Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”

If you are in search of a novel which is beautifully written, has huge social impact and is fully of gritty realism, then got your hands on some of these books which have been considered the greatest works of literature ever.

Mrs. Dalloway

Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway describes a day in the life of a British socialite named Clarissa Dalloway. This deeply personal novel provides glimpses into the characters’ minds, with the novel relying heavily on character rather than plot to tell its story. The novel’s unique style, subject, and time setting make it one of the most respected and regarded works of all time.

Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe’s book was published in 1958, and is one piece of African literature that had to overcome the bias of some literary circles. The novel follows an Igbo man named Okonkwo, describing his family, the village in Nigeria where he lives, and the effects of British colonialism on his native country.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Initially published in 1847, this groundbreaking novels provided a story of individualism for women. The novel’s eponymous character rises from being orphaned and poor into a successful and independent woman. The work combines themes from both Gothic and Victorian literature, revolutionizing the art of the novel by focusing on the growth in Jane’s sensibility with internalized action and writing.

The Color Purple

Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel is set in the post-Civil War American South and follows a young African American girl named Celie into adulthood. Celie writes letters to God and to her sister Nettie, and faces sexual abuse by her father and eventually her husband. This novel explores sexism, racism, gender, sexual orientation, and disability through its characters who grow to shape their own lives.

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Why The Classics Keep Selling

With no shortage of new authors making their marks in the literary world, and with an ever expanding library available at out very fingertips thanks to self publishing and ebooks, it may be tempting to think that the classics have fallen out of favor and that sales should be dwindling. That thought would be incorrect. Despite an ever expanding landscape of literature, not to mention visual and auditory media competing for our attention, the classics are thriving and copies keep flying off the shelves. Here are two big reasons why the classics just keep selling.

TV and film adaptations. It may be that Hollywood is short on ideas, or it may just be that they know what sells, but regardless of the reasons more of the classics are being adapted into TV and film than ever before. Content providers turned content producers like Netflix and Amazon are only adding to the trend, as each seeks to up their output in an effort to attract a larger audience.

Publishers are playing with new cover designs. Re-release after re-release, publishers had been sticking to the same old stale book covers that we’ve all come to associate with the classics. Recently, however, publishers such as Penguin, OUP, Everyman and Vintage have been experimenting with radical new looks, designs, and branding strategies. Their efforts appear to be bearing fruit, as younger generations appear to be buying up the books as much for their visual appeal as for their content.

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Five Reasons to Read The Classics

Pop into any library or bookstore and the selection before you will be nothing short of astounding. Add to the fact that online libraries are increasing their catalogues on the daily, and that selection starts to be overwhelming. But when the time comes to decide on what to read, you can never go wrong when reading one of the classics. Here are five reasons to choose a classic novel for your next read.

Cultural references. So many of our modern pop-culture references are actually referencing classics novels and literary works. There’s nothing quite like the ah-ha! Moment that comes when you discover where a reference or expression comes from.

Appreciating the adaptations. With so many classic novels adapted into film and television, reading the original texts will help lend a whole new appreciation to some of our favorite shows and movies.

Something to talk about. Nothing strikes up a conversation quite like shared knowledge and experience, and with a solid number of classic novels under your belt you’re bound to have something to talk about with just about anyone!

Culture in context. So many of the classics provide a unique look into the culture of the time, and reading those classics will certainly help provide an understanding of that culture and of our shared history.

They’re worth the read. Simply put, the classics are considered classics for a reason: They’re good. You won’t have to wonder about quality when you pick up a classic novel off the shelves, odds are its popularity is well deserved.

Ready to start brushing up on the classics? Visit our online library at www.readplot.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, available anytime on your favourite devices.