It follows the story of Odysseus, one of the great figures in Greek mythology, as he wanders for 10 years following the Trojan War. Like The Iliad, The Odyssey was likely written during the 7th or 8th century BC and today is one of the most well-known war epics in Western literature. Certain descriptions can go on and on and feel irrelevant.įollowing on from The Iliad, we have another epic from Homer, The Odyssey.Still deeply relevant after so many centuries of history.Great option for someone who loves Greek mythology.It vividly tells both the heroism and horror of both men and gods during the Trojan War, making this epic a grim but engaging poetic read. Many believe that The Iliad was written sometime in the 7th or 8th century BC and although this epic is over two millennia old, it is still a relevant and readable book today. One of the first epics in Western literature is Homer’s The Iliad. So, here are some of the best classicals you should check out! The Iliad By Homer Some were written during ancient times or are so old we no longer know the true identity of the poet.īecause classicals are so old, there are only a few in this category – but they are still just as emotive, challenging, and engaging as the others on this list. However, if you want to start reading classic literature, it can be difficult to know where to start and which ones should be at the very top of your must-read list.Ĭheck out the list below for some of the best classic books you need to read! Best Classical Books To ReadĬlassicals are the oldest of the classics. They are thought-provoking mirrors of ourselves and also allow us to learn more about people, places, and conflicts we will never truly experience. To our literature its first symbolic novel a year before theĪppearance of Melville’s Moby-Dick” (Bradley).7.1. Ten days and “made Hawthorne’s fame, changed his fortune and gave The first edition of The Scarlet Letter sold out in Printed sold out in days, and the mass-production of books opened upĬonversation about books and authors to a wider-audience on a Printing of books generally done by hand. One of the first mass-produced novels in the United States, prior Throughout the novel, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. The Scarlet Letter: A Romance (1850) is considered the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'masterwork.' A work of historical fiction set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during the Puritan settlement of 1642-1949 itells the story of Hester Prynne, who after having a child as a result of an extra-marital affair attempts to live a life of repentance and dignity although she is marked by having to wear a Scarlett A on her person.

The scarlet letter paperback