The most interesting writers of all time. The most famous Russian writers and their works
Anna Karenina. Lev Tolstoy
The greatest love story of all time. A story that has not left the stage, has been filmed countless times - and has not yet lost the boundless charm of passion - destructive, destructive, blind passion - but all the more bewitching with its greatness.
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Master and Margarita. Michael Bulgakov
This is the most mysterious of the novels in the entire history of Russian literature of the 20th century. This is a novel that is almost officially called “The Gospel of Satan.” This is “The Master and Margarita”. A book that can be read and reread dozens, hundreds of times, but most importantly, it is still impossible to understand. So, which pages of “The Master and Margarita” were dictated by the Forces of Light?
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Wuthering Heights. Emily Brontë
A mystery novel included in the top ten best novels of all time! The story of a stormy, truly demonic passion that has been exciting the imagination of readers for more than one and a half hundred years. Katie gave her heart to her cousin, but ambition and a thirst for wealth push her into the arms of a rich man. Forbidden attraction turns into a curse for secret lovers, and one day.
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Eugene Onegin. Alexander Pushkin
“Have you read “Onegin”? What can you say about “Onegin”? These are the questions that are constantly repeated among writers and Russian readers,” noted the writer, enterprising publisher and, by the way, the hero of Pushkin’s epigrams, Thaddeus Bulgarin, after the publication of the second chapter of the novel. For a long time now it has not been customary to evaluate ONEGIN. In the words of the same Bulgarin, it is “written in Pushkin’s poems. That's enough."
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Notre Dame Cathedral. Victor Hugo
A story that has survived centuries, become canon and given its heroes the glory of household names. A story of love and tragedy. The love of those to whom love was not given and not allowed - by religious dignity, physical weakness or someone else's evil will. The gypsy Esmeralda and the deaf hunchback bell-ringer Quasimodo, the priest Frollo and the captain of the royal riflemen Phoebe de Chateaupert, the beautiful Fleur-de-Lys and the poet Gringoire.
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Gone With the Wind. Margaret Mitchell
The great saga of the American Civil War and the fate of the headstrong Scarlett O'Hara was first published more than 70 years ago and does not become outdated to this day. This is Margaret Mitchell's only novel for which she received a Pulitzer Prize. A story about a woman whom neither an unconditional feminist nor a staunch supporter of house-building is ashamed to emulate.
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Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare
This is the highest tragedy about love that human genius can create. A tragedy that has been filmed and is being filmed. A tragedy that does not leave the theater stage to this day - and to this day it sounds as if it was written yesterday. Years and centuries go by. But one thing remains and will forever remain unchanged: “There is no sadder story in the world than the story of Romeo and Juliet...”
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The Great Gatsby. Francis Fitzgerald
“The Great Gatsby” is the pinnacle not only in Fitzgerald’s work, but also one of the highest achievements in world prose of the 20th century. Although the novel takes place in the “roaring” twenties of the last century, when fortunes were made literally from nothing and yesterday’s criminals became millionaires overnight, this book lives outside of time, because, telling the story of the broken destinies of the generation of the “Jazz Age”.
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Three Musketeers. Alexandr Duma
The most famous historical and adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas tells about the adventures of the Gascon d'Artagnan and his musketeer friends at the court of King Louis XIII.
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Count of Monte Cristo. Alexandr Duma
The book presents one of the most exciting adventure novels of the classic of French literature of the 19th century, Alexandre Dumas.
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Triumphal Arch. Erich Remarque
One of the most beautiful and tragic love novels in the history of European literature. The story of Dr. Ravic, a refugee from Nazi Germany, and the beautiful Joan Madu, who is entangled in the “unbearable lightness of being,” takes place in pre-war Paris. And the alarming time in which these two happened to meet and fall in love with each other becomes one of the main characters of the Arc de Triomphe.
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The man who laughs. Victor Hugo
Gwynplaine, a lord by birth, was sold as a child to comprachicos bandits, who made a fair jester out of the child, carving a mask of “eternal laughter” on his face (at the courts of the European nobility of that time there was a fashion for cripples and freaks who amused the owners). Despite all the trials, Gwynplaine retained the best human qualities and his love.
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Martin Eden. Jack London
A simple sailor, in whom it is easy to recognize the author himself, goes through a long, full of hardships path to literary immortality... By chance, finding himself in secular society, Martin Eden is doubly happy and surprised... both by the creative gift that awakened in him, and by the divine image of the young Ruth Morse, so not similar to all the people he knew before... From now on, two goals are relentlessly facing him.
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Sister Kerry. Theodore Dreiser
The publication of Theodore Dreiser's first novel was fraught with such difficulties that it led its creator to severe depression. But the further fate of the novel “Sister Carrie” turned out to be happy: it was translated into many foreign languages and republished in millions of copies. New and new generations of readers enjoy immersing themselves in the vicissitudes of Caroline Mieber's fate.
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American tragedy. Theodore Dreiser
The novel “An American Tragedy” is the pinnacle of the work of the outstanding American writer Theodore Dreiser. He said: “No one creates tragedies - life creates them. Writers only portray them.” Dreiser managed to portray the tragedy of Clive Griffiths so talentedly that his story does not leave the modern reader indifferent.
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Les Misérables. Victor Hugo
Jean Valjean, Cosette, Gavroche - the names of the heroes of the novel have long become household names, the number of its readers in the century and a half since the publication of the book has not become smaller, the novel has not lost popularity. A kaleidoscope of faces from all layers of French society in the first half of the 19th century, bright, memorable characters, sentimentality and realism, a tense, exciting plot.
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The adventures of the good soldier Schweik. Jaroslav Hasek
A great, original and outrageous novel. A book that can be perceived both as a “soldier’s tale” and as a classic work directly related to the traditions of the Renaissance. This is a sparkling text that makes you laugh until you cry, and a powerful call to “put down your arms,” and one of the most objective historical evidence in satirical literature.
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Iliad. Homer
The attractiveness of Homer’s poems lies not only in the fact that their author introduces us to a world separated from modernity by tens of centuries and yet unusually real thanks to the genius of the poet, who preserved in his poems the beat of contemporary life. Homer's immortality lies in the fact that his brilliant creations contain inexhaustible reserves of universal human values - reason, goodness and beauty.
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St. John's wort. James Cooper
Cooper managed to find and describe in his books the originality and unexpected brightness of the newly discovered continent, which managed to captivate the whole of modern Europe. Each new novel by the writer was eagerly awaited. The exciting adventures of the fearless and noble hunter and tracker Natty Bumppo captivated both young and adult readers..
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Doctor Zhivago. Boris Pasternak
The novel “Doctor Zhivago” is one of the outstanding works of Russian literature, which for many years remained closed to a wide range of readers in our country, who knew about it only through scandalous and unscrupulous party criticism.
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Don Quixote. Miguel Cervantes
What do the names of Amadis of Gaul, Palmer of England, Don Belianis of Greece, Tyrant of the White tell us today? But it was precisely as a parody of the novels about these knights that “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was created. And this parody has survived the genre being parodied for centuries. “Don Quixote” was recognized as the best novel in the entire history of world literature.
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Ivanhoe. Walter Scott
“Ivanhoe” is a key work in the series of novels by W. Scott, which take us to medieval England. The young knight Ivanhoe, who secretly returned from the Crusade to his homeland and was deprived of his inheritance by the will of his father, will have to defend his honor and the love of the beautiful lady Rowena... King Richard the Lionheart and the legendary robber Robin Hood will come to his aid.
