Classics

A classic stands the test of time. The work is usually considered to be a representation of the period in which it was written; and the work merits lasting recognition. In other words, if the book was published in the recent past, the work is not a classic.

A classic has a certain universal appeal. Great works of literature touch us to our very core beings--partly because they integrate themes that are understood by readers from a wide range of backgrounds and levels of experience. Themes of love, hate, death, life, and faith touch upon some of our most basic emotional responses.

Although the
...more

New Releases Tagged "Classics"

Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature
1984
Animal Farm
The Great Gatsby
Pride and Prejudice
The Alchemist
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
The Diary of a Young Girl
The Little Prince
Fahrenheit 451
The Metamorphosis
The Catcher in the Rye
Lord of the Flies
The Kite Runner
The Stranger
The Picture of Dorian Gray
  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    Frankenstein

    Release date: Aug 11, 2026
    We're giving away 10 copies of this literary classic in a special hardcover edition complete with sprayed edges and illustrations. ...more
    View Details »

    Format: Print book

    Giveaway ends in: a

    Availability: 10 copies available, 6025 people requesting

    Giveaway dates: Jul 12 - Aug 11, 2026

    Countries available: U.S.

  • The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
    The Light Years: A Novel (Cazalet Chronicle)
    by

    Release date: Dec 01, 2026
    We're giving away 25 copies of THE LIGHT YEARS by Elizabeth Jane Howard, the first book of the Cazalet Chronicles, with a new intro by Jia Tolentino. ...more
    View Details »

    Format: Print book

    Giveaway ends in: a

    Availability: 25 copies available, 6648 people requesting

    Giveaway dates: Jul 15 - Aug 14, 2026

    Countries available: U.S.

  • Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Sojourner Truth
    Narrative of Sojourner Truth (Modern Library Torchbearers)

    Release date: Aug 25, 2026
    We're giving away twenty-five copies of Modern Library's THE NARRATIVE OF SOJOURNER TRUTH. Enter for a chance to win!
    ...more
    View Details »

    Format: Print book

    Giveaway ends in: a

    Availability: 25 copies available, 2272 people requesting

    Giveaway dates: Aug 01 - Aug 24, 2026

    Countries available: U.S.

  • Pride and Prejudice
    The Great Gatsby
    To Kill a Mockingbird
    Jane Eyre
    1984
    Wuthering Heights
    Animal Farm
    The Picture of Dorian Gray
    Frankenstein: The 1818 Text
    Little Women (Little Women, #1)
    The Catcher in the Rye
    Lord of the Flies
    Of Mice and Men
    Emma
    Sense and Sensibility
    The Fault in Our Stars by John  GreenDivergent by Veronica RothAllegiant by Veronica RothInsurgent by Veronica RothThe Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
    What we've read so far in...2014
    9,503 books — 2,354 voters
    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeRomeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldLord of the Flies by William GoldingAnimal Farm by George Orwell
    Required Reading in High School
    817 books — 1,310 voters

    A Story of Yesterday by Sergio CoboTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeSheever's Journal, Diary of a Poison Master by K.  RitzThe Help by Kathryn StockettThe Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
    All-Time Awesome Books
    13,016 books — 9,209 voters

    Viciously Yours by Jamie Applegate HunterHeretical Fishing by Haylock JobsonThe Three Witches and the Master by Max NowazBeing a Witch, and Other Things I Didn't Ask For by Sara PascoeA Dead and Stormy Night by Steffanie Holmes
    All Sorts Favourites
    1,676 books — 1,573 voters
    The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingA Story of Yesterday by Sergio CoboTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeCatching Fire by Suzanne Collins
    Books That Have Made An Impression
    4,219 books — 2,690 voters


    Related News

    Here at Goodreads World HQ, we’re always experimenting with new and interesting ways to sort, select, and recommend titles from the vast...
    Arthur Conan Doyle
    The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.
    Arthur Conan Doyle; Corrections And Editor Edgar W. Smith; Illustrators, The Hound of the Baskervilles

    F. Scott Fitzgerald
    No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.
    F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

    More quotes...
    Politics & Philosophy Book Club We read political philosophy together and talk it through in live voice discussions. The idea is…more
    1 member, last active 12 hours ago
    Japanese Literature A group for people who enjoy literature written by Japanese authors, the arts, culture, and hist…more
    5,730 members, last active 14 minutes ago
    Reading the Detectives Our group reads vintage British mysteries from the Golden Age and beyond. In 2025 and 2026 our c…more
    2,353 members, last active 37 minutes ago
    Never too Late to Read Classics NTLTRC will help you find your love of Classcis! Find intrigue, well-developed characters, prose…more
    12,569 members, last active 4 minutes ago

    Tags

    Tags contributing to this page include: classics, classic, clàssic, clàssics, genre__classics, klasyka, the-classics, and классика