Waterstones' Top 25 Books of the Last 25 Years (2007)

Bookstandard (wayback machine) (2007), 25 Books

Celebrating 25 years as a bookstore Waterstone in 2007 released its Top 25 Books of the Past 25 years, as voted for by Waterstone's customers.

Gabriel García Márquez’s Formative Reading List

The Marginalian (2003), 24 Books

“Life is not what one lived, but what one remembers and how one remembers it in order to recount it,” Gabriel García Márquez wrote. Here's a list of books that moulded and impressed him as a writer.

This list was originally from Living to Tell the Tale, an autobiography of Gabriel García Márquez.

50 Essential Reads by Contemporary Authors

Orange Prize for Fiction (2004), 53 Books

In support of the 2004 award, the Orange Prize for Fiction - now known as the Women's Prize for Fiction - published a list of 50 contemporary "essential reads". As per their press release: "The results were compiled by public vote during the first week of the Guardian Hay festival and represent the audience's definitive 'must have' bookshelf by living writers".
According to Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Prize_for_Fiction - a sample of 500 festival attendees chose these particular titles.

The 10 Best Essay Collections of the Decade (2010s)

Literary Hub (2019), 17 Books

This list presents "The 10 Best Essay Collections of the Decade," curated by Emily Temple and published on December 23, 2019, by Literary Hub. It aims to highlight the most impactful essay collections published in English between 2010 and 2019. The selection process involved extensive debate and multiple voting rounds among the Literary Hub staff, indicating a thorough and participatory methodology. The list reflects a considered effort to balance critical acclaim with personal impact, as evidenced by the inclusion of dissenting opinions and an expanded list of honorable mentions. This curated selection was designed to encapsulate the diverse literary voices and themes that defined the decade's essayistic landscape.

50 Best-Loved Novels Written by a Woman (United Kingdom)

Guardian (2003), 51 Books

During the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2003 - now known as the Women's Prize for Fiction - a poll was done to determine the UK's 50 best loved novels written by a woman, past or present, in English and published in the UK. The results were compiled by public vote. Over 6,000 votes were collected via text message, voting cards in public libraries and Orange Retail Shops, the Orange Prize for Fiction website and a promotion with Classic FM. Kate Mosse, the co-founder of the Orange Prize for Fiction... said: "Our aim was to encourage as a wide a range of readers to vote as possible and to see which contemporary novels found their place among the classics".
The result was an interesting mix of venerable classics and newer favorites, e.g. Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility shared position 23 with Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding.
More info about the list can be found at https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/12/books.booksnews

100 Books From The Last 100 Years

Der SPIEGEL (2024), 100 Books

German news magazine Der SPIEGEL published a list of the best 100 books from the last 100 years: 'Die besten 100 Bücher aus 100 Jahren'. The list only comprises books written in German. The books were not ranked, but presented in chronological order. The list was compiled by a jury of four people: Jan Philipp Reemtsma, Eva Horn and Joseph Vogl are professors for german literature; Miryam Schellbach is a literary critic and a copy editor.

Top 10 Books by Jeanette Winterson

Radical Reads (2023), 10 Books

This list, curated by the New York-based bookstore One Grand and featured on Radical Reads, presents Jeanette Winterson's top ten favorite books. It aims to showcase the influential reads of the acclaimed author, known for her exploration of themes like queer love and identity. The selection reflects Winterson's personal literary journey and preferences, emphasizing books that have resonated with her on an emotional and intellectual level. The methodology is informal and subjective, driven by Winterson's personal reflections and associations with each book, rather than any structured selection process or public voting. No specific number of voters or contributors is mentioned, as the list represents Winterson's individual choices and insights.

F. B. Perkins' List of 100 Best Fiction

LibraryThing (from The Book Lover by James Baldwin (1910)) (1877), 100 Books

A list compiled by Frederic Beecher Perkins, library sciences pioneer, editor, writer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Beecher_Perkins
He first published the list in an article titled 'The Best Hundred Novels' in the January 1877 edition of the Library Journal.
The list can also be found in the Book Lover (1910) where author James Baldwin lists it amongst others and states that "It has often been asked by lovers of good fiction, "What are the hundred best novels." The following list, prepared some years ago by Mr. F.B. Perkins for the "Library Journal,"... contains the titles of a considerable portion of all that is best in the department of prose fiction..." - p. 271.

PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award (2011-2023)

PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award (Yearly Award), 13 Books

List of winners of the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.
The award was founded by scientist and author Dr. Edward O. Wilson, & activist and actor Harrison Ford - who once said when asked what made him choose acting as a profession: "Failure in all other fields".

The 10 Best Memoirs of the Decade (2010s)

Literary Hub (2019), 17 Books

The 10 Best Memoirs of the Decade (2010-2019) chosen by the Literary Hub staff.
Total came to 17 as they also had some dissenting opinions - those are left unranked.

The 20 Best Non Fiction of the Decade (2010s)

Literary Hub (2019), 26 Books

The 20 Best Non Fiction of the Decade (2010-2019) chosen by the Literary Hub staff.
Total came to 26 as they also had some dissenting opinions - those are left unranked.

101 Significant Books

Good Reading: A Guide for Serious Readers (1989), 105 Books

Good Reading first appeared as a pamphlet in 1932 and ended its run in 1989 with a 23rd edition behemoth of some 465 pages with thousands of books selected by educators and experts in their fields. Its purpose was always "to lead an increasing number of people to savor the great or significant books, both those that strive to light the dark places in our understanding of our complex world and our equally complex selves, and those that aim simply to delight."
A constant through all these different editions was a list of around 100 or so "significant books that many
people have found rewarding to know", revised several times. This list is from the last 23rd edition of Good Reading: A Guide for Serious Readers.
Note: List consists of 105 books

Who Voted?
Committee on College Reading of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Contemporary reviews describe it as “a co-operative effort of 35 members of the Committee on College Reading.”

C.K. Shorter List of Best 100 Novels

The Bookman February 1898 (1898), 100 Books

A list by Clement Shorter, a British journalist and literary critic. The Queenslander, April 4, 1898 described the list thus: "Mr. Clement K. Shorter, asked by 'The Bookman' to write out a list of 100 of the best novels in the English language, supplied the following list, naming only one book of each author, and giving the date of publication". Translated novels were included.

26 Must-Read Korean Novels in English Translation

Books & Bao (2024), 26 Books

These are 26 of the best Korean novels in English translation, including two novels by Han Kang, the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

70 Iconic Indian Books (India's 70th Independence Anniversary)

Hindustan Times (2017), 70 Books

This list in the Hindustan Times was for the 70th celebration of India's independence.
Created & curated by Chiki Sarkar, publisher and founder of Juggernaut Books.
"I consulted a diverse group of people for this list and came up with the following criteria apart from HT's own rule - that the books had to be written in English.

The books on my list had to meet one or more of the following:
1. A book that had social impact (Created a debate, a new readership or won a major prize).
2. One that stands the test of time for its superb quality.
3. Books a general reader can read. The only scholarly books that have been included are ones that have changed the way we see the world.
4. A few extraordinary translations from Indian languages to English- where we are recognising the translation, not the work itself.
5. Books by some foreigners on India of outstanding merit.
6. Only one book per author."

100 Must-Read Classics in Translation

Bookriot (2017), 100 Books

Here is a list of must-read classics in translation from around the world, written in languages other than English.
All of these were published before 1967.

The voter for this list seems to be only 1 person, Rebecca Hussey.

Top 10 books books on the history of science (Guardian)

Guardian (2004), 10 Books

Simon Singh's favourite books on the history of science.

Simon Singh is a physicist-turned-author whose books combine the twin disciplines of science and history. His first book, Fermat's Last Theorem, looked at the history of the world's most notorious mathematical problem; his next, The Code Book, looked at the history of cryptography.

Top 10 Books on South African History

Guardian (2004), 10 Books

Saul David's favourite books on South African history.
Saul David is a historian and broadcaster. He specializes in wars of empire and is the author of The Indian Mutiny (shortlisted for the Westminster medal for military literature). His latest book, Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879, is published by Viking

125 Best Romance Books of All Time

Parade (2024), 127 Books

"We spoke to best-selling authors—everyone from Jojo Moyes to Nicholas Sparks to Julia Quinn to Taylor Jenkins Reid—and passionate people at indie bookstores all over the country to create this list".

