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1. Don Quixote
Don Quixote is a novel by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616), first published in 1605 with the second part following in 1615. It is one of the earliest novels written in a modern European language and is considered one of the most influential and emblematic works in Spanish literature.
It is widely regarded as one of the most-read works of Western literature. A 2002 survey conducted by the Norwegian Nobel Institute found it to be the best literary work of all time. Through the character of Don Quixote, the novel reflects the multifaceted nature of humanity, portraying not only foolishness but also humility, compassion, love for fellow beings, a reverence for freedom, and a disdain for the ostentation and materialism of the contemporary aristocracy, while emphasizing the importance of ethics.
The work is not solely comedic; Cervantes uses it to satirize the remnants of medieval chivalric ideals, critiquing a prevailing mediocrity in the public's taste and advocating for a more just and humane post-feudal society. A timeless literary masterpiece, Don Quixote has been translated into more languages than any other book in history after the Bible. It elevated Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) to the pinnacle of literary fame and was voted the best novel in a survey by the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Its humanitarian themes continue to shine a beacon for justice and kindness in society.
2. The Alchemist
Embark on a journey with The Alchemist by the renowned author Paulo Coelho if you're still fervently seeking dreams, meaning, and happiness in life. This masterpiece will reveal to you the simplest yet most profound values of life. You'll see yourself, your occasional hesitations and laziness, you'll notice the 'signs' that life always brings, you'll witness the intersection between humans and the surrounding world, and you'll learn that the secret to happiness sometimes lies in admiring the wonders of the world while not forgetting the 'two drops of oil on a spoon'.
The novel The Alchemist (O Alquimista) by Paulo Coelho was first published in 1988 in Brazil. Before The Alchemist propelled him to worldwide literary fame, Paulo Coelho had faced a challenging writing career. In his youth, he admitted to being aloof and often kept to himself. When he expressed his desire to become a writer to his parents, they sent him to a mental hospital where he was isolated for three months.
After this period, Paulo Coelho followed his parents' wishes and applied to study law, but after just one year, he dropped out and became a wandering hippie. During this time, he published the book Hell Archives (1982), which was not very successful, and he nearly succumbed to drug addiction. He wrote lyrics for Brazilian pop music stars of that time, such as Elis Regina, Rita Lee, and Raul Seixas. Although unsuccessful in his writing career, Paulo Coelho earned a lot of money from writing song lyrics. He might have built a successful career in this field, but a trip to Spain led him down a different path in life.
3. Les Misérables
Les Misérables is the famous work of the great writer Victor Hugo, published in 1962, and has become one of the most renowned literary works in the world. Les Misérables tells the story of French society during the first 20 years of the 19th century, from the time Napoleon I came to power and a few decades thereafter. The main character of the novel is Jean Valjean, a former convict trying to redeem the mistakes of his youth but unable to escape his past. While Les Misérables features many stories and characters with different lives, the common thread connecting these disparate lives is Jean Valjean.
Les Misérables is a highly meaningful work with practical value. 'When the law and civilization are still cruel to humans, creating hells in the midst of civilized society and adding an artificial destiny to natural destiny; when the three major issues of the era are the degradation of men due to the sale of labor, the suffering of women for a morsel of bread, and the deprivation of children due to unenlightened ignorance have not yet been resolved; when life is stifled in some places; speaking differently and from a broader perspective, when ignorance and suffering still exist on earth, books like this can still be useful.'
'Les Misérables' is a realistic novel, an epic, with a broad social scope, and also a hymn to love. In terms of reality, Victor Hugo's novel depicts the world of impoverished people truthfully. In terms of the epic, the work describes important historical events of France, portrays the great conflicts within the human soul, between Good and Evil, between respect for the law and respect for human morality... The work gives people an insight into life, teaches them to love, share, and appreciate what they have. If possible, take some time to read this masterpiece.