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Headless horseman. Reed Main
The plot of the novel is so skillfully constructed that it keeps you in suspense until the very last page. It is no coincidence that the exciting story of the noble mustanger Maurice Gerald and his lover, the beautiful Louise Poindexter, investigating the sinister mystery of the headless horseman, whose figure terrifies the inhabitants of the savannah upon his appearance, was extremely loved by readers in Europe and Russia.
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Dear friend. Guy de Maupassant
The novel “Dear Friend” became one of the symbols of the era. This is Maupassant's most powerful novel. Through the story of Georges Duroy, who is making his way to the top, the true morals of high French society are revealed; the spirit of corruption that reigns in all its spheres contributes to the fact that an ordinary and immoral person, such as Maupassant’s hero, easily achieves success and wealth.
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Dead Souls. Nikolay Gogol
The publication of the first volume of N. Gogol’s “Dead Souls” in 1842 caused heated controversy among contemporaries, splitting society into fans and opponents of the poem. “...Talking about “Dead Souls”, you can talk a lot about Russia...” - this judgment of P. Vyazemsky explained the main reason for the controversy. The author’s question is still relevant: “Rus, where are you rushing, give me the answer?”
The best books are a relative concept. A good printed publication at the moment is a work that brings a person comfort, advice, knowledge, wisdom, and vivid impressions. Thus, the determining factor is whether the book satisfies the needs of a particular reader.
For some people, only specialized literature is valuable: documentary, scientific, technical, medical, industrial. But this is rather food for thought. However, most readers are still interested in fiction books. They are the ones who contribute to the formation of a spiritual image. They will be discussed in this article.
A fiction book is a unique invention. A galaxy of thinkers from different times and eras trusted paper with their hopes, observations, understanding of truth, life, and humanity. It’s wonderful when the vivid images created by these authors, together with deep and unique quotes (sometimes decades ago, and sometimes centuries ago) illuminate the lives of our contemporaries!
The role of the Russian Book of the Year competition
The current one in Russia is unusually fruitful and has characteristic features inherent in decadence:
Directing the literary process in a constructive direction, avoiding the erosion of the national and stimulating truly talented beginnings in it is an extremely important task of modern Russian culture. An indicator of the success of the books written by our contemporaries are the annual national competitions of the “Book of the Year” type. They are organized with the aim of stimulating both writers and publishing houses.
For example, in the Russian competition in 2014, traditionally held in mid-September, 150 publishing houses participated, submitting more than half a thousand books to the competition. Winners were announced in 8 categories:
- prose works - the novel “The Abode” (Zakhar Prilepin);
- poetic work - translation of Shakespeare's "King Lear" (Gigory Kruzhkov);
- fiction for children - the story “Where is the cock's horse galloping?” (Svetlana Lavava);
- art book - “Kargopol Journey” (prepared by the local architectural and art museum);
- Humanitas nomination - artistic and documentary album “Lermontov” (State Archive of Arts and Literature);
- e-book - media project “Yasnaya Polyana” and “Yaroslavl Temples” (project bureau “Sputnik”);
- nomination “Printed in Russia” - album “Vetka. Book culture";
- the main prize of the “Book of the Year 2014” competition is the three-volume “Russia in World War I” (a team of 190 researchers from universities, museums, and archives).
To summarize: the objectives of the above-mentioned competition are to increase the status of the book in current public life; stimulating the best authors and publishing houses. Over the sixteen years of its existence, this event has proven in practice its motivating role in the development of Russian literature.
At least, they nominated Russian writers who can rightfully be called classics:
- 2004, nomination “Prose” - “Sincerely yours, Shurik” (Lyudmila Ulitskaya); nomination “Bestseller” - “Night Watch” (Sergei Lukyanenko);
- 2005, nomination “Prose” - “Voltairians and Voltairians” (Vasily Aksenov);
- 2011, nomination “Prose” - “My Lieutenant” (Daniil Ganin).
International book ratings
As we have already mentioned, the best, most popular books, thanks to the thoughts crystallized in them, become real friends, advisers, and joy for their readers. And the authors who wrote them are called classics.
The best books created by talent are studied in schools and higher educational institutions; they are widely quoted in everyday life.
At the very least, browsing the Internet reveals dozens of variations of the “Top 100 Books.”
Lists like these have some value. Thanks to them, it becomes much easier for a novice reader to find the truly best books to read among tens and hundreds of thousands of works. If a person feels his gaps in knowledge of world culture (an integral part of which is domestic and foreign literature), then such a rating can become a route map.
What direction should you choose for such a landmark? If you are really interested in world literature, then we would recommend using one of the ratings by version:
- English Broadcasting Company (BBC);
- The Observer;
- Union of Writers of Russia;
- French newspaper Le Monde;
- American publishing house Modern Library;
- Norwegian book club.
Of course, the news agency of each country, listing the best books, tries to give leading places in the compiled lists to fellow countrymen authors. And this is justified. After all, the talents of the recognized classics, who created their masterpieces from the times of the ancient world to the present day, are in fact incomparable. Each of them finds a path to the hearts of readers in their own way.
A phenomenon that has come down to us thousands of years later: the literature of the ancient world
The list of books that have come to us through millennia and inherited from other eras is quite limited. However, they also appear in modern ratings. That's why we write about them. Unfortunately, history has not preserved ancient libraries: Gentiles fought with books as well as with enemies. For example, the richest library of Alexandria, containing up to 700,000 papyrus scrolls, was destroyed.
Which books of our classical ancestors should be mentioned first when talking about the ancient world? Of course, Publius Virgil Maro, the author of the Aeneid, deserves fame in Latin, and Homer, the author of the Odyssey and Iliad, deserves fame in ancient Greek. Guided by Virgil's theory, the Russian scientist and poet Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov developed a syllabic-tonic system of versification, which served as a launching pad for the further development of Russian poetry.
However, not only Virgil and Homer are considered ancient classics. Horace, Cicero, and Caesar also wrote in Latin, and Aristotle, Plato, and Aristophanes wrote in ancient Greek. However, it is precisely the two names mentioned earlier that best represent the literature of the ancient world.
Books from Europe during the emergence of capitalism
Foreign literature, of course, is represented by a much richer list of authors than Greece and Ancient Rome. This was facilitated by the rapid development of European states.
France, with its Great Revolution, awakened romantic human aspirations for freedom, equality, and fraternity. In the literature of Germany, which began to create its statehood, in unison with the French, romanticism also prevailed.
In contrast, industrialized, urbanized and politically stable Britain - ruler of the seas - exhibited the most powerful and mature literary process, leaning towards realism.
It is generally accepted that the most famous writers writing in French at that time were Victor Hugo (Les Miserables, Notre Dame de Paris) and George Sand (Consuelo).
However, speaking about the French contribution to world literature, we should mention the names of Alexandre Dumas the Father (“The Iron Mask,” “The Three Musketeers,” “The Count of Monte Cristo”), Voltaire (the poem “Agathocles”), Charles Baudelaire (collections of poems “ Parisian Spleen”, “Flowers of Evil”), Moliere (“Tartuffe”, “The Tradesman in the Nobility”, “The Miser”), Stendhal (“The Perm Monastery”, “Red and Black”), Balzac (“Gobsek”, “Eugene Gande” ", "Godis-sar"), Prosper Merimee ("Chronicles of the times of Charles IX", "Tamango").
