Back in 2013 Robert McCrum of the Guardian embarked on a two year long mission to compile a list of the 100 best novels written in English. Released in 2015, the list certainly revealed some surprising choices, and while we won’t bore you with the full 100, here are his top 5:
1. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1678)
What some considered a surprising pick for top spot, McCrum lists The Pilgrim’s Progress, a story of a man in search of truth, in no small part due to “the simple clarity and beauty of Bunyan’s prose.”
2. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719)
For the reasoning behind his #2 choice, McCrum states: “By the end of the 19th century, no book in English literary history had enjoyed more editions, spin-offs and translations.” Robinson Crusoe has undoubtedly enjoyed worldwide success.
3. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (1726)
A favorite of many a fan, McCrum notes that since its release, Gulliver’s Travels has never been out of print, on of the reasons it earned the #3 spot on the list.
4. Clarissa by Samuel Richardson (1748)
The story of a tragic heroine pressured to marry a wealthy man she detests by her unscrupulous nouveau-riche family, and one that Samuel Johnson described as “the first book in the world for the knowledge it displays of the human heart.”
5. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding (1749)
Last but not least, as his #5 pick McCrumb chose Tom Jones, a classic English novel that captures the spirit of its age.
Looking to get acquainted with the classics? Visit our online library at www.talekey.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.
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