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has recently been voted the most beloved book in America in a nationwide survey with the participation of millions of readers in this country. To Kill a Mockingbird has always been one of the most representative books in America addressing racial discrimination and injustice in the Southern states. Set in the 1930s, the story revolves around the lawyer Atticus Finch and his two children, Jem and Scout. When Atticus defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, his arguments and guidance help Scout 'see the world' in a truly insightful way. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' - a book narrated by a young girl, yet the messages it conveys to readers are profound.
Author Harper Lee takes readers through various emotional experiences, addressing deep-seated issues of society at that time. Dive into the work when you want to learn about racial discrimination, strict prejudices, age-old gender biases... Through the perspective and lens of childhood, adults also feel and draw many life lessons. The theme of human compassion runs throughout the work, perhaps it's because of this humanitarian aspect that the work is loved and cherished by so many readers.
5. Wuthering Heights
The intense and mysterious novel about Catherine Earnshaw, the rebellious daughter of the Earnshaw family, with the rugged and madman whom her father brings home and names Heathcliff, is portrayed against the backdrop of the desolate, wild English moors and hills no less primitive than their love. From childhood to adulthood, their bond becomes increasingly haunting. Family, social status, and even fate conspire against them, while their fierce nature and jealousy destroy them, so the entire time the two lovers live in hatred and despair, where death only signifies a new beginning. A new beginning for those passionate souls to be free to reunite, as the wild and crazy winds swirl around the castles in Wuthering Heights.
Emily Bronte's only novel reached the public with much contrasting criticism in 1847. Through the love story of Cathy and Heathcliff, set against the desolate Yorkshire countryside, Wuthering Heights created a whole world with a tendency to defy conventions, reaching out to poetry as well as to the darkest depths of human nature, making it one of the greatest and most poignant novels ever written about burning passion. It emerged on the world literary scene and asserted its mark as a unique phenomenon of classic literature. Furthermore, to this day, the iconic novel of English literature has been adapted numerous times into films, television, musicals, and opera.
6. War and Peace
War and Peace is the epic novel by Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, first published by the Russki Vestnik publisher from 1865 to 1869. It reflects a heroic period of Russian society, from nobility to peasants, during the Napoleonic era, and is considered one of Lev Tolstoy's two major masterpieces. War and Peace is also regarded as one of the greatest novels in world literature.
The novel 'War and Peace' is hailed as the lion (Lev in Russian means lion) of Russian literature. The plot is built on two historical events at the end of the 19th century: the wars of 1805 and 1812, while also reflecting the peaceful life in Russia during the periods 1805 -1812, 1812 -1820. The brilliant work ardently advocates for peace, igniting a profound humanistic ideology, deserving to be one of humanity's masterpieces.
One of the remarkable features of War and Peace is the art of character psychology portrayal. The fate of the characters with subtle emotions is closely linked to the ebb and flow of history. This is Lev Tolstoy's innovation in the epic genre, creating the image of the modern epic hero in Russian and world literature.
7. War and Peace
'War and Peace' is the epic saga by Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, first published from 1865 to 1869 by the Russki Vestnik publisher. It depicts a heroic era of Russian society, from nobility to peasants, during the Napoleonic period, and is considered one of Lev Tolstoy's two main masterpieces. War and Peace is also hailed as one of the greatest novels in world literature.
The novel 'War and Peace' is often dubbed the lion (Lev in Russian means lion) of Russian literature. Its plot is built upon two historical events at the end of the 19th century: the wars of 1805 and 1812, while also reflecting the peaceful life in Russia during the periods 1805 -1812, 1812 -1820. The brilliant work ardently advocates for peace, igniting a profound humanistic ideology, deserving to be one of humanity's masterpieces.
One of the remarkable features of War and Peace is the art of character psychology portrayal. The fate of the characters with subtle emotions is closely linked to the ebb and flow of history. This is Lev Tolstoy's innovation in the epic genre, creating the image of the modern epic hero in Russian and world literature.
8. To Kill a Mockingbird
Published in 1936, 'Gone with the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell is a renowned novel. The story follows Scarlett O’Hara, a beautiful, intelligent, and strong-willed Southern belle, representing modern women who are independent, assertive, and ambitious. She overcomes post-war hardships to emerge as a successful woman.