Let us continue the list of romantic books characteristic of early bourgeois Europe by mentioning the works of the Spaniards and Germans. A brilliant representative of Spanish classical literature is Cervantes (“The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha”). Among the German classics, the most famous were Johann Wolfgang Goethe (“Faust”, “Wild Rose”), Heinrich Heine (“Journey to the Harz”), Friedrich Schiller (“The Fiesco Conspiracy in Genoa”, “The Robbers”), Franz Kafka (“The Missing Man”) ", "Process").
Romantic adventure books discarded the entourage of real life; their plot was based on the actions of exceptional heroes in unusual conditions.
The Rise of British Literature
In the 19th century, British writers were rightfully considered the trendsetters of “book fashion” on the European continent. French authors, initiated by the Great Revolution, were less favored after the collapse of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The British had their own literary tradition. Back in the 14th century, the whole world recognized the genius of William Shakespeare and the innovative social ideas of Thomas More. Developing their literature in the conditions of a stable industrial society, British authors already in the 18th century began an evolutionary transition from the classic chivalric romance (romanticism) to social and psychological works.
More pragmatically than the French, they tried to answer the philosophical question: “What is Man and what is Society?” Such new thinkers were Daniel Defoe (“Robinson Crusoe”) and Jonathan Swift (“Gulliver”). However, at the same time, Britain marked a new direction of romanticism, as demonstrated by George Gordon Byron, author of Don Juan and Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.
The literary tradition of realism in the first half of the 19th century was powerfully developed by the following famous writers:
Brilliantly talented (whom F. M. Dostoevsky later called his teacher);
Intellectual to the point of uniqueness, stoically enduring hunger and poverty, Charlotte Bronte, known for the novel “Jane Eyre”;
The creator of the world famous Sherlock Holmes is Arthur Conan Doyle;
Kneeling and persecuted by the corrupt press (“Tess of the Dabervilles”).
Russian golden literature of the 19th century. The biggest names
The classics of Russian literature are associated in the world primarily with the names of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. Although in general in the 19th century (which is generally recognized), Russian literature turned into the most striking cultural phenomenon on a global level.
Let us illustrate the above. Tolstoy's style of writing novels has become an undisputed classic. Thus, the American writer Margaret Mitchell wrote her famous epic “Gone with the Wind”, imitating the style of Lev Nikolaevich.
The piercing psychologism of the highest standard inherent in Dostoevsky’s work was also generally recognized throughout the world. In particular, the famous scientist Freud argued that no one in the world could tell him anything new about the inner world of man, no one except Fyodor Mikhailovich.
And Chekhov’s innovation inspired authors to begin writing works based on the world of human feelings. In particular, the venerable British playwright Bernard Shaw recognized himself as his student. Thus, foreign literature in the 19th century received both powerful ideological support and a new vector of development from Russian literature.
A note about literary ratings
The fact remains: among hundreds of the best works, a significant part is occupied by books written in the 19th century. It is these writers that are usually studied in schools, for which inertial and unreasonably stable educational programs have been developed.
Is this fair? Not at all. It is more expedient to change the curriculum, taking into account the tastes of the real advanced reading audience. In our opinion, works of writers of the 20th and 21st centuries should occupy no less a share than the works of the 19th century in the curriculum.
The classics of Russian literature today are not only the works of Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, but also the books of Mikhail Bulgakov, Victor Pelevin. We deliberately express our thoughts figuratively, mentioning only individual names of famous poets and writers.
Raising the topic: “Which books are the best?”, it is reasonable to talk in more detail about the works of the classics of the present and past centuries.
Best book according to the BBC. Critical view
According to the BBC, the first place is occupied by John Ronald Tolkien's novel-trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”. Let us pay special attention in this article to this fantasy work. Books with such depth of plot development, based on ancient legends, are very rare.
What motivated the rating experts to give such a high rating? Indeed, the Oxford University professor has done Britain a great service with his fascinating work. Having deeply and comprehensively studied the folklore of Foggy Albion (hitherto scattered and fragmented), figuratively speaking, he unraveled it by thread and wove it into a single concept of the struggle between Good and Evil. It’s not enough to say that he did it with talent. An interesting fact testifies to the uniqueness of the trilogy. One day, an angry scientist colleague came to the author of “The Lord of the Rings” after his lecture and accused the writer of plagiarism.
Modern fiction, perhaps, has never had such associations before. The writer’s opponent turned out to be demonstrative; he brought to the confused author of “The Ring” copies of drawings from ancient British chronicles, unknown to the latter, which seemed to illustrate Tolkien’s work.
It happens! One person managed the impossible - to unite, systematize and, most importantly, presentably present the ancient folklore of his homeland. It is not for nothing that Queen Elizabeth II awarded the writer the honorary title of Knight of Britain.
Some other BBC rated books
- Children's fantasy trilogy "His Dark Materials" (Philip Pullman).
- To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee).
- "1984" (George Orwell).
- "Rebecca" (Daphne Du Maurier).
- "The Catcher in the Rye" (Jerome Salinger).
- "The Great Gatsby" (Francis Fitzgerald).
Opinion of Russian readers
What assessment is given to the fairness of the British rating on Russian book lovers forums? The short answer is: ambiguous.
The work of the writer George Orwell is given a fairly high rating. For many readers, their favorite book has become an exciting novel with an unpredictable plot - “Rebecca”. For children to read, we can recommend the story of the journey of the girl Lyra Belacqua from Oxford through fantastic worlds from Philip Pullman.
However, there are also quite motivated comments. For example, for the domestic sophisticated reader who loves such books-novels as Bulgakov’s realistic-mystical novel “The Master and Margarita”, the work “Doctor Zhivago” from Boris Pasternak, as well as “Picnic by the Road” and “The Doomed City” from the Strugatsky brothers, To put it mildly, the BBC's rating priority criterion is not entirely clear.
Please understand correctly: we are by no means trying to lower the artistic value of a number of talented novels like “Catch 22”, “The Great Gatsby”, “The Catcher in the Rye” when we state a fact: their genre is an ideological novel. Can they, objectively speaking, compete with the voluminous and multi-problem work “The Master and Margarita”?
Such novel books, which consistently reveal only one idea of the author, should be rated lower! After all, their depth of meaning is initially limited by design, devoid of volume, multidimensionality. Therefore, in the opinion of our readers, the dubious positioning of novels-ideas in the list of books in positions higher in rating than “War and Peace” or “The Master and Margarita” is completely absurd.
Modern postmodern books
Postmodernist books today are perhaps at the peak of their popularity, since they represent an ideological antithesis to the stagnating society of mass consumption. Contemporary postmodern writers dissect the consumer lifestyle around them, filled with soulless advertising and primitive glossy glamor.
There are such ideological authors even in well-fed America. Italian-born writer Don DeLillo (novels Underworld, White Noise) is recognized in his homeland as a true expert on the problems of consumer society. Another Italian scientist, professor of semiotics at the University of Bologna Umberto Eco, immerses the reader in such an intellectually rich outline of his work (“Foucault’s Pendulum”, “The Name of the Rose”) that his creations are in demand by an intellectual audience.
