Friday, 8 April 2016

What Are The Best Books To Read?

By Lisa Fox


There is really nothing that compares to picking up a good book from time to time and becoming completely engrossed in a story. Some of the best books to read over the history of literature have topped lists around the world time and again, despite the constant flow of new writing every year. Here is a list of some of the world's greatest stories of all time.

'Don Quixote', written by Miguel De Cervantes, is a book that was published in 1605 and 1615 in two separate volumes. This is one of the most influential pieces of Spanish literature. The story follows the protagonist - Alonso Quixano - as he sets out on a journey to revive chivalry and uphold justice, having lost all common sense and sanity after reading too many romances. His sidekick, Sancho Panza provides witty comic relief throughout.

'A Tale of Two Cities' is set in Paris and London simultaneously before the French Revolution. In this book, Charles Dickens details the plight of peasants who are frustrated with the poor treatment they have been receiving from the aristocracy and the actions that follow. This story was released in monthly installments in the mid-1800s in Dickens' literary periodical called All The Year Round.

J. R. R. Tolkien appears on the list of the greatest works of literature twice. Both novels were turned into Hollywood blockbuster movies. 'The Hobbit', as well as 'Lord of the Rings', fall into the genre of children's fantasy. That being said, much like 'Harry Potter', these kids' books appeal to a wider audience.

'The Hobbit' came out at the end of 1937. It tells the story of a hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who is not really remarkable in any way, until he sets out on an adventure. Bilbo is on the hunt for treasure that is supposed to be closely guarded by none other than a dragon. The book has won the title of best juvenile fiction and was even nominated for none other than the Carnegie Medal.

'The Lord of the Rings' was written following 'The Hobbit', intended originally as a sequel, but over the years it morphed into a much larger body of work by itself. Completed in 1949, it tells the tale of three hobbits and their allies as they travel across Middle Earth on a mission during the War of the Ring. The story is divided into three volumes - 'The Fellowship of the Ring', 'The Two Towers' and 'The Return of the King'.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery's 'The Little Prince' is in fourth place when it comes to the most translated books in the world. It has also been voted as the 20th century's best book in France. The story documents the interaction between a stranded pilot who meets a young boy, a prince who has fallen to Earth from an asteroid. The book contains many themes and lessons.

When it comes to mentioning some of the greatest books of all time, Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist' surely makes the cut. The Brazilian author has many highly acclaimed works under his belt, however, 'The Alchemist' is a story about the ultimate quest for self-knowledge and understanding. The key theme in this book is that of destiny.




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