The Top 20 Must-Read Works of Fiction

If you’re a book lover, you’re probably always on the lookout for new and exciting works of fiction to add to your reading list. But with so many great books out there, it can be hard to know where to start. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the top 20 must-read works of fiction – books that deserve a spot on every reader’s shelf.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Pulitzer Prize-winning To Kill a Mockingbird is a beloved classic that explores themes of racism and prejudice in America’s deep South.

2. 1984 by George Orwell

A dystopian masterpiece, 1984 is a cautionary tale about the dangers of totalitarianism and the need for individual freedom.

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This witty and charming novel follows the romantic entanglements of the Bennet family, and features one of literature’s greatest heroines in Elizabeth Bennet.

4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

An iconic tale of the Jazz Age, The Great Gatsby is a tragic story of ambition, love, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

A coming-of-age story that has resonated with generations of readers, The Catcher in the Rye follows the rebellious Holden Caulfield as he navigates the complexities of growing up.

6. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This magical realist epic tells the story of the Buendia family over the course of a century, and is a powerful commentary on the history and politics of Latin America.

7. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Considered one of the greatest novels ever written, Moby-Dick is a sprawling masterpiece that combines adventure, philosophy, and the hunt for a symbolic white whale.

8. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Often cited as the first science fiction novel, Frankenstein is a Gothic tale of monstrous creation and what it means to be human.

9. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

This searing examination of colonialism and imperialism in Africa follows a journey up the Congo River that descends into madness and horror.

10. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

This epic novel explores the lives and loves of Russian aristocracy during the Napoleonic Wars, and is regarded as one of the greatest works of fiction ever written.

11. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

A dark and brooding novel of passion and cruelty, Wuthering Heights is a haunting exploration of love and obsession set amid the wind-swept moors of England.

12. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Told from the point of view of the spirited and determined heroine, Jane Eyre is a timeless classic of gothic romance and coming-of-age.

13. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

This complex and compelling novel tells the story of the Karamazov family, and delves into the nature of faith, free will, and moral responsibility.

14. Animal Farm by George Orwell

A damning critique of Soviet-style communism, Animal Farm is a satire that masquerades as a beloved children’s story.

15. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

A classic tale of decadence and moral corruption, The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the story of a young man who sells his soul to preserve his youth and beauty.

16. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

This novel is both a tragic love story and a sweeping portrayal of Russian society, with complex characters and insightful commentary on the politics and culture of the time.

17. Dracula by Bram Stoker

This gothic tale of the world’s most famous vampire is a haunting exploration of desire, mortality, and the boundaries between life and death.

18. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

A dystopian novel that imagines a future world where conformity and uniformity are cherished above all else, Brave New World is a warning about what societies sacrifice for stability and order.

19. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

A controversial masterpiece, Lolita tells the story of a middle-aged man’s infatuation with a young girl and is a haunting commentary on love, obsession, and desire.

20. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

A sweeping epic that charts the fall of the old Confederate South and the ascendancy of the North during the American Civil War, Gone with the Wind is a timeless tale of love, survival, and resilience.