My Top 5 English Literature Classics!
- Anna Rose
- Aug 1, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 12, 2020

1. The Great Gatsby (by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
The Great Gatsby is to millions of readers (notably myself) one of the greatest books ever written. The Great Gatsby was first published in 1925, at that time it was not very well received by the public, especially the wealthy. As it is known to be a social critique of the high class which in the 20's were found to be the most educated. I would recommend "The Great Gatsby" as it is simply - and that says it all - one of the greatest books ever. In all seriousness, It is quite short, extremely well written, and the characters are simply electric.
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
(I have written an article concerning only
The Great Gatsby, if you are interested
you can find it in my dashboard!)

2. Pride And Prejudice (by Jane Austen)
Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" centers on the conflict between marrying for love and marrying for economic reasons. The controversial novel was first published in 1813. Jane Austen's novel was based one her own life. Like many of her characters, Jane Austen was once rejected because of her lack of money. I would recommend this book as it pictures perfectly well the behavior of the wealthy at that time. The love story and the characters' personalities are very interesting and make the book's pages turn faster.
"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”

3. The Beautiful And Damned (by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
“I shall go on shining as a brilliantly meaningless figure in a meaningless world.” This quote is, to me, one of the most touching quotes of all time and it comes from the famous novel "The Beautiful And Damned" written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The book explores marriage through its beautiful, but also its damned moments. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald balanced the story between the discomfort of life, the drama of a relationship, and the tragic yet beautiful values of marriages at the time of the jazz age (the 1920's).
“in crowded rooms they would form words
with their lips for each other's eyes”

4. Sophie's World (by Jostein Gaarder)
Now, I know this choice of mine could be quite controversial to some, as to most people it is not recognized as an actual English literature classic, but to me, it is very underrated. Sophie's World is a philosophical novel that covers the life of a Norwegian teenage girl named Sophie and her journey into learning the history of philosophy accompanied by a stranger. It is full of mysteries, adventures, and myths. If you are interested in philosophy, history, or reading a mind-opening novel this one is for you!
“It's not a silly question if you can't answer it.”

5. To Kill A Mockingbird (by Harper Lee)
To Kill A Mockingbird is a problematic book considering its themes and the time in which it takes place, but it is still recognized as one of the greatest novels of all times. Enormously popular, it was translated into some 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. In 1961 it won a Pulitzer Prize. The novel was praised for its sensitive treatment of a child’s awakening to racism and prejudice in the south of the United States.
“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.”
Sources if you are interested in getting your own copy(ies):
1. The Great Gatsby (by F. Scott Fitzgerald) Amazon.com
2. Pride And Prejudice (by Jane Austen) Amazon.com
3. The Beautiful And Damned (by F. Scott Fitzgerald) Amazon.com
4. Sophie's World (by Jostein Gaarder) Amazon.com
5. To Kill A Mockingbird (by Harper Lee) Amazon.com
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