Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
Dickens was thought of as the social conscience of the Victorian age, but don’t let that fool you. “Great Expectations,” tells the tale of Pip, an orphan, the lovely Estella, and the frustrated Miss Havisham. The novel depicts the education of Pip; you barely have time to recover from one cliffhanger before the next one arrives!
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Mary was just 18 when she wrote “Frankenstein” as part of a bet against her future husband, Percy Shelley, to create the best horror story. The young scientist’s creation, Frankenstein’s monster, is a complicated creation who longs for companionship and understanding.
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Don’t call it prejudice – but it is universally recognized that every list of great books must include “Pride and Prejudice.” The romantic novels tell the story of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist who learns about the repercussions of judgment and learns the difference between virtue and artificial virtue.
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
The 1925 novel follows a cast of characters in the summer of 1922 and is considered by many to be one of the greatest stories ever written. The book follows the young and mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and his obsession to reunite with his ex-lover Daisy Buchanan. The book follows themes of idealism, resistance to change and has been described as a cautionary tale of the American Dream