Who voted and how many people?
Since they don't list an exact amount of authors they asked or how many bookstores they talked to, I am going to go with 20.

100 Best Spiritual Books of the Century

Spirituality & Practice (2001), 100 Books

At the turn of the millennium, HarperSanFrancisco, a leading publisher of religious and spiritual books, asked Philip Zaleski, editor of the annual The Best Spiritual Writing series, to look back over the twentieth century and compile a list of the 100 best books in the genre. The nominating panel included Spirituality & Practice book review editor Frederic A. Brussat, Thomas Moore, Natalie Goldberg, Rodger Kamenetz, Harold Kushner, Lawrence Kushner, Christopher de Vinck, David Young, Kabir Helminski, Helen Tworkov, Ron Hansen, Joseph Bruchac, Huston Smith, Lawrence Cunningham, and John Wilson.

All the books had to be published in English for the first time in the twentieth century. Stephen Hanselman of HarperSanFrancisco explained that the list, boasting titles from 50 different publishers, "will guide readers to books that will enrich their souls, serve as a reminder of the twentieth century's enduring spiritual legacy, and spark conversation about the blossoming genre of spiritual writing.

The Librarians' Choice - Top 20 South African Books, 1994-2014

LISA (Library and Information Association of South Africa) (2014), 20 Books

"Library workers across South Africa have been requested to identify the top twenty South African books published during these 20 years that reflect South African life by South Africans... It must be written by a South African author in one of our official languages and must be published for the first time between 1994 and 2014".

Peter Singer's Top 10 Books

Guardian (2001), 10 Books

Controversial philosopher and professor of bioethics Peter Singer has been working in the field of 'practical ethics' for 30 years - "which means that when I began there was no such field". He was a passionate founder of the modern animal rights movement and has written on animal rights, abortion, euthanasia and the ethical implications of the global rift between rich and poor.

Top 10 South African Books

Guardian (2001), 10 Books

Gillian Slovo is the daughter of two of South Africa's most prominent anti-apartheid campaigners, and first became known as a crime writer. This is her recommended list of top works on South Africa, both fiction and non fiction.

Top 10 travel books

Guardian (1999), 10 Books

Top 10 travel books, chosen by Gary Younge, who is a Guardian journalist. His book No Place Like Home, which was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award, is part travel book, part inquiry into cultural history.

Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-fiction

The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction (Yearly Award), 27 Books

The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-fiction, which 'is one of the world's most prestigious awards for non-fiction writing'. It was called the Samuel Johnson Prize before 2016.

The Orwell Prize for Political Writing

The Orwell Foundation (Yearly Award), 36 Books

The Orwell Prize is the pre-eminent British prize for political writing. Prizes are awarded each year: one each for non-fiction and fiction (fiction first awarded in 2019).

Arts: The Critics' Century 1900-2000

The Observer (Newspaper) (1999), 39 Books

The original article, "Arts: The Critics' Century 1900-2000," posed the question, "What would you take with you from this millennium to the next?" to a group of notable individuals in the arts, inviting them to choose significant works that they couldn't imagine leaving behind. The full feature includes a diverse array of art forms, not limited to literature, covering pieces across mediums like visual art, music, and film. Here, however, only books and plays are listed from the original compilation. This list is ranked. The books mentioned the most are ranked the highest.

The selection represents contributions from well-known figures in literature, journalism, music, politics, and criticism, chosen for their prominent roles and influence in British arts and media. This distinguished group of voters includes: Dani Behr, David Lodge, Tracey Emin, David Bailey, Bobby Baker, Lynn Barber, Julie Burchill, Brenda Maddox, Fergal Keane, Joseph Corré, Margaret Forster, Will Self, Philip French, Deborah Moggach, Julie Myerson, Fiona Maddocks, Michael Arditti, Andrew Motion, Carol Shields, Rabbi Lionel Blue, Neil Spencer, Barbara Trapido, Malcolm Bradbury, Teresa Gorman, and Susannah Clapp.

