possibly be considered classic literature... And there are several other titles mentioned here which this applies to as well.
A list named "best classic literature ever" should have at least 5-6 Russian novels among top 30. The first Russian novel is listed as 37th; it should be a joke.
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