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Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy
"Anna Karenina" is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. It was first published in book form in 1878. Many writers consider "Anna Karenina" the greatest work of literature ever. Tolstoy himself called it his first true novel. It was initially released in serial installments from 1873 to 1877 in the periodical "The Russian Messenger". A complex novel in eight parts, with more than a dozen major characters, it is spread over more than 800 pages (depending on the translation and publisher), typically contained in two volumes. It deals with themes of betrayal, faith, family, marriage, Imperial Russian society, desire, and rural vs. city life. The novel has been adapted into various media including theatre, opera, film, television, ballet, figure skating, and radio drama. It's been said that the plot was inspired by the story of a real woman. Anna Stepanovna Pirogova was the mistress of one of Tolstoy's friends. When she learned her lover had been neglecting her for his children's German governess, she ran away and wandered about the countryside for days.
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The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde’s only novel is considered by many to be his finest work. The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published in 1890, in a magazine whose editor, worried it was indecent, cut about five hundred words from it without informing its author, Oscar Wilde. Wilde insists in his Preface, “There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That’s all.” When critics attacked the work for its immorality, Wilde responded, “Leave my book, I beg you, to the immortality that it deserves”.
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War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace" is a novel published in 1869. It is regarded as one of Tolstoy's finest literary achievements and remains a classic of world literature. "War and Peace" chronicles the French invasion of Russia and the impact of the Era of Napoleon on Tsarist society through the stories of five Russian aristocratic families. However, Tolstoy said "War and Peace" is "not a novel, even less is it a poem, and still less a historical chronicle." Large sections, especially the later chapters, are philosophical discussions rather than narrative. Tolstoy also said that the best Russian literature does not conform to standards and hence hesitated to call "War and Peace" a novel. Instead, he regarded Anna Karenina as his first true novel. After countless adaptations, and translations it remains of the most popular and grand stories of all.
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Caroll
Translated into at least 97 languages, Lewis Caroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" has never been out of print since 1865. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. One of the best-known and most popular works of English-language fiction, its narrative, structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential in popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre. Its ongoing legacy encompasses many adaptations for stage, screen, radio, art, ballet, theme parks, board games, and video games. Carroll published a sequel in 1871, titled Through the Looking-Glass, and a shortened version for young children, The Nursery "Alice" in 1890. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre.
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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
L.Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was declared "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale" by the Library of Congress. It was originally published in May 1900. Since then it has seen several reprints, most often under the title The Wizard of Oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 Broadway musical adaptation as well as the iconic 1939 live-action film. The book is one of the best-known stories in American literature and has been widely translated. Its groundbreaking success and the success of the Broadway musical adapted from the novel led Baum to write thirteen additional Oz books that serve as official sequels to the first story.
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Peter Pan, by James M. Barrie
Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up or Peter and Wendy, often known simply as Peter Pan, is a work by James M. Barrie, in the form of a 1904 play and a 1911 novel. Both versions tell the story of Peter Pan, a little boy who can fly, and has many adventures on the island of Neverland. The Peter Pan stories also involve the characters of Wendy Darling and her two brothers, Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, and the pirate Captain Hook. The play and novel were inspired by Barrie's friendship with the Llewelyn Davies family. Barrie continued to revise the play for years after its debut until publication of the play script in 1928. The play has been adapted as a pantomime, stage musical, a television special, and several films, including a 1924 silent film, the 1953 Disney animated film, and a 1954 Broadway musical version, which became popular on television. The novel was first published in 1911. James M. Barrie never described Peter Pan's appearance in detail, leaving much of it to the imagination of the reader and the interpretation of anyone adapting the character. So, each of us had their Peter Pan, a mischievous boy who flies and supernaturally refuses to grow up.
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Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
Originally titled First Impressions, Pride and Prejudice was written between October 1796 and August 1797 when Jane Austen was not yet twenty-one, the same age, in fact, as her fictional heroine Elizabeth Bennet. After an early rejection by the publisher, who had not even read it, Austen's novel was finally bought by Egerton in 1812 for £110. It was published in late January 1813 in a small edition of approximately 1500 copies and sold for 18 shillings.
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The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A novella by French aristocrat, writer, and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It was first published in English and French in the US in April 1943. It was banned in France by the Vichy Regime. The story follows a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite its style as a children's illustration book, The Little Prince makes observations about life and human nature very much suitable for grown-ups. The Little Prince became Saint-Exupéry's most successful work, selling an estimated 140 million copies worldwide, which makes it one of the best-selling and most translated books ever published. It has been translated into 301 languages and dialects. The Little Prince has been adapted to numerous art forms and media, including audio recordings, radio plays, live stage, film, television, ballet, opera, and a candle.
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