Classic Literature
By
User:Kristenmollica @timeAndDate(1265389631)
What really defines classic literature?
The Literature Network to find some more authors and their masterpieces.
American
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Moby Dick: Herman Melville's classic tale of a obsession, Captain Ahab seeks revenge on the infamous whale who destroyed his boat and bit off his leg. But there's more to this story than just a whale. The sailor Ishmael battles his own inner conflicts as Captain Ahab battles his own.
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The Great Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald shows us the American Dream isn't so wonderful after all. Nick Carraway gets sucked into the world of wealth and decadence in the 1920s and learns the uncomfortable truth about the lives of the rich.
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Little Women: Follow the lives of four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they deal with their own character flaws and search for happiness, understanding, and strength with the help of each other and friends.
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The Last of the Mohicans: James Fenimore Cooper's novel may have been criticized during his lifetime, but today it is one of the most widely read novels. Hawkeye and Chingachgook must escort two daughters of a British Commander through hostile land during the French and Indian War. There is plenty of action in this heroic tale of a man who turns his back on his culture.
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Ethan Frome: Ethan Frome lives a tragic life and is unhappily married. However, when his wife's cousin enters the house as a servant girl, Frome finally begins to find joy in his life. Frome must choose between his wife or a scandalous affair.
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The Jungle: Upton Sinclair gives us the harsh reality of the poverty and destitution of the lower working class in the beginning of the 19th Century.
British
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A Tale of Two Cities: The novel depicts the cruelty of the French aristocracy towards the lower class in the years leading up to the revolution. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . ."
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The Canterbury Tales: A frame narrative of tales, many quite funny, critiquing religion, social class, and life during the Middle Ages.
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Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen takes us into the life of Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with moral upbringing, manners, aristocracy, and marriage.
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Wuthering Heights: Emily Bronte does not give us a happy love story. Instead, this is a dark tale about obsession and love and how it can destroy all those around it.
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Gulliver's Travels: Swift's classic satire on human nature is not only enjoyable to read, but the underlying themes will definitely give you something to think about.
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The Picture of Dorian Gray: The love of a portrait goes awry when Dorian Gray begins to fear aging and asks that his picture ages and he remains the same.
Children's
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: A story of fun and adventure as we follow Tom on his wild journey full of antics. A must read for children and adults.
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Possibly the only story as fun and adventurous as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Huck finds himself floating down the Mississippi with Jim, an escaped slave, and that's where the adventure begins.
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Alice in Wonderland: Delve into the madness and literary nonsense of Wonderland with Alice as she encounters a world full of crazy creatures.
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The Chronicles of Narnia: Four children discover a world full of magic and wonder, but they must also help their new friends battle evil in the land of Narnia.
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White Fang: Author Jack London explores the world of animals as a wild wolfdog tries to become civilized.
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The Secret Garden: A story of an unlikely friendship between two stubborn children who stumble upon a hidden garden, a garden full of hope to restore a troubled family.
Horror
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Dracula: The original book that started the vampire craze. See how the legend really began with this vampire classic.
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Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: This is a dark tale of the inner struggles of Dr. Jekyll, a respectable doctor during the day and a villain at night.
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Frankenstein: Follow a mad scientist as he attempts to create life but instead creates something a little more disturbing.
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The Turn of the Screw: A governess is haunted by the previous owners of the house and believes they are controlling two orphaned children. This chilling ghost story will have you wondering if the governess is paranoid or is really seeing the dead.
Quick Picks
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