Nine Decades of Penguin Publications
Top Classic Books with Unforgettable Characters and Thought-Provoking Ideas
Italo Calvino once stated that a classic book is one to which one cannot remain indifferent. This sentiment is echoed by many as they share their favourite classic books, promising that the readers won't regret diving into these timeless literary works.
Dubray's booksellers have curated a list of classic books, featuring a selection of unforgettable characters and enduring themes. Among them, horror classics like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and The Haunting of Hill House stand out.
The list also includes books known for their memorable characters, such as the four March sisters from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and Atticus Finch from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.
Thought-provoking ideas are abundant in these classics, with books like George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and John Berger's Ways of Seeing that challenge readers to question their beliefs and perceptions.
The act of recommending a favourite classic can be seen as a form of personal endorsement, a gesture of generosity and trust. A shared experience of reading a favourite classic can foster a connection between individuals, helping in defining oneself in relation or opposition to it.
While Jessica Harrison, Publishing Director of Penguin Classics, discusses the process of choosing a favourite book, her specific list of top classic books is not explicitly detailed in the available search results. However, such lists typically highlight timeless literary works featuring complex characters and enduring themes.
For a precise list by Jessica Harrison, you might need to refer to her personal publications or interviews directly, as they are not present in these results.
Here is a curated list of classic books with unforgettable heroes and villains, based on literary consensus and reputation:
- Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective series
- Villains like Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello or Mr. Hyde in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye
- Huckleberry Finn from Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Heathcliff from Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights
These books, among many others, have left an indelible mark on literature and continue to captivate readers today.
The diverse selection of classic books contains memorable characters such as Atticus Finch from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", who remain unforgettable even in today's entertainment landscape. Furthermore, the act of recommending classic books like "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger might foster connections between individuals through a shared literary experience, transcending into various aspects of one's lifestyle, including book clubs and personal reading habits.
