The Best Classic Books
recommended by critics, novelists and historians
Last updated: July 16, 2025
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Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel
by Luo Guanzhong & Moss Roberts (translator) -
The Water Margin
by Shi Naian & translated by J M Jackson -
The Water Outlaws
by S L Huang -
Monkey King: Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Julia Lovell -
The Story of the Stone (also called Dream of the Red Chamber)
by Cao Xueqin
Classic Chinese Novels
Classic Chinese Novels
During China’s Ming and Qing dynasties, a number of novels were written which are regarded as classics of Chinese literature. Several of them have been recommended on Five Books, including one modern retelling.
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1
Recollections of Things to Come
by Elena Garro, translated by Ruth L.C. Simms, illustrated by Alberto Beltrán -
2
Cartucho
by Nellie Campobello, translated by Doris Meyer -
3
Balún Canán
by Castellanos Rosario -
4
Pedro Páramo
by Juan Rulfo, translated by Margaret Sayers Peden -
5
Aura
by Carlos Fuentes, translated by Lysander Kemp
Five of the Best Classic Mexican Novels, recommended by Ave Barrera
Five of the Best Classic Mexican Novels, recommended by Ave Barrera
We asked the award-winning Mexican novelist Ave Barrera—whose latest book, The Forgery, has recently been translated into English—to recommend five classic Mexican novels. Here she discusses her choices, which include books by Juan Rulfo, Elena Garro and Nellie Campobello.
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1
Beast in the Shadows
by Edogawa Rampo & Ian Hughes (translator) -
2
The Inugami Curse
by Seishi Yokomizo & Yumiko Yamazaki (translator) -
3
Points and Lines
by Paul C. Blum and Makiko Yamamoto (translators) & Seicho Matsumoto -
4
The Tokyo Zodiac Murders
by Ross and Shika Mackenzie (translators) & Soji Shimada -
5
All She Was Worth
by Alfred Birnbaum (translator) & Miyuki Miyabe
Best Classic Japanese Mysteries, recommended by On Nomoto
Best Classic Japanese Mysteries, recommended by On Nomoto
Crime novels are hugely popular in Japan, but English translations of Japanese mysteries not always easy to come by. As Pushkin Vertigo publishes translations of two novels by Seishi Yokomizo, one of Japan’s most famous mystery writers, his grandson, On Nomoto, talks us through the best classic Japanese mysteries of the last century.
Classic Arabic Literature, recommended by Robert Irwin
From the Life and Works of Jahiz, who lived in the 9th century, to a modern Sudanese masterpiece, the distinguished Arabist, novelist and historian Robert Irwin selects five classics of Arabic literature.
The Best Classic Thrillers, recommended by Sam Bourne
The bestselling author tells us how his other job as a political journalist helps with thriller writing, and what makes le Carré, Forsyth and Buchan such masters of their trade
The Best Classic British Thrillers, recommended by Matt Lynn
Author Matt Lynn says that good thrillers need a sense of foreboding and tension – and a brilliant central character. “The thriller has always been a very political genre, a kind of snapshot in time”
Updated Classics (of Greek and Roman Literature), recommended by Daniel Mendelsohn
Greek myths were themselves elastic so there is no reason the classics of Roman and Greek literature shouldn’t be updated, says classicist Daniel Mendelsohn. He talks us through some of his favourites.