The novel also celebrates the love between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. Their romantic tale has left an indelible mark and was later adapted into a movie, showcasing the enduring power of this literary masterpiece.
The narrative delves into Scarlett O’Hara’s life, a Southern aristocrat struggling to survive through the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era. She fiercely battles life’s challenges only to realize later the things she missed—love and ideals. Margaret Mitchell vividly captures profound reflections on human fate, particularly of the Southern people during turbulent times. It imparts lessons on living ideals, human love, resilience in the face of adversity, and romantic love. All portrayed with vividness, authenticity, and deep humanity.
9. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' stands as a pillar in global literature. Penned by the renowned Mark Twain, it depicts the adventures of the protagonist Huckleberry Finn and his enslaved friend Jim on the Mississippi River. The novel offers profound insights and satirical humor on Southern American society of the time, particularly condemning racial discrimination. Huckleberry Finn's image, journeying on the river with his raft and friend in search of freedom, remains timeless in the annals of human literature.
Another unique aspect of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is the author's writing style. Mark Twain adeptly employs various local dialects to portray complex psychological situations and vividly describe natural scenes. As explained by Mark Twain in the book's preface, he meticulously selected and utilized multiple dialects from different regions and social strata. This linguistic richness is a distinctive aspect of the art of writing in Huckleberry Finn, best appreciated by reading the original English version rather than relying on translations.
10. Intense Childhood
Intense Childhood – The book revolves around the struggle and sacrifice of teenagers aged 13, 14 in the scout youth squad of Tran Cao Van battalion. Each Lượm, Mừng, Quỳnh sơn ca, Hòa đen, Bồng da rắn, Vịnh sưa, Tư dát… has a different situation but shares the same determination, enthusiasm, and patriotism, all wholeheartedly joining the fight and sacrificing when still very young. True to its title, readers will encounter truly intense details about the lives of unfortunate teenagers, about the brutal war against the enemy, yet deep inside, we still see pure and carefree souls, witness the extraordinary courage and resilience of the characters.
Almost everyone who has read this work is deeply moved and sheds tears of sympathy and admiration. This is truly a precious work in the treasure trove of Vietnamese literature. A story that awakens in everyone the love for the country and the appreciation of childhood memories… Writer Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường once commented: 'There is a precious gem that time reserves exclusively for human beings, that is Childhood. A gem that is colorful, pure, but too fragile, cannot be found again in life. And there is a generation of Vietnamese people who have never held this gem in their hands, the Intense Childhood of Phùng Quán is written for that generation. Read to remember, to be proud, and to pray for the impending Childhood...'
11. Songbirds Singing in Thorny Bushes
'Songbirds Singing in Thorny Bushes' is a masterpiece by Australian author Colleen McCulough. Immediately after its release and publication in multiple languages, the work had a strong impact. It is often compared to Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind.' The book was simultaneously published in New York, San Francisco, London, and Sydney.
The story revolves around the love story between the beautiful Mecghi and Father Ranfơ. Due to their status and position, Father Ranfơ had to flee emotions for a lifetime. Their love is intense emotions, affection, separation, closeness, followed by pain and tragedy. Dive into 'Songbirds Singing in Thorny Bushes,' and you will immerse yourself in the emotions of each character, a work that deeply moves the human heart.
As the story concludes, along with the end of a love affair, the book takes away countless tears from readers, pitying the unfortunate fates, regretting the noble love, and the sacrifices for the love of the couple. The novel Songbirds Singing in Thorny Bushes was published in the spring of 1977 simultaneously in New York, San Francisco, London, and Sydney. It was later translated into seven languages, warmly welcomed by readers, and highly praised by critics. For several years, it was the best-selling work in the West. This is a remarkable work of value in modern world literature.
12. Three Men in a Boat
Three Men in a Boat (not counting the dog) is a collection of humorous anecdotes, legends, recounted by J during the quartet's journey, with a light, clever narrative tone, sometimes interspersed with harmless escapades, making readers enjoyably amused. The anecdotes stem from situations encountered during the voyage, but sometimes they are stories intertwined with real-life events. The witty, charming, and subtly British tales captivate readers who appreciate British humor. Jerome K. Jerome's work, with its distinctive narrative voice, has been adapted into stage plays, films, television, and even poetry.
