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13 classics everyone should read

TNN | Last updated on - Aug 14, 2021, 09:01 IST

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Classics are timeless

Classics have survived the test of time for a reason. The stories they tell are timeless and the messages in these stories resonate with the cultural collective, perhaps even shaping it. But if you haven't read many of them and are wondering where to begin, then here's a list of some of the best classics from around the world that one should read. In an exclusive to The Times of India, Henry Eliot, author of ‘The Penguin Classics Book’ and Creative Editor of Penguin Classics in the UK, shared the must-read classics from various ages for everyone according to three criteria- "literary quality i.e. needs to be written well, it should have some historical significance and the books should also have an enduring reputation.” Read on!

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Ramayana

The Sanskrit epic 'Ramayana' is one of the oldest stories in the world. Starting with 'Ramayana', Eliot said, "I’m very inspired by the Ramayana after travelling in India because there are very few countries in the world where the epics are still so present in their culture. I see references of this book all the time, retelling of the story in new books…"
(Photo: Penguin)

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The Canterbury Tales

Next comes the Middle Age, when the purpose of literature started to change. Though there were boundaries of various communities, humans were still all the same. “One of my favourite works from the middle age is Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’ because you recognise these people, they are universal characters.
(Photo: Penguin)

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The Arabian Nights

Another classic from the Middle Age came from the area between India and Europe- The Middle East. Eliot recommends the Arabic epic ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ also known as ‘The Arabian Nights’ from this period.
(Photo: Penguin)

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The Tale of Genji

The next recommendation on Eliot’s list is ‘The Tale of Genji’ by Murasaki Shikibu written in 11th century Japan. Considered as the very first novel, “it shows the diversity of Japan but also shows us that we as humans are all the same”. He further added, “Some people say that the book is unfinished and it is said that Murasaki Shikibu never planned to publish it. She kept writing and writing and when she died the book finishes. Others think that it is a complete work... There’s one chapter in the end where Genji dies and there are no words to express the grief and so it's a chapter without words. What a lovely idea!”
(Photo: Penguin)

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Hamlet

Then came the Renaissance movement which spread across the world. In Europe, it manifested in humanism- where man and woman are at the center of philosophy. “There are many western works of this time, one of them being Shakespeare's ‘Hamlet’. The most famous line by him 'To be or not to be' is a great expression of the humanistic movement,” Eliot said.
(Photo: Penguin)

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The Divine Comedy

Eliot also recommended another book from the Renaissance movement, titled ‘The Divine Comedy’ by Dante Alighieri. This is a series of three long poems.
(Photo: Penguin)

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The Journey to the West

While the west was going through the Renaissance movement, the East saw a spiritual renaissance and Eliot recommended ‘The Journey to the West’ by Wu Cheng'en from this period. The book is considered as the greatest Chinese novel of all time.
(Photo: Createspace Independent Pub)

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Don Quixote

The next book on the list of classics one should read is ‘Don Quixote’ by Miguel de Cervantes. “Post renaissance many writers protested about machines taking over humans’ jobs and they looked inside of themselves… They are called romantic writers—who looked inside to express themselves and their works celebrates nature,” he said.
(Photo: Penguin)

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The Sorrows of Young Werther

“The German novel, ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’ by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was an absolute bestseller and a cult book of its time,” Eliot added while recommending another classic from the post-renaissance.
(Photo: Penguin)

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Wuthering Heights

With 19th century romanticism, literature started to become dark and the American novel ‘Moby-Dick’ is an example of it. But Eliot’s book recommendation from this era is the 1847 classic ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte.
(Photo: Fingerprint! Publishing)

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War and Peace

Another revolution that spread across the world was that of realism and the most famous author of this time was Charles Dickens who tried to encapsulate this in his works. Talking about this period, Eliot suggested the audience to read the iconic ‘War and Peace’ by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, apart from some popular books by Charles Dickens.
(Photo: Wordsworth Editions Ltd)

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The Beast Within

“Out of realism came naturalism, which was much more accurate. Any of Émile Zola’s novels fit in this period. Though I would recommend French writer Edward Levy's ‘The Beast Within’ for this era,” he said.
(Photo: Hamlyn)

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Home and the World

Eliot further pointed out that the early 20th century saw a lot of political books being written around the world. And though there are many such books to choose from, his recommendation from this period is ‘Home and the World’ by Rabindranath Tagore as "it did so much for India’s independence movement in the early 20th century,” Eliot elaborated.
(Photo: Penguin)

Top Comment

Jigyasu Subscriber

1738 days ago

They are truly amazing

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