Another author demonstrates a softer postmodern. One of the representatives of Russian modern literature of this movement is Boris Akunin. The books of this modern classic (“The Adventures of Erast Fandorin”, “Azazel”, “The Adventures of Sister Pelageya”) are in demand among mass readers and have even been filmed. Many note the strength of the author’s talent, his masterful style, and ability to create fascinating stories. In his reasoning, he demonstrates a special personal philosophy of an eastern character.
The latter is especially noticeable in his “Jade Rosary” and “Diamond Chariot”.
It is noteworthy that, while captivating the reader with detective stories taking place in the general outline of historical events in Russia, the modern classic Akunin does not shy away from the problems of poverty, corruption and theft. His books, however, are not kept within the strict framework of a historical plot. In the West, this genre of prose is called folk-history.
The chronological point that determines the start of the concept of “modern Russian literature” is 1991. Since that time, hitherto closed works by sixties authors have become available to the general public:
- “Sandro from Chegem” by Fazil Iskander.
- “Island of Crimea” by Vasily Aksenov.
- “Live and Remember” by Valentin Rasputin.
Following them, modern writers came into literature, whose worldview was initiated by perestroika. In addition to the above-mentioned Boris Akunin, other Russian literary stars of the first magnitude shone brightly: Viktor Pelevin (“Numbers”, “The Life of Insects”, “Chapaev and Emptiness”, “T”, “Empire V”) and Lyudmila Ulitskaya (“The Case of Kukotsky ", "Sincerely yours, Shurik", "Medea and her children").
Modern fantasy books
Perhaps a sign of the era of decadence was the remake of the romantic genre, revived in the form of fantasy. Just look at the phenomenon of popularity of the series of novels about Harry Potter by JK Rowling! This is really so: everything is returning to normal, romanticism is regaining lost ground from realism!
No matter how much they say that realism once (in the 30s of the 20th century) crushed romanticism to death, no matter how much its crisis is hidden, but it is again on horseback! It's hard not to notice. Let us recall just one of the classic definitions of this literary style: “Exceptional heroes act in unusual situations.” Isn't that last statement in keeping with the spirit of fantasy?! What else can I add...
- “Night Watch”, “Day Watch” (Sergei Lukyanenko).
- “Forbidden Reality”, “Gospel of the Beast”, “Catharsis” (Vasily Golovachev).
- The cycle of novels “The Secret City”, the cycle “Enclaves” (Vadim Panov).
Let us also recall the popularity in Russia of the fantasy series “The Witcher” by the Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. In a word, adventure books are now again in favor with readers.
Looking through the forums of domestic readers, we discovered that among the outstanding writers of the 20th century, non-European and non-American books are much less often mentioned. However, among them there are some very bright and talented works:
- “One Hundred Years of Solitude” (Colombian Marquez).
- “Woman in the Sands” (Japanese Abe Kobo).
- “Waiting for the Barbarians” (South African John Coetzee).
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the average person a priori will not be able to read the bottomless literature of its authors (meaning the best) throughout his life. Therefore, navigation in the boundless book “sea” is extremely important. “Why do you need to read this purposefully?” - an uninitiated person will ask...
We will answer: “Yes, to decorate your life, to make real friends! After all, books are advisers, inspirers, and comforters.
In conclusion, we note that if in the future you are lucky enough to find at least a dozen books, each of which, like a tuning fork, is ideal for you, your soul in a certain life situation, then we will consider that it was not in vain that we worked on this article. Happy reading!
Books are one of the greatest legacies of humanity. And if before the invention of printing, books were available only to a select caste of people, then books began to spread everywhere. Each new generation gave birth to talented writers who created world masterpieces of literature.
Great works have reached us, but we are reading the classics less and less. The literary portal Buklya presents to your attention the 100 best books of all times and peoples that you must read. On this list you will find not only classic works, but also modern books that have left their mark on history quite recently.
1 Mikhail Bulgakov
A novel that does not fit into the usual literary framework. This story mixes philosophy and everyday life, theology and fantasy, mysticism and realism, mysticism and lyricism. And all these components are intertwined with skillful hands into a solid and vibrant story that can turn your world upside down. And yes, this is Bookly’s favorite book!
2
Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky
A book from the school curriculum that is difficult to understand in the tender teenage years. The writer showed the duality of the human soul, when black is intertwined with white. The story is about Raskolnikov, who is going through an internal struggle.
3
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A small story with a huge life meaning. A story that makes you look at familiar things differently.
4
Michael Bulgakov
A surprisingly subtle and sarcastic story about people and their vices. The story is about an experiment that proved that you can make a human out of an animal, but you cannot take an “animal” out of a human.
5
Erich Maria Remarque
It is impossible to tell what this novel is about. You need to read the novel, and then you will understand that this is not just a story, but a confession. Confession about love, friendship, pain. A story of despair and struggle.
6
Jerome Salinger
The story of a teenager who shows with his own eyes his perception of the world, his point of view, his renunciation of the usual principles and principles of morality of society that do not fit into his individual framework.
7
Mikhail Lermontov
A lyrical and psychological novel that tells the story of a man with a complex character. The author shows it from different sides. And the disrupted chronology of events makes you completely immerse yourself in the narrative.
8
Arthur Conan Doyle
The legendary investigations of the great detective Sherlock, which reveal the meanness of the human soul. Stories told by friend and assistant detective Dr. Watson.
9
Oscar Wilde
A story about pride, selfishness and a strong soul. A story that clearly shows what can happen to a person’s soul tormented by vices.
10
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
A fantastic trilogy about people and non-humans who fell under the power of the One Ring and its lord Sauron. The story is about those who are ready to sacrifice the most precious things and even their lives for the sake of friendship and saving the world.
11
Mario Puzo
A novel about one of the most powerful mafia families in America of the last century - the Corleone family. Many people know the film, so it’s time to start reading.
12
Erich Maria Remarque
After the First World War, many emigrants ended up in France. Among them is the talented German surgeon Ravik. This is the story of his life and love against the backdrop of the war he experienced.
13
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol
The story of the Russian soul and stupidity. And the author’s amazing style and language makes the sentences sparkle with colors and shades that fully reveal the history of our people.
14
Colin McCullough
A stunning novel that tells not only about the love of a man and a woman and complex relationships, but also about feelings for family, native places and nature.
15
Emily Brontë
A family lives on a secluded estate and there is a tense atmosphere in their home. Difficult relationships have deep roots that are hidden in the past. The story of Heathcliff and Catherine will not leave any reader indifferent.
16
Erich Maria Remarque
A book about the war from the perspective of a simple soldier. The book is about how war breaks and cripples the souls of innocent people.
17
Hermann Hesse
The book simply turns all ideas about life upside down. After reading it, it is no longer possible to get rid of the feeling that you are one step closer to something incredible. This book has answers to many questions.
18
Stephen King
Paul Edgecombe is a former prison officer who served in the death row unit. It tells the life story of suicide bombers who were destined to walk the Green Mile.
20
Victor Hugo
Paris 15th century. On one side it is full of grandeur, and on the other it looks like a sewer. Against the backdrop of historical events, a love story unfolds - Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Claude Frollo.
21
Daniel Defoe
The diary of a sailor who was shipwrecked and lived alone on an island for 28 years. He had to go through too many trials.
22
Lewis Carroll
A strange and mysterious story about a girl who, in pursuit of a white rabbit, finds herself in another and wonderful world.
23
Ernest Hemingway
There is war on the pages of the book, but even in a world full of pain and fear, there is a place for beauty. To a wonderful feeling called love, which makes us stronger.