This unique selection of critics and artists provides an eclectic view of the books and plays deemed essential for future generations. The list captures not only literary classics but also the perspectives of influential voices from the past century.

Top 25 Pre-20th Century Classics

The Guardian (2000), 25 Books

An article from The Guardian newspaper from 2000 that lists the top 25 pre-20th century classics.

This article by John Ezard explains what makes a book a classic and how classics are defined by enduring appeal and relevance to the human experience. Classics stay in print for a long time, are discussed in schools and colleges, and capture timeless themes that resonate across generations. The text emphasizes that a classic continues to speak to readers as they mature, providing deeper understanding with age and experience. It excites, diverts, and expands the reader's mind, touching on the most intimate aspects of life, like relationships and love, in ways that feel relevant to different readers at different stages of life.

The list of 25 pre-20th century classics at the bottom was compiled by The Guardian, drawing from popular consensus and timeless relevance. The article mentions that such lists are rare, since they require deep analysis of book markets and literature. It also notes the role of new adaptations (like film and TV) in keeping certain books in the cultural spotlight. However, these titles are considered classics because they capture universal human truths, making them endure beyond any momentary trends. The list was not solely based on bestseller status or immediate popularity, but on the long-term impact and sustained relevance of the works.

Taking off the Reading Gloves

Fort Worth Star-Telegram (1998), 36 Books

This list was published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram on Sunday, July 26th, 1998. It's mostly in response to the infamous Modern Library 100 list. The Star-Telegram assembled a group of well-read staffers and community members to write about their favorite books.

I have aggregated them all and added them to a single list.

This list has 9 voters, and each of the voter's names are listed in the article

Books Of The Century

Library Journal (1999), 150 Books

Books Of The Century, as nominated and voted on by the readers of Library Journal.

Library Journal is an American trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey. It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice. It also reviews library-related materials and equipment.

How many people voted?
if you look at the internet archive version of the website from 1999 https://web.archive.org/web/19990209152223/http://www.bookwire.com/ljdigital/roundups/hundredbest.htm

it says "hundreds" voted, so I am going to go with 200

The Best Of The Century

TIME (1999), 9 Books

This list is from Time Magazine from Dec. 31, 1999. This lists the best books of the 20th century. It only has Children's Books, Fiction, and non-fiction, and only lists 1 book as the winner, and the rest as runners up

Top 10 Books of Steven Pinker

Steven Pinker via One Grand Books (2021), 10 Books

Steven Pinker is an author, psychologist, linguist and professor in Harvard University’s Department of Psychology, as well as Bill Gates favorite writer. His ten books to date include “The Language Instinct,” “How the Mind Works,” “The Blank Slate,” “The Stuff of Thought,” “The Better Angels of Our Nature,” and “The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century, as well as his latest tome, “Enlightenment Now,” which The Guardian described as “a bold, wonderfully expansive and occasionally irate defense of scientific rationality and liberal humanism.”

Here he reflects on the books that mean the most to him, as well as the books that have influenced his own writing.

Will Self's Favorite Works of Non-Fiction

The Week (2018), 6 Books

British author and journalist Will Self, renowned for his intellectually provocative and satirical explorations of modern society, has curated a list of his six favorite non-fiction books for The Week magazine. The selection reflects Self's fascination with narratives where truth is indeed stranger than fiction, encompassing topics like America's crack cocaine crisis and transformative experiences within prison life. His criteria center on non-fiction works that challenge conventional perceptions and unsettle readers by revealing the instability of familiar categories. Through these recommendations, Self offers insights into the kinds of compelling and unsettling realities that inspire his own writing, aiming to disturb fundamental assumptions and provoke deep reflection.

Top 10 books to help you survive the digital age

Guardian (2018), 10 Books

"From Philip K Dick’s obtuse robots to Mark O’Connell’s guide to transhumanism, novelist Julian Gough picks essential reading for a helter skelter world".
Julian Gough is the author of the novel, Connect a 'novel of ideas... disguised as a techno-thriller'. He is also the author of three previous novels, two BBC radio plays, a successful stage play, and the ending to Time Magazine’s 2011 computer game of the year, Minecraft, which has sold over 140 million copies.

