10 British classics everyone should read

May 31, 2024

Aakanksha Sharma

Classics to read

Classic literature is like an escape room and a mirror into society as it was decades ago. And British Classics are truly words to behold. Here are 10 iconic British Classics that must be read at least once in a lifetime.

​‘Persuasion’ by Jane Austen

The last novel by Austen was ‘Persuasion’. The story features Anne Elliot, a woman who faces regret after being persuaded to break off her engagement with Captain Frederick due to his lack of fortune. And then eight years later, their paths cross again.

‘Mrs. Dalloway’ by Virginia Woolf

A single day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a high-society woman in post-World War I London is what makes the story of this novel by Woolf.

​‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens

By the master author Charles Dickens, is the iconic British Classic ‘Great Expectations’. The book is about Pip, an orphan who wants to be a gentleman after receiving a mysterious benefactor's fortune and struggles with life and experiences.

​‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley

An amazing work, ‘Frankenstein’ is often called the epitome of Gothic literature. The novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a creature through an unorthodox experiment and is then puzzled by his creation.

​‘Peter Pan’ by J.M. Barrie

‘Peter Pan’ was a beloved cartoon for many and features a boy who never grows up. Written by J.M. Barrie, the story follows Peter Pan, Wendy, and the Lost Boys in Neverland.

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​‘1984’ by George Orwell

One of the best dystopian novels of all time is ‘1984’ by Orwell. The story follows Winston Smith, a man who lives under Big Brother’s regime and tries to break free of the control.

​‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley's ‘Brave New World’ is a book that presented the idea of a ‘created utopia’. The novel shows a society that is highly controlled through technological and psychological manipulation.

‘Gulliver's Travels’ by Jonathan Swift

Another witty and amazing Classic is ‘Gulliver’s Travels’. The story follows L. Gulliver and his adventures on four islands - Lilliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa, and Houyhnhnms.

‘The Canterbury Tales’ by Geoffrey Chaucer

Chaucer, a man well-respected in literary circles, wrote ‘The Canterbury Tales’, a book still looked up to. It is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury Cathedral.

‘A Clockwork Orange’ by Anthony Burgess

Another dystopian novel on the list is ‘A Clockwork Orange’. The story is about Alex, a violent young boy who undergoes government-imposed behavioural conditioning to reform his criminal ways.

Thanks For Reading!

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