24
Jack London
What can love do? Martin's love for the beautiful Ruth made him struggle. He overcame many obstacles to become something great. A story about spiritual development and personality formation.
25
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
A fantastic and fascinating fairy tale in which magic intertwines with reality.
26
We are Evgeny Zamyatin
The novel is a dystopia, which describes an ideal society where there is no personal opinion, and everything happens according to schedule. But even in such a society there is a place for freethinkers.
27
Ernest Hemingway
Frederick volunteered to go to war, where he became a doctor. In the sanitary unit, where even the air is saturated with death, love is born.
28
Boris Pasternak
Beginning of the twentieth century. The Russian Empire has already embarked on the path of revolution. The story is about the life of the intelligentsia of that time, as well as the book raises questions of religion and touches on the mystery of life and death.
29
Vladimir Nabokov
A cautionary tale about people who betrayed their ideals. The book is about how bright and beautiful feelings evolve into something dark and disgusting.
30
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
The greatest work that draws you into the story of Faust, who sold his soul to the Devil. By reading this book you can walk the path of learning about life.
31
Dante Alighieri
The work consists of three parts. First we go to Hell to complete all 9 circles. Then Purgatory awaits us, through which we can atone for our sins. And only by reaching the top can you enter Paradise.
32
Anthony Burgess
Not the most pleasant story, but it shows human nature. A story about how you can make an obedient and silent doll out of any person.
33
Victor Pelevin
A complex story that is difficult to understand the first time. A story about the life of a decadent poet who is looking for his own path, and Chapaev leads Peter to enlightenment.
34
William Golding
What will happen to the children if they find themselves completely alone? Children have a delicate nature, which is quite susceptible to vices. And sweet, kind children turn into real monsters.
35
Albert Camus
36
James Clavell
The story of an English sailor who, by the will of fate, ended up in Japan. An epic novel with historical realities, intrigue, adventures and secrets.
37
Ray Bradbury
A collection of science fiction stories telling about the life of people on Mars. They almost destroyed the Earth, but what awaits the other planet?
38
Stanislav Lem
There is an Ocean on this planet. He is alive and he has a mind. Researchers face the difficult task of transferring knowledge to the ocean. And he will help make their dreams come true...
39
Hermann Hesse
The book is about an internal crisis that can happen to anyone. Inner devastation can destroy a person if one day you don’t meet a person on the way who will give you just one book...
40
Milan Kundera
Plunge into the world of sensations and feelings of the libertine Tomas, who is used to changing women, so that no one dares to take away his freedom.
41
Boris Vian
Each of the group of friends has their own destiny. Everything goes easy and simple. Friendship. Love. Conversations. But one event can change everything and destroy your usual life.
42
Iain Banks
Frank tells the story of his childhood and describes the present. He has his own world, which can collapse at any moment. Unexpected turning points in the plot add a special flavor to the whole story.
43
John Irving
This book raises themes of family, childhood, friendship, love, betrayal and betrayal. This is the world we live in with all the problems and shortcomings.
44
Michael Ondaatje
This book contains many themes - war, death, love, betrayal. But the main leitmotif is loneliness, which can take on a variety of forms.
46
Ray Bradbury
Books are our future, but what will happen if they are replaced by TV and one opinion? The answer to this question is given by a writer who was ahead of his time.
47
Patrick Suskind
The story of a mad genius. His whole life is wrapped in smells. He will go to any lengths to create the perfect scent.
48
1984 George Orwell
Three totalitarian states where even thoughts are controlled. The world is hateful, but there are people who can still resist the system.
49
Jack London
Alaska at the end of the 19th century. The era of the gold rush. And among human greed lives a wolf named White Fang.
50
Jane Austen
The Bennett family has only daughters, and the heir is a distant relative. And once the head of the family dies, the young girls will be left with nothing.
51
Evgeny Petrov and Ilya Ilf
Who doesn’t know Ostap Bender and Kisa Vorobyaninov and their eternal failures, which are associated with the search for ill-fated diamonds.
52
Fedor Dostoevsky
53
Charlotte Bronte
Jane became an orphan early, and life in her aunt's house was far from happy. And love for a strict and gloomy man is far from a romantic story.
54
Ernest Hemingway
A short story from the life of an ordinary person. But reading this work, you penetrate into an amazing world that is full of emotions.
55
Francis Scott Fitzgerald
A great novel that is filled with feelings. On the pages of the book awaits the beginning of the 20th century, when people were full of illusions and hopes. This story is about life values and true love.
56
Alexandr Duma
We are all familiar with the adventures of d'Artagnan and his closest friends. A book about friendship, honor, devotion, fidelity and love. And of course, like other works of the author, it was not without intrigue.
57
Ken Kesey
This story is told to the reader by a patient in a psychiatric hospital. Patrick McMurphy ends up in prison, in a psychiatric ward. But some people think that he is simply faking his illness.
59
Victor Hugo
The novel describes the life of an escaped convict who is hiding from the authorities. After escaping, he had to endure a lot of hardships, but he was able to change his life. But police inspector Javert is ready to do anything to catch the criminal.
60
Victor Hugo
The actor-philosopher met on his way a disfigured boy and a blind girl. He takes them under his wing. Against the background of physical defects, the perfection and purity of souls is clearly visible. It’s also a great contrast to the life of the aristocracy.
61
Vladimir Nabokov
The novel tightens its unhealthy web of passions and unhealthy love. The main characters gradually go crazy, dominated by their base desires, like the entire world around them. This book definitely won't have a happy ending.
62
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
A fantastic story that describes the life of stalker Redrick Shewhart, who extracts extraterrestrial artifacts from anomalous Zones on Earth.
63
Richard Bach
Even a simple seagull can get tired of the drab life, and become bored with everyday life. And then Chaika devotes her life to her dream. The seagull gives his whole soul on the way to his cherished goal.
64
Bernard Werber
Michel ended up at the court of the archangels, where he will have to undergo the weighing of his soul. After the trial, he faces a choice - to go to earth in a new incarnation or become an angel. The path of an angel is not simple, just like the life of mere mortals.
65
Ethel Lilian Voynich
A story about freedom, duty and honor. And also about different types of love. In the first case, it is the love of a father for his son, which has survived many trials and will pass through generations. In the second case, it is love between a man and a woman, which is like a fire, then goes out, then flares up again.
66
John Fowles
He is a simple town hall servant, lonely and lost. He has a passion - collecting butterflies. But one day he wanted to add to his collection a girl who captivated his soul.
67
Walter Scott
The narrative of the novel will take readers into the distant past. During the time of Richard the Lionheart and the first crusades. This is one of the first historical novels that everyone must read.
68
Bernhard Schlink
There are a lot of questions in the book that remain unanswered. The book makes you think and analyze not only what is happening on the pages, but also your life. This is a story about love and betrayal that will not leave anyone indifferent.
69
Ayn Rand
Socialists come to power and set a course for equal opportunities. The authorities believe that the talented and rich should improve the well-being of others. But instead of a happy future, the familiar world is plunging into chaos.
71
Somerset Maugham
The story of an actress who has worked in the theater all her life. And what is reality for her: acting on stage or acting in life? How many roles do you have to play every day?
72
Aldous Huxley
Dystopian novel. Satire novel. A world where Henry Ford became a god, and the creation of the first Ford T car is considered the beginning of time. People are simply raised, but they don’t know anything about feelings.