Top 10 books about tumultuous times

Guardian (2020), 10 Books

"From paranoid Roman emperors to Winston Churchill’s war cabinet, here are some outstanding history books and novels exploring era-defining decisions made under pressure".
Matthew Kneale is the author of seven novels and two works of non-fiction. His debut novel, Whore Banquets, won the Somerset Maugham Award, Sweet Thames won John Llewellyn Rhys, and English Passengers, shortlisted for the Man Booker and Miles Franklin, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award in 2000. His latest non-fiction book, Rome: A History in Seven Sackings, was a Waterstones Book of the Month.

The Top 10 Feminist Books

Guardian (2014), 10 Books

Gender-based inequality remains the greatest global injustice and the struggle against it spans millennia and continents. These books make us more impatient for change, but they may also be turned to in dark hours when it feels change might never come. Feminism is no impulse or outcome of modernity. As these books show, it has been around for centuries. We don't need to re-invent the wheel, or number what "wave" we are now riding; we need to harness an atomic rocket to it.

By Rachel Holmes, a cultural historian whose work combines meticulous biographical research with an ability to bring the lives and times of her 19th-century subjects vividly to life. Eleanor Marx: A Life (2014) and The Hottentot Venus: The life and death of Saartjie Baartman (2008) is some of her published works.

Top 10 books about high-tech

Guardian (2017), 10 Books

"From histories of world-conquering innovations to fiction that explores their dark side, a leading chronicler of this giddying world chooses the best guides".
By Leslie Berlin, who is Project Historian for the Silicon Valley Archives at Stanford University. She has been a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences and served on the advisory committee to the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Leslie was a “Prototype” columnist for The New York Times and has commented on Silicon Valley for the Wall Street Journal, NPR, PBS, The Atlantic and Wired.Former Google chairman Eric Schmidt called publication of Troublemakers, her book exploring how Silicon Valley during the 1970s set the stage for our modern high-tech world, “a landmark event.”
She has a PhD in History from Stanford and her BA in American Studies is from Yale.

Top 10 Literary Biographies

Guardian (2015), 10 Books

A list of works from the era after the second world war by Jay Parini, who has written seven books about authors including the delightfully titled Every Time a Friend Succeeds Something Inside Me Dies: The Life of Gore Vidal.

Top 10 Books about great thinkers (Guardian)

Guardian (2020), 10 Books

"The very best intellectual biographies enrich our understanding of great thinkers by situating them in a time and a place, and by exploring how they negotiate the difficult art of living through the products of their minds. Here are 10 wonderful books that thread together the lives and ideas of their thinkers in a way that intensifies our understanding of each."

By Peter Salmon, author of An Event, Perhaps: A Biography of Jacques Derrida. He has received the Writer's Awards from the Arts Council of England and teaches creative writing.

Tibor Fischer's Top 10 Eastern European Novels

The Guardian (2003), 12 Books

Tibor Fischer, author of the Booker-shortlisted Under the Frog and The Thought Gang, was selected as one of Granta's 20 best British young novelists in 1993. This is his list of the Top 10 Eastern European novels.

12 Polish Books You Have to Read

In Your Pocket (2024), 13 Books

This list is a curated collection of Polish literature that showcases the rich tapestry of the nation's literary heritage. It includes accessible English translations of works spanning various periods, genres, and writing styles. The selection highlights significant moments in Poland's history, such as the surge in cultural works during the 123 years of partition (1795-1918) when authors like Adam Mickiewicz penned classics like "Pan Tadeusz" to preserve national identity. It also features avant-garde writers from the early 20th century, including Witold Gombrowicz and Czesław Miłosz, who brought new perspectives following Poland's regained independence in 1918. The list reflects the profound impact of World War II and Communist rule on Polish literature, showcasing the diverse responses—from Stanisław Lem's science fiction to Wisława Szymborska's contemplative poetry—that contrast with earlier romantic works. By focusing on books that are both significant and reader-friendly, this list aims to introduce you to the beauty and dynamic nature of Polish literature, reflecting its complex history and cultural richness.