First published in the UK in 1889, Three Men in a Boat (not counting the dog) is a humorous work based on real events experienced by author Jerome K. Jerome during a boat trip on the River Thames from Kingston to Oxford. The influence of the work remains intact to this day, as in 2003, The Guardian magazine ranked the book 33rd in its list of the 100 greatest novels of all time.
In 2009, Three Men in a Boat ranked second in the list of the 50 funniest books in history, as voted by Esquire magazine. Despite facing criticism for being 'indecent' and lacking seriousness, the book transcends with its 'hopelessly genuine and irredeemably funny' humor. Surpassing a geography guidebook of England and surpassing an ordinary humorous work, Three Men in a Boat (not counting the dog) by Jerome K. Jerome has become a literary classic in English literature, both in British literature specifically and in the world literary treasury in general.
13. On the Road
'On the Road' is based on the true story of Jack Kerouac and his friend Neal Cassady, two of the key figures of the Beat Generation of the United States in the 1950s, the leading birds of the hippie movement and the inspiration for Bohemians. This novel was written in less than three weeks in 1951, in a spontaneous writing style on a teletype paper roll, demonstrating a fresh style with long, disjointed sentences akin to the structure of jazz music. Kerouac emphasized, 'There is no 'selectivity' in expression, but rather it follows the association of the mind, sinking into the boundless seas of contemplation.'
The work extols freedom of the soul, the desire for an unadulterated life, passion for wandering journeys, and sees 'that road as their life.' The famous slogan 'Make love, not war' also emerged during this period. From a small group of literary enthusiasts, the Beat generation has immortalized into a cultural legend of the United States. The image of characters in the novel carrying backpacks and hitchhiking along the road has inspired many young people of that time and even now to emulate. Ride along with Sal and Dean, perhaps you'll find yourself somewhere on that long road. Despite fierce controversies since its inception, 'On the Road' is the most vivid evidence of an era in American history, an intellectual movement. The book is recognized as one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century in American and world literature.
14. A Hundred Years of Solitude
'One Hundred Years of Solitude' remains Gabriel Garcia Márquez's greatest novel, a Colombian writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. Since its publication in 1967, the novel has stirred controversy in the Latin American literary world and immediately gained worldwide admiration. Nearly twenty years later, 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' has spread across our planet to reach everyone and every household.
'One Hundred Years of Solitude' tells the story of the Buendía family spanning seven generations, from the first person tied to a tree to the last person devoured by ants, a lineage condemned to solitude to escape the curse of incest. In that solitude, characters like José Arcadio, Aureliano, Remedios, and Amaranta are born, living out their predestined tragic fates: oscillating between loneliness and nostalgia, tormented by the fear of committing incest. Yet, they love passionately and marry with the hope that love will redeem their bloodline. However, they continue to give birth to children with pig tails, leading to the demise of the Buendía family.
'One Hundred Years of Solitude' is a call for people to live true to their human essence – to reconcile their social relationships – to overcome prejudices, personal biases, and fill in every gap that separates individuals so that each individual can harmonize with their family and social community. For this reason, Garcia Márquez once declared that the book he dedicated his life to writing is a book about loneliness, and through loneliness, he urges people to unite, to unite to fight against the slow development of Latin America, to unite to create a completely different legend. A new, captivating legend of life, where no one is determined by another's fate, not even the manner of death, where love has an escape route, and true happiness is possible, and where the lineages condemned to a hundred years of solitude will finally and forever have a second chance to be reborn on this earth. Readers are drawn to 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' because it is a truly contemporary literary work – a book of faith and the fates of human beings.
15. The Old Man and the Sea
'The Old Man and The Sea' is a short novel written by the renowned author Ernest Hemingway in 1952. It can be said that this is one of the most prominent works in the writer's career. Thanks to this novel, Hemingway was honored to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Many argue that this is not only one of the most outstanding works in the history of the Nobel Prize in Literature but also a classic that everyone must read in their lifetime.