75
Albert Camus
Meursault lives a detached life. It seems that his life does not belong to him at all. He is indifferent to everything and even his actions are saturated with loneliness and renunciation of life.
76
Somerset Maugham
Philip's life story. He is an orphan and throughout his life he not only searches for the meaning of life, but also for himself. And the main thing is to understand the world and people around us.
77
Irvine Welsh
The story of friends who one day discovered drugs and euphoria. Each character is unusual and quite smart. They valued life and friendship, but only until the moment when heroin came first.
78
Herman Melville
Ahab, the captain of a whaling ship, set the goal of his life to take revenge on a whale named Moby Dick. Wit ruin too many lives to let him live. But as soon as the captain starts hunting, mysterious and sometimes terrible events begin to happen on his ship.
79
Joseph Heller
One of the best books about World War II. In it, the author was able to show the senselessness of war and the monstrous absurdity of the state machine.
80
William Faulkner
Four characters, each telling their own version of events. And to understand what we are talking about, you need to read to the end, where the puzzles will fit into a single picture of life and secret desires.
82
Joanne Rowling
83
Roger Zelazny
A classic of the fantasy genre. The chronicles are divided into two volumes of 5 books. In this cycle you can find travel in space and time, wars, intrigue, betrayal, as well as loyalty and courage.
84
Andrzej Sapkowski
One of the best fantasy series. The series includes 8 books, with the last one being “Season of Thunderstorms”, which is best read after the first or second book. This is a story about the Witcher and his adventures, his life and love, and also about the girl Ciri, who can change the world.
85
Honore de Balzac
An amazing story about the boundless and sacrificial love of a father for his children. About love that was never mutual. About the love that destroyed Father Goriot.
86
Gunther Grass
The story is about a boy named Oskar Matzerath, who, when the National Socialists came to power in Germany, refuses to grow up in protest. Thus, he expresses his protest to the changes in German society.
87
Boris Vasiliev
A poignant story of war. About true love for parents, friends, and the Motherland. This story must be read to feel the entire emotional component of this story.
88
Stendhal
The story is about Julien Sorel and the soul, in which there is a confrontation between two feelings: passion and ambition. These two feelings are so intertwined that it is often impossible to distinguish between them.
89
Lev Tolstoy
An epic novel that describes an entire era, delving into the historical realities and artistic world of that time. War will be replaced by peace, and the peaceful life of the characters depends on the war. Many heroes with unique personalities.
90
Gustave Flaubert
This story is recognized as the greatest work of world literature. Emma Bovary dreams of a beautiful social life, but her husband, a provincial doctor, cannot satisfy her requests. She finds lovers, but will they be able to fulfill Madame Bovary's dream?
91
Chuck Palahniuk
No matter how much the work of this author is criticized, it cannot be denied that his book “Fight Club” is one of the symbols of our generation. This is a story about people who decided to change this dirty world. The story is about a man who was able to resist the system.
92
Markus Zusak
Winter Germany in 1939, when Death has too much work, and after six months the work will increase significantly. A story about Liesel, about fanatical Germans, about a Jewish fighter, about thefts and about the power of words.
93
Alexander Pushkin
The novel in verse tells the story of the fate of the noble intelligentsia with their vices and selfishness. And at the center of the story is a love story without a happy ending.
94
George Martin
A fantastic story about another world ruled by kings and dragons. Love, betrayal, intrigue, war and death, all for the sake of power.
95
David Mitchell
History of past, present and future. Stories of people from different times. But these stories make up a single picture of our entire world.
96
Stephen King
A fantastic series of novels by the master of horrors. This series interweaves genres. The books closely coexist with horror, western, science fiction and other genres. This is the story of the gunslinger Roland, who is searching for the Dark Tower.
97
Haruki Murakami
The story of human destinies in Japan in the 60s of the twentieth century. A story about human loss. Memoirs of Tooru, which will introduce the reader to different people and their stories.
98
Andy Weir
By chance, an astronaut is left alone at a space base on Mars. He has a limited amount of resources, but no connection with people. But he doesn’t give up, he believes that they will come back for him.
100
Samuel Beckett
An amazing play where everyone determines for themselves the mysterious personality of Godot. The author gives you the opportunity to find the answer to the question “who is he?” A specific person? Strong personality? Collective image? Or God?
I would like to include many more books in this top. Therefore, dear readers, write in the comments about those books that you consider the best. We will add books to the top and, with your help, expand it to the 1000 best books of all times.
(estimates: 28
, average: 4,29
out of 5)
In Russia, literature has its own direction, different from any other. The Russian soul is mysterious and incomprehensible. The genre reflects both Europe and Asia, which is why the best classical Russian works are extraordinary, striking in their soulfulness and vitality.
The main character is the soul. For a person, his position in society, the amount of money is not important, it is important for him to find himself and his place in this life, to find the truth and peace of mind.
The books of Russian literature are united by the features of a writer who has the gift of the great Word, who has completely devoted himself to this art of literature. The best classics saw life not flatly, but multifacetedly. They wrote about life not of random destinies, but of those expressing existence in its most unique manifestations.
Russian classics are so different, with different destinies, but what unites them is that literature is recognized as a school of life, a way of studying and developing Russia.
Russian classical literature was created by the best writers from different parts of Russia. It is very important where the author was born, because this determines his formation as a person, his development, and it also affects his writing skills. Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoevsky were born in Moscow, Chernyshevsky in Saratov, Shchedrin in Tver. Poltava region in Ukraine is the birthplace of Gogol, Podolsk province - Nekrasov, Taganrog - Chekhov.
The three great classics, Tolstoy, Turgenev and Dostoevsky, were completely different people from each other, had different destinies, complex characters and great talents. They made a huge contribution to the development of literature, writing their best works, which still excite the hearts and souls of readers. Everyone should read these books.
Another important difference between the books of Russian classics is that they ridicule the shortcomings of a person and his way of life. Satire and humor are the main features of the works. However, many critics said that this was all slander. And only true connoisseurs saw how the characters are both comical and tragic at the same time. Such books always touch the soul.
Here you can find the best works of classical literature. You can download books of Russian classics for free or read them online, which is very convenient. 
We present to your attention the 100 best books of Russian classics. The full list of books includes the best and most memorable works of Russian writers. This literature is known to everyone and is recognized by critics from all over the world.
Of course, our list of top 100 books is just a small part that brings together the best works of the great classics. It can be continued for a very long time.
A hundred books that everyone should read in order to understand not only how they used to live, what were the values, traditions, priorities in life, what they were striving for, but to find out in general how our world works, how bright and pure the soul can be and how valuable it is for a person, for the development of his personality.
The top 100 list includes the best and most famous works of Russian classics. The plot of many of them is known from school. However, some books are difficult to understand at a young age and require wisdom that is acquired over the years.
Of course, the list is far from complete; it can be continued endlessly. Reading such literature is a pleasure. She doesn’t just teach something, she radically changes lives, helps us understand simple things that we sometimes don’t even notice.
We hope you liked our list of classic books of Russian literature. You may have already read some of it, and some not. A great reason to make your own personal list of books, your top ones that you would like to read.
Culture
This list contains the names of the greatest writers of all time from different nations, writing in different languages. Those who are at least somewhat interested in literature are undoubtedly familiar with them through their wonderful creations.
Today I would like to remember those who remained on the pages of history as outstanding authors of great works that have been in demand for many years, decades, centuries and even millennia.