Nightmare Magazine's Top 100 Horror Books

Nightmare Magazine (2013), 100 Books

Worlds Without End consulted with the experts at Nightmare Magazine to curate a list of the best horror books.

who voted?
The main article implies that Nightmare Magazine has 2 editors

Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Best Non-Fiction Books

Time Magazine (2011), 100 Books

Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Best Non-Fiction Books.

Honestly this list has very little information and is ranked accordingly.

The Best War and History Books of All Time

Telegraph (2014), 35 Books

The Telegraph selects the best war and history books ever written

Ray Monk's Top 10 Philosophy Books of the 20th Century

Ray Monk / Guardian (2001), 10 Books

Ray Monk's top 10 philosophy books of the 20th century.

From the Guardian:
Ray Monk is professor of philosophy at the University of Southampton and is the author of Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius, and Bertrand Russell: The Spirit of Solitude. His most recent book, Bertrand Russell: The Ghost of Madness 1921-1970, focuses on Russell's relationship with his son, John.

"The following list is unashamedly 'unbalanced'. Of the 10 books listed, four are by a single philosopher: Ludwig Wittgenstein. I make no apologies for this. In my view, Wittgenstein towers above all other 20th century philosophers to such an extent that it is surprising to find any books not written by him included in such a list."

William Gass’ Fifty Literary Pillars

A Temple of Texts: Essays (Book) (2007), 50 Books

Winner of the 2007 Truman Capote Award for Literary Criticism, "A Temple of Texts" is the latest critical collection from one of America's greatest essayists and novelists. Here, William H. Gass pays homage to the readerly side of the literary experience by turning his critical sensibility upon all the books that shaped his own development as a reader, writer, and human being. With essays on figures ranging from William Shakespeare and Gertrude Stein to Flann O'Brien and Robert Burton, Gass creates a "temple" of readerly devotion, a collection of critical explorations as brilliant and incisive as readers have come to expect from this literary master, but also a surprisingly personal window into the author's own literary development.

The 20 'forgotten' Welsh classics

BBC (2004), 20 Books

This list highlights a collection of 20 Welsh literary classics in English, curated as part of the 'Library of Wales' initiative, which aims to revive and promote Wales' English-language literary tradition from the 20th century. The selection was made by Professor Dai Smith, a historian and culture writer, who led a panel of five experts. The list is part of a £250,000 effort by the Welsh Assembly to make these works more accessible by reprinting titles that are out of print or hard to find. The initiative plans to distribute free copies to secondary schools and libraries and intends to publish ten books per year. The project underscores the literary richness of Wales' English-language tradition, aiming to foster a sense of identity and cultural heritage among the Welsh people.

One Hundred Italian Novels (1901-1995)

Cento Romanzi Italiani (1996), 100 Books

From Cento Romanzi Italiani (1901-1995), edited by Giovanni Raboni. A list of one hundred twentieth century Italian novels. Initially, it was going to be one for every year but, while they have kept somewhat to that, there are exceptions. No more than one novel per author.

*note. thanks to The Modern Novel for this book list and description

100 novels that make you proud to be Canadian

CBC Books (2017), 99 Books

From the Description of the list:

Canada has a wealth of writers telling today's tales, revisiting our past and imagining our future. Literary or mystery, comic or graphic, historical or out of this world, the 100 novels on our list are must-read books.

CBC Books considered everything from cultural impact and critical reception to reader response to choose these titles. The authors all call or once called Canada home, and the novels are all in print. Enjoy!

Everything You Should Read without Being a Library Rat

Book by Luiz Carlos Lisboa (1972), 98 Books

This list is from a Brazilian book about the greatest books of all time. Unfortunately I have been unable to find the entire book. If anyone has any leads let me know! This list is ONLY the more "modern" books on the list and is from our friends at The Modern Novel. Here is their description:

"This comes from a book by Luiz Carlos Lisboa, published by Editora Papagalo. There are actually two books. This one is a guide to the best of world literature. (The other one is a guide to Brazilian literature).

This list will only give the authors and titles of twentieth century novels but, in fact, the book goes back to Homer and covers short stories, poetry, drama and non-fiction, with a brief (one-page) description of each work and its author.
"