Of all the works of world literature, one could easily make a list of hundreds or even thousands of the best. Some of them are mandatory for study at school, you get to know other authors in a conscious life, and sometimes you bring your favorite works through your whole life. Every year new books appear, written by no less talented authors, many of them are successfully made into films, and it seems that print publications are a thing of the past. But, despite this, the best works of world literature remain for the modern reader always interesting and relevant.
10. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
This novel today could be called female, if not for the skill and special ironic syllable of the author. Jane Austen very accurately conveys the whole atmosphere that prevailed at that time in aristocratic English society. The book touches on such problems that always remain relevant: upbringing, marriage, morality, education. The novel, published only 15 years after writing, completes the top 10 best works of world literature.
9. The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald
Thanks to the novel, the reader manages to plunge into the era that was entrenched after the First World War in the United States. This work of world literature describes not only the fun and carefree life of wealthy American youth, but also its other side. The author shows that the protagonist of the novel, Jay Gatsby, wasted his abilities and indefatigable energy on empty goals: a chic life and a stupid spoiled woman. The book gained particular popularity in the 50s of the last century. In many English-speaking countries of the world, the work is included in the course of literature required for study.
8. “Lolita” V.V. Nabokov
The book is based on the history of the relationship between an adult man in love and a twelve-year-old girl. The immoral lifestyle of the protagonist Humbert and young Lolita does not bring them happiness and leads to a tragic ending. The work has been successfully screened several times and is still considered one of the best in world literature. The scandalous novel, which simultaneously brought fame and prosperity to the author, was banned from publication in France, England, South Africa, Argentina, and New Zealand over the years.
7. "Hamlet" William Shakespeare
This is one of the best works of not only literature, but also world drama. The plot of the play is based on the tragic story of a Danish prince who wants to take revenge on his uncle for the murder of the king’s father. The first production of the work on stage dates back to 1600. Shakespeare himself played the shadow of Hamlet's father in it. The tragedy has been translated into Russian alone more than 30 times. In different countries of the world, the work is realized and is popular both in theatrical productions and on the screen.
6. “Crime and Punishment” F. M. Dostoevsky
The author in his philosophical and psychological novel addresses the issues of good and evil, freedom, morality and responsibility. The main character of the work Rodion Raskolnikov commits murder for the sake of possible wealth, but he begins to pursue torment of conscience. A poor student first hides his gain, and then confesses to crime. Raskolnikov was sentenced to eight years of hard labor, his beloved Sonia Marmeladova comes to help him. This work is required to study in school literature.
5. The Odyssey Homer
The second work of the ancient Greek poet Homer, written in the VIII century BC, laid the foundation for all world literature. The work tells the story of the life of the mythical hero Odysseus, who returns to Ithaca after the Trojan War, where Penelope's wife is waiting for him. Along the way, the hero-navigator, danger is warned, but an irresistible desire to be at home with his family, as well as intelligence, prudence, resourcefulness, cunning, help him to emerge victorious in battles and return to his wife. In different years, Homer's poem was recognized as the best among other works of world literature.
4. “In search of lost time” Marcel Proust
The main work of the life of a modernist writer is a seven-volume epic, called one of the best works of the 20th century. All novels in the cycle are semi-autobiographical. Prototypes of the heroes were people from the real environment of the writer. All volumes were published in France from 1913 to 1927, the last three of them were published after the death of the author. The work is considered a classic of French literature, and has been translated into several languages of the world.
3. "Madame Bovary" Gustave Flaubert
One of the key works of the realism era was first published in France in 1856. A novel feature is the use of literary naturalism elements in its writing. The author so clearly painted all the details in the appearance and character of the people that in his work there were no goodies at all. According to most modern publications, the work "Madame Bovary" is one of the three best in world literature. The same was noted by I.S. Turgenev, who was a fan of the work of prose writer-realist Gustave Flaubert.
2. “War and Peace” L. N. Tolstoy
Novel epic of the great Russian writer L.N. Tolstoy from the moment of its first publication and to this day is considered a masterpiece of world literature. The book is striking in its scope. The work shows the life of different layers of Russian society in the era of the Napoleonic Wars of 1905-1912. The author, as an expert in the psychology of his people, was able to accurately reflect these features in the character and behavior of his heroes. It is known that the handwritten text of the novel is more than 5 thousand pages. The work “War and Peace” has been translated into different languages of the world and has been filmed more than 10 times.
1. "The cunning hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha" Miguel de Cervantes
The work topping the list is considered a bestseller of world literature. The main character of the novel, created by a Spanish writer, more than once became the prototype of the work of other authors. The personality of Don Quixote has always been under the scrutiny and study of literary scholars, philosophers, classics of world literature and critics. Cervantes’s account of the adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza was filmed more than 50 times, and a virtual museum was even opened in Moscow in honor of the protagonist.