The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read
This is one of the 743 lists we use to generate our main The Greatest Books list.
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
This comedic science fiction novel follows the intergalactic adventures of an unwitting human, Arthur Dent, who is rescued just before Earth's destruction by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for a galactic travel guide. Together, they hitch a ride on a stolen spaceship, encountering a range of bizarre characters, including a depressed robot and a two-headed ex-president of the galaxy. Through a series of satirical and absurd escapades, the book explores themes of existentialism, bureaucracy, and the absurdity of life, all while poking fun at the science fiction genre and offering witty commentary on the human condition.
The 190th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore
This novel is a political and philosophical exploration set in early 20th century India during the country's struggle for independence. It revolves around three main characters: a nobleman, his wife, and his friend, a fervent nationalist. The story unfolds as the wife, initially confined to the inner quarters of their home, begins to question her societal boundaries and the idea of nationalism after meeting her husband's friend. The narrative delves into the complexities of love, freedom, and the concept of home and world, set against the backdrop of the Swadeshi movement, a part of the Indian independence movement against British rule.
The 1085th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Set in the racially charged South during the Depression, the novel follows a young girl and her older brother as they navigate their small town's societal norms and prejudices. Their father, a lawyer, is appointed to defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, forcing the children to confront the harsh realities of racism and injustice. The story explores themes of morality, innocence, and the loss of innocence through the eyes of the young protagonists.
The 16th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
The Lord Of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
A young hobbit inherits a seemingly simple ring that harbors an ancient, corrupting power, and sets out on a perilous quest with loyal friends and unlikely allies to carry it to the only place it can be destroyed; along the way a diverse fellowship is tested by betrayal, war, and sacrifice as dark forces seek to reclaim the ring, rulers rise to meet their destinies, and the fate of their world hangs on courage, friendship, and the smallest acts of resistance against tyranny.
The 17th Greatest Book of All Time
Telegraph, 104 Books
The best novels of all time from Tolkien to Proust and Middlemarch
This list was originally published in 2009 and was added to this site almost 12 years ago.
This list has a weight of 5%. To learn more about what this means please visit the Rankings page.
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- Voters: unknown count
- Voters: are mostly from a single country/location
- Voters: Unknown Names
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- Voter Count Unknown:
- Yes
- Voter Names Unknown:
- Yes
- High Quality Source:
- No
- Location Specific:
- No
- Category Specific:
- No