As a student, you will find there are many great books that can help with your studies and even assist with the completion of academic essays. With some great American novels and classics, you can find a book that tells some of the greatest stories of all time. If you are faced with the task of writing an English essay and want to find a classic, this list of books will be beneficial.
Not only will you be able to use these books for your studies, but they can also provide great enjoyment. If you need to write an essay on a classic or simply have to do a research paper on the World War, you can use novels as resources and come up with some great essay ideas.
What makes a classic a classic? It must withstand the tests of time and have a value that has inspired others, either as writers or as students. With amazing novels from award-winning authors, there are endless options when it comes to choosing a title, but we highlight the top 8 books that can be useful while being enjoyable to read.
Novels and Classics for Essays
Choosing an English book to help with academic assignments is not always easy. With hundreds of novels, choosing one will take some time. You need to have an idea of what types of essays are being written and narrow down selections by genre. No matter what is required for your studies, you will find these 8 amazing books to be beneficial.
These well-known favorite books have been assigned to students worldwide. You may find you have a writing assignment based on one of these titles. With some Shakespeare titles listed, you can find what is needed to write a compelling Macbeth essay and will find some great essay ideas in The Tragedy of Macbeth. With hundreds of classics spanning many years, novels including all genres, lengths, and topics can be found and enjoyed.
Check out these top titles that will not only be exciting reads but may also be part of your required reading in an English class. Over many years, these novels have been read and reread and continue to hold their spot on our list of the most popular books ever written.
- Pride and Prejudice – This is a perfect book selection for any student that is writing an essay on satire. It is the most known novel by Jane Austen and combines her sense of humor with satire to make this one of the most popular novels ever written.
- The Tragedy of Macbeth – This is a Shakespearean classic that is a must-read. Dark and ominous tones make for page-turning engagement, and there are many scenes that can be perfect for essay writing. You can even compare this to current films, such as House of Cards, where Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are represented by main characters Frank and Clair.
- To Kill a Mockingbird – The popular novel by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, is one of the top English favorite books. It was voted as one of the best novels ever written in the 20th century, offering a gripping tale about prejudice in the South.
- War and Peace – War and Peace is a great historical novel that tells the story of the invasion of Russia by Napoleon in 1812. This book provides a great opportunity to look at Tolstoy’s view of Russian history and for students to discuss the character misconceptions of war.
- The Tempest – As the final play written by Shakespeare, The Tempest is based on a magical island and tells the tale of a shipwreck. Some great essay topics can be pulled from this play, such as the importance of deception, feminism, and the importance of music or language.
- All Quiet on the Western Front – Written by a World War I German veteran, this book describes the physical and mental stress experienced by German soldiers during the war. It makes for a great choice when writing essays on dehumanization, loss of innocence, and betrayal.
- Beowulf – This classic is often an assigned book in English classes, and when writing essays, you can get some inspiration from this book. One great essay option is to cover various supernatural elements in the book. You will find elements of pagan and biblical mythology and will see how the book analyzes the negative attitudes towards pagan mythology.
- Wuthering Heights – This English literature classic offers contemporary views that were quite controversial. The depiction of physical and mental cruelty in this book was stark, and it went against all Victorian ideals of that time.
Books for Enjoyment and Education
The greatest books of all time will provide hours of entertaining reading while also offering some great ideas for academic essays. With these favorite titles, you can find a book that is based on a specific genre and be engrossed in action as you connect with the main characters. From novels with figurative language to books with gritty realism, these books have been considered the best to ever be written.
The best books are those that will stand the test of time, provide thought-provoking conversations and great ideas for academic writing, all while being readable. Even for those not studying English, these classics will provide great enjoyment. While they have been published decades, even centuries ago, they remain some of the most popular books, albeit controversial at times.