1) Latin: Publius Virgil Maro
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Marcus Tullius Cicero, Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Ovid Naso, Quintus Horace Flaccus
You should know Virgil from his famous epic work "Aeneid", which is dedicated to the fall of Troy. Virgil is probably the most severe perfectionist in the history of literature. He wrote his poem at an amazingly slow speed - only 3 lines a day. He did not want to do it any faster, so as to be sure that it was impossible to write these three lines better.
In Latin, a subordinate clause, dependent or independent, can be written in any order with a few exceptions. Thus, the poet has great freedom to define what his poetry sounds like without changing the meaning in any way. Virgil considered every option at every stage.
Virgil also wrote two more works in Latin - "Bucolics"(38 BC) and "Georgics"(29 BC). "Georgics"- 4 partly didactic poems about agriculture, including various kinds of advice, for example, that you should not plant grapes next to olive trees: olive leaves are very flammable, and at the end of a dry summer they can catch fire, like everything around them, due to a lightning strike.
He also praised Aristaeus, the god of beekeeping, because honey was the only source of sugar for the European world until sugar cane was brought to Europe from the Caribbean. Bees were deified, and Virgil explained how to get a beehive if the farmer does not have one: kill a deer, wild boar or bear, rip open their belly and leave it in the forest, praying to the god Aristaeus. After a week, he will send a beehive to the animal's carcass.
Virgil wrote that he wanted his poem "Aeneid" burned after his death as it remained unfinished. However, the Emperor of Rome Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus refused to do this, thanks to which the poem has survived to this day.
2) Ancient Greek: Homer
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Plato, Aristotle, Thucydides, Apostle Paul, Euripides, Aristophanes
Homer can perhaps be called the greatest writer of all time, but not much is known about him. He was probably a blind man who told stories that were recorded 400 years later. Or, in fact, a whole group of writers worked on the poems, who added something about the Trojan War and the Odyssey.
Anyway, "Iliad" And "Odyssey" were written in ancient Greek, a dialect that came to be called Homeric in contrast to the Attic that followed later and which replaced it. "Iliad" describes the last 10 years of the Greeks' struggle with the Trojans outside the walls of Troy. The main character is Achilles. He is furious that King Agamemnon treats him and his spoils as his property. Achilles refused to participate in the war, which had lasted for 10 years and in which the Greeks lost thousands of their soldiers in the fight for Troy.
But after some persuasion, Achilles allowed his friend (and possibly lover) Patroclus, who did not want to wait any longer, to join the war. However, Patroclus was defeated and killed by Hector, the leader of the Trojan army. Achilles rushed into battle and forced the Trojan battalions to flee. Without outside help, he killed many enemies and fought with the river god Scamander. Achilles ultimately kills Hector, and the poem ends with funeral ceremonies.
"Odyssey"- an unsurpassed adventure masterpiece about the 10-year wanderings of Odysseus, who tried to return home after the end of the Trojan War along with his people. Details of the fall of Troy are mentioned very briefly. When Odysseus ventures to the Land of the Dead, where he finds Achilles among others.
These are just two of Homer’s works that have survived and come down to us, however, whether there were others is not known for sure. However, these works form the basis of all European literature. The poems are written in dactylic hexameter. According to Western tradition, many poems were written in memory of Homer.
3) French: Victor Hugo
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Rene Descartes, Voltaire, Alexandre Dumas, Moliere, Francois Rabelais, Marcel Proust, Charles Baudelaire
The French have always been fans of long novels, the longest of which is the cycle "In Search of Lost Time" Marcel Proust. However, Victor Hugo is perhaps the most famous writer of French prose and one of the greatest poets of the 19th century.
His most famous works are "Notre Dame Cathedral"(1831) and "Les Miserables"(1862). The first work even formed the basis of a famous cartoon "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" studios Walt Disney Pictures, however, in Hugo’s real novel, everything ended far from being so fabulous.
The hunchback Quasimodo was hopelessly in love with the gypsy Esmeralda, who treated him well. However, Frollo, an evil priest, has his eye on the beauty. Frollo followed her and saw how she almost ended up as the mistress of Captain Phoebus. As revenge, Frollo turned the gypsy over to justice, accusing him of murdering the captain, whom he actually killed himself.
After being tortured, Esmeralda confessed to having allegedly committed a crime and was supposed to be hanged, but at the last moment she was saved by Quasimodo. Ultimately, Esmeralda was executed anyway, Frollo was thrown from the cathedral, and Quasimodo died of starvation while hugging his lover's corpse.
"Les Miserables" also not a particularly cheerful novel, at least one of the main characters - Cosette - survives, despite the fact that she had to suffer almost all her life, like all the heroes of the novel. This is a classic story of fanatical adherence to the law, but almost no one can help those who really need help most.
4) Spanish: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Jorge Luis Borges
Cervantes's main work, of course, is the famous novel "The cunning hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha". He also wrote collections of short stories, a romantic novel "Galatea", novel "Persiles and Sikhismunda" and some other works.
Don Quixote is a rather cheerful character, even today, whose real name is Alonso Quejana. He read so much about warrior knights and their honest ladies that he began to consider himself a knight, traveling through the countryside and getting into all sorts of adventures, causing everyone who met him to remember him for his recklessness. He befriends an ordinary farmer, Sancho Panza, who tries to bring Don Quixote back to reality.
Don Quixote is known to have tried to fight windmills, saved people who didn't usually need his help, and been beaten many times. The second part of the book was published 10 years after the first and is the first work of modern literature. The characters know everything about the story of Don Quixote, which is told in the first part.
Now everyone he meets tries to ridicule him and Panso, testing their faith in the spirit of chivalry. He is eventually brought back to reality when he loses a fight with the Knight of the White Moon, is poisoned home, falls ill and dies, leaving all the money to his niece on the condition that she does not marry a man who reads foolish tales of chivalry.
5) Dutch: Joost van den Vondel
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Peter Hoft, Jacob Kats
Vondel is the most prominent writer of Holland who lived in the 17th century. He was a poet and playwright and a representative of the "Golden Age" of Dutch literature. His most famous play is "Geysbrecht of Amsterdam", a historical drama that was performed on New Year's Day at the Amsterdam City Theater between 1438 and 1968.
The play is about Geisbrecht IV, who, according to the play, invaded Amsterdam in 1303 to restore the family's honor and regain the titled nobility. He founded something like a baronial title in these parts. Vondel's historical sources were incorrect. In fact, the invasion was carried out by Geisbrecht's son, Jan, who turned out to be a real hero, overthrowing the tyranny that reigned in Amsterdam. Today Geisbrecht is a national hero because of this writer's mistake.
Vondel also wrote another masterpiece, an epic poem called "John the Baptist"(1662) about the life of John. This work is the national epic of the Netherlands. Vondel is also the author of the play "Lucifer"(1654), which explores the soul of a biblical character, as well as his character and motives, to answer the question of why he did what he did. This play inspired the Englishman John Milton to write 13 years later "Paradise Lost".
6) Portuguese: Luis de Camões
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: José Maria Esa de Queiroz, Fernando António Nugueira Pessoa
Camões is considered the greatest poet of Portugal. His most famous work is "The Lusiads"(1572). The Lusiads were a people who inhabited the Roman region of Lusitania, where modern Portugal is located. The name comes from the name Luz (Lusus), he was a friend of the god of wine Bacchus, he is considered the progenitor of the Portuguese people. "The Lusiads"- an epic poem consisting of 10 songs.
