Must-Read World Literature Books

Explore the world through these literary masterpieces that have captivated readers for generations. From epic adventures to profound philosophical insights, these books offer a glimpse into diverse cultures and timeless human experiences.

Top 10 World Literature Books

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Author: Gabriel García Márquez
Published: 1967
Average Rating: 4.11
Ratings: 981,013
One Hundred Years of Solitude chronicles the Buendía family over seven generations in the fictional town of Macondo. It’s a cornerstone of magical realism.

Things Fall Apart

Author: Chinua Achebe
Published: 1958
Average Rating: 3.73
Ratings: 375,723
Set in pre-colonial Nigeria, this novel explores the life of Okonkwo, a respected village leader, and the impact of European colonization on his community.

Crime and Punishment

Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Published: 1866
Average Rating: 4.27
Ratings: 916,130
This psychological drama delves into the mind of Raskolnikov, a destitute student who commits a murder and grapples with guilt and redemption.

The Stranger

Author: Albert Camus
Published: 1942
Average Rating: 4.02
Ratings: 1,116,625
The Stranger tells the story of Meursault, an indifferent French Algerian who finds himself in a moral and existential crisis after committing an irrational murder.

The Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coelho
Published: 1988
Average Rating: 3.91
Ratings: 3,097,344
A young shepherd named Santiago travels from Spain to Egypt in search of a treasure, discovering profound life lessons along the way.

The Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini
Published: 2003
Average Rating: 4.34
Ratings: 3,176,210
The Kite Runner is a story of friendship and redemption set against the backdrop of a changing Afghanistan.

The Metamorphosis

Author: Franz Kafka
Published: 1915
Average Rating: 3.87
Ratings: 1,078,752
Kafka’s novella about Gregor Samsa, who wakes up transformed into an insect, explores themes of alienation and identity.

Anna Karenina

Author: Leo Tolstoy
Published: 1878
Average Rating: 4.09
Ratings: 855,884
Anna Karenina follows the tragic affair of the titular character and her lover, set against the backdrop of Russian society.

Don Quixote

Author: Miguel de Cervantes
Published: 1605
Average Rating: 3.90
Ratings: 274,208
This epic tale of the delusional knight Don Quixote and his loyal squire Sancho Panza is a timeless satire of chivalric traditions.

The Odyssey

Author: Homer
Published: -700
Average Rating: 3.81
Ratings: 1,091,697
Homer’s epic poem recounts the adventures of Odysseus as he returns home from the Trojan War.

More Noteworthy Titles

Love in the Time of Cholera

Author: Gabriel García Márquez
Published: 1985
Average Rating: 3.94
Ratings: 508,634
A story of unrequited love spanning fifty years in a Caribbean town.

The Little Prince

Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Published: 1943
Average Rating: 4.33
Ratings: 2,135,470
A whimsical tale that explores themes of loneliness, love, and loss through the eyes of a young prince.

The Brothers Karamazov

Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Published: 1880
Average Rating: 4.37
Ratings: 336,649
This philosophical novel examines faith, doubt, and reason through the lives of three brothers.

The Iliad

Author: Homer
Published: -800
Average Rating: 3.91
Ratings: 460,166
An epic poem about the Trojan War and the Greek hero Achilles.

The Trial

Author: Franz Kafka
Published: 1925
Average Rating: 3.95
Ratings: 333,596
Kafka’s novel about a man arrested and prosecuted by a remote, inaccessible authority, without ever being told what his crime is.

The God of Small Things

Author: Arundhati Roy
Published: 1997
Average Rating: 3.95
Ratings: 300,421
Set in Kerala, India, this novel explores forbidden love and family secrets.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Author: Khaled Hosseini
Published: 2007
Average Rating: 4.43
Ratings: 1,545,968
A gripping tale of two women’s intertwined lives in Afghanistan.

Also read: Transformative power of books : shifting perspectives and changing lives

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Author: Milan Kundera
Published: 1984
Average Rating: 4.11
Ratings: 475,843
This novel explores themes of love and politics in communist Czechoslovakia.

The Master and Margarita

Author: Mikhail Bulgakov
Published: 1967
Average Rating: 4.29
Ratings: 358,902
A satirical novel that intertwines a visit by the Devil to Soviet Russia with a story about Jesus in Jerusalem.

Les Misérables

Author: Victor Hugo
Published: 1862
Average Rating: 4.20
Ratings: 802,287
A sweeping epic of France in the early 19th century, focusing on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean.

Classic Novels Table

These titles are just the beginning of a rich journey through world literature, offering insights into various cultures, philosophies, and histories. Whether you are looking for deep philosophical questions, epic adventures, or heart-wrenching dramas, these books have something to offer every reader.