Entering 'The Old Man and the Sea,' readers will follow the three-day journey of the old fisherman Santiago as he struggles to catch a gigantic marlin. Luck seemed to smile when he managed to conquer the most beautiful marlin in the world, but a pack of sharks rushed in and devoured Santiago's prized catch. Sadly, when the journey ends, the old man's only achievement is a useless skeleton.
The story's plot is simple, but it contains profound layers of meaning, meaningful messages conveyed to the reader. This is the principle of the 'iceberg' that the writer has extensively used in his work, helping the story not merely to tell about the old man fishing. Unlike other works that delve deep into a single message, 'The Old Man and the Sea' is a series of symbolic meanings throughout the work. This is also a famous work and one of the peaks in the writer's creative career. This work won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953. It also significantly contributed to the writer receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
16. The Book Thief
The Book Thief – a work by Australian author Markus Zusak published in 2005 – has made waves on The New York Times bestseller list for over 100 consecutive weeks, becoming a classic, a staple in the library systems of both the UK and the US. The Book Thief immediately surprised literary critics worldwide and brought tears to millions of eyes upon its release.
The narrator of this work is Death – a familiar figure in war, associated with death, with sorrow, with darkness. But the story that Death tells, about the ferocity of what humans inflict upon their own kind, even Death himself shudders. Flipping through the pages, readers engage in a conversation with Death, a character with a humorous knack, with a small but witty warning at the beginning of the story that 'You are going to die.'
This is a story with too many deaths yet brimming with love and laden with humanity. However, the main content of the story does not depict the blood-soaked battlefields of World War II, the scenes of gruesome killings... Instead, it is a story about Liesel, an orphan girl adopted in the Heaven Street district of Munich. It is in the impoverished small town with the peaceful appearance of children's soccer games, the petty thefts of hungry children, the beautiful friendship of Liesel and the spirited boy Rudy... that the tension-filled atmosphere of Germany, undergoing one of the most horrific periods in human history, comes to life.
17. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Victor Hugo (26/2/1802 – 22/5/1885) was a renowned French writer, poet, and playwright of the famous Romantic movement. He was also a politician, an intellectual emblematic of the 19th century. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame – translated from the original French Notre-Dame de Paris by Hugo. The work originated from the author's desire to write a novel about the famous cathedral in the capital city of Paris. He visited the Notre-Dame Cathedral several times to admire its ancient architecture.
The novel has a historical nature set in medieval Paris. Hugo wanted the venerable cathedral to transcend time and all events. The work demonstrated an elevation to a philosophical level, through the depiction of a destiny that led the characters associated with this cathedral to their death, to destruction. This pessimistic inspiration brought grandeur and wildness to the work. The novel is divided into 11 books.
18. Doctor Zhivago
20th-century Russian literature has always captivated readers with its richly meaningful and humanistic stories, and “Doctor Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak is one such work. The book retells the history of Russia from the early 20th century to after the Second World War. Through the characters of Yury Zhivago and Lara Guishar, the work portrays the tragic fate of individuals during this tumultuous period of history. They are victims of war but rise above all the hardships of life, their love story - a romantic, beautiful but tearful and painful love affair.
Doctor Zhivago was completed by Pasternak in 1956, but due to its content being deemed inappropriate by the literary and political life of the Soviet Union at that time, the book was vehemently opposed by the Moscow Literary Institute and the Soviet Writers' Union, Soviet publishers refused to publish it, and Pasternak himself was condemned and denounced by the Soviet Writers' Union.
Despite not being published domestically and facing severe condemnation, the novel Doctor Zhivago still found its way to readers in Western countries. In 1957, the manuscript was printed as a book in Russian in Italy. A year later, it was published in Italian and English. Thanks to this, Pasternak was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958, but the Soviet authorities forced him to decline the award. It was not until 1988 that the work was finally allowed to be printed and published in Russia, 30 years after its inception. To this day, Doctor Zhivago is still regarded as the most controversial novel, the most typical literary work of the ideological struggle between the two superpowers during the Cold War era.