The poem tells the story of all the famous Portuguese sea voyages to discover, conquer and colonize new countries and cultures. She is somewhat similar to "Odyssey" Homer, Camões praises Homer and Virgil many times. The work begins with a description of the journey of Vasco da Gama.
This is a historical poem that recreates many battles, the Revolution of 1383-85, the discovery of da Gama, trade with the city of Calcutta, India. The Louisiades were always watched by the Greek gods, although da Gama, being a Catholic, prayed to his own God. At the end, the poem mentions Magellan and speaks of the glorious future of Portuguese navigation.
7) German: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Friedrich von Schiller, Arthur Schopenhauer, Heinrich Heine, Franz Kafka
When talking about German music, one cannot fail to mention Bach, in the same way, German literature would not be so complete without Goethe. Many great writers wrote about him or used his ideas in shaping their style. Goethe wrote four novels, a great many poems and documentaries, and scientific essays.
Undoubtedly, his most famous work is the book "The Sorrows of Young Werther"(1774). Goethe founded the German Romanticism movement. Beethoven's 5th Symphony is completely identical in mood to Goethe's "Werther".
Novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther" tells about the unsatisfied romanticism of the main character, which leads to his suicide. The story is told in the form of letters and made the epistolary novel popular for at least the next century and a half.
However, Goethe's masterpiece is still the poem "Faust", which consists of 2 parts. The first part was published in 1808, the second in 1832, the year of the writer’s death. The legend of Faust existed long before Goethe, but Goethe's dramatic story remained the most famous story about this hero.
Faustus is a scientist whose incredible knowledge and wisdom pleased God. God sends Mephistopheles or the Devil to test Faust. The story of the deal with the devil has often been raised in literature, but the most famous is perhaps the story of Goethe's Faust. Faust signs an agreement with the Devil, promising his soul in exchange for the Devil to do whatever Faust wishes on Earth.
He becomes young again and falls in love with the girl Gretchen. Gretchen takes a potion from Faust that is supposed to help her mother with insomnia, but the potion poisons her. This drives Gretchen crazy and she drowns her newborn baby, signing her death warrant. Faust and Mephistopheles break into the prison to rescue her, but Gretchen refuses to go with them. Faust and Mephistopheles go into hiding, and God grants Gretchen forgiveness while she awaits execution.
The second part is incredibly difficult to read, as the reader needs to have a good understanding of Greek mythology. This is a kind of continuation of the story that began in the first part. Faust, with the help of Mephistopheles, becomes incredibly powerful and corrupted until the very end of the story. He remembers the pleasure of being a good person and then dies. Mephistopheles comes for his soul, but the angels take it for themselves, they stand up for the soul of Faust, who is reborn and ascends to Heaven.
8) Russian: Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky
Today, Pushkin is remembered as the father of native Russian literature, in contrast to that Russian literature that had a clear tinge of Western influence. First of all, Pushkin was a poet, but he wrote in all genres. Drama is considered his masterpiece "Boris Godunov"(1831) and poem "Eugene Onegin"(1825-32).
The first work is a play, the second is a novel in poetic form. "Onegin" written exclusively in sonnets, and Pushkin invented a new sonnet form, which distinguishes his work from the sonnets of Petrarch, Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser.
The main character of the poem is Eugene Onegin - the model on which all Russian literary heroes are based. Onegin is treated as a person who does not meet any standards accepted in society. He wanders, gambles, fights duels, and is called a sociopath, although he is not cruel or evil. This person, rather, does not care about the values and rules that are accepted in society.
Many of Pushkin's poems formed the basis for ballets and operas. They are very difficult to translate into any other language, mostly because poetry simply cannot sound the same in another language. This is what distinguishes poetry from prose. Languages often do not match the possibilities of words. It is known that in the Inuit language of the Eskimos there are 45 different words for snow.
Nevertheless, "Onegina" translated into many languages. Vladimir Nabokov translated the poem into English, but instead of one volume, he ended up with 4 volumes. Nabokov kept all the definitions and descriptive details, but completely ignored the music of poetry.
This is all due to the fact that Pushkin had an incredibly unique writing style that allowed him to touch on all aspects of the Russian language, even inventing new syntactic and grammatical forms and words, establishing many rules that almost all Russian writers use even today.
9) Italian: Dante Alighieri
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: none
Name Durante in Latin means "hardy" or "eternal". It was Dante who helped organize the various Italian dialects of his time into the modern Italian language. The dialect of the region of Tuscany, where Dante was born in Florence, is the standard for all Italians thanks to "Divine Comedy"(1321), Dante Alighieri's masterpiece and one of the greatest works of world literature of all time.
At the time this work was written, the Italian regions each had their own dialect, which were quite different from each other. Today, when you want to learn Italian as a foreign language, you will almost always start with the Florentine version of Tuscany because of its significance in literature.
Dante travels to Hell and Purgatory to learn about the punishments that sinners serve. There are different punishments for different crimes. Those who are accused of lust are always driven by the wind, despite their fatigue, because during their lifetime the wind of voluptuousness drove them.
Those whom Dante considers heretics are responsible for splitting the church into several branches, including the prophet Muhammad. They are sentenced to be split from neck to groin, and the punishment is carried out by a devil with a sword. In this ripped up state they walk in circles.
IN "Comedy" there are also descriptions of Paradise, which are also unforgettable. Dante uses Ptolemy's concept of heaven, that Heaven consists of 9 concentric spheres, each of which brings the author and Beatrice, his lover and guide, closer to God at the very top.
After meeting various famous figures from the Bible, Dante finds himself face to face with the Lord God, depicted as three beautiful circles of light merging into one, from which emerges Jesus, the incarnation of God on Earth.
Dante is also the author of other smaller poems and essays. One of the works - "On Popular Eloquence" talks about the importance of Italian as a spoken language. He also wrote a poem "New life" with passages in prose in which noble love is defended. No other writer spoke the language as flawlessly as Dante spoke Italian.
10) English: William Shakespeare
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: John Milton, Samuel Beckett, Geoffrey Chaucer, Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens
Voltaire called Shakespeare "that drunken fool", and his works "this huge pile of dung". Nevertheless, Shakespeare's influence on literature is undeniable, not only in English, but also in the literature of most other languages of the world. Today, Shakespeare is one of the most translated writers, his complete works have been translated into 70 languages, and various plays and poems into more than 200.
About 60 percent of all catchphrases, quotes and idioms in the English language come from King James Bible(English translation of the Bible), 30 percent from Shakespeare.
According to the rules of Shakespeare's time, tragedies at the end required the death of at least one main character, but in an ideal tragedy everyone dies: "Hamlet" (1599-1602), "King Lear" (1660), "Othello" (1603), "Romeo and Juliet" (1597).
In contrast to tragedy, there is a comedy in which someone is sure to get married at the end, and in an ideal comedy all the characters get married: "A dream in a summer night" (1596), "Much ado about nothing" (1599), "Twelfth Night" (1601), "The Merry Wives of Windsor" (1602).
Shakespeare was a master at heightening the tension between characters in perfect harmony with the plot. He knew how, like no one else, to organically describe human nature. Shakespeare's real genius is the skepticism that permeates all of his works, sonnets, plays and poems. He, as expected, praises the highest moral principles of humanity, but these principles are always expressed in the conditions of an ideal world.