Fantastic literary books aren’t just a read for a few hours but they contain a deeper message that can make you think for a long time.
These extraordinary works aren’t just entertaining but they also address key themes or essential topics of their time.
While many classic novels are literary masterpieces, there are plenty more recent fiction works that blend story, plot and character development in a way that you won’t be able to put these books down.
From Zusaks’ historical story of “The Book Thief” to Margret Atwood’s masterpiece “The Handmaid’s Tale”, if you love a meaningful story that goes deeper, then explore these 48 amazing literary fiction novels.
Published in 1952, John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” has become a religious and philosophical masterpiece that is respected all around the world.
The story follows wealthy Adam Trask who is struggling with his brother and his twin sons. The novel is a modern reflection of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel.
“East of Eden” is part of classic literature that should be on everyone’s bookshelf.
Pros
This is a thought-provoking and compelling classical masterpiece that reflects on a truly mythical story.
Cons
In the fashion of true literary genius, Steinbeck’s novel is a long read.
This beautiful story follows Dinah, the daughter of Jacob who is well known for his role in the Book of Genesis in the Bible.
Dinah gives us a unique perspective of what it means to live in a patriarchal society in ancient times.
She reflects on the struggles and little glimpses of hope that Hebrew life has to offer.
In the Bible, Dinah is a silent character who only observes her father and his tragic story. Anita Diamant gives her a voice to show what Dinah experienced.
Pros
This literary work published in 1997 is an inspiring voice for women.
Cons
As a true literary masterpiece, this book has relatively long chapters.
Even if you don’t like Thomas Hardy’s poetry, “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” is one of the best English literature books in the world.
A young woman from a poor family seeks her fate when she discovers that she might be related to the d’Urbervilles family.
But Tess isn’t welcomed with open arms. When her estranged cousin destroys her reputation, she has to return to her old life but this is easier said than done.
The ghosts of the past always haunt us. Tess’ past hasn’t been forgotten, especially not by those who loved her most.
Pros
This literary magnum opus from 1891 blends past and present beautifully well with deep, thinking characters.
Cons
As a historical piece written over a hundred years ago, the writing style is more unusual.
Themes: historic fiction, female heroine, woman literature
It is the early 1920s and Count Alexander Rostov is put under house arrest by the Bolsheviks. As an uncontrollable aristocrat, he is simply too dangerous to walk the streets of Moscow.
But Rostov can’t stay in his comfortable lodgings at a grand hotel, instead, he is forced to move to an old servant’s room right under the roof.
High up above the roofs of Moscow, Rostov watches Russia’s bloody history unfold and he can’t do anything about it but contemplate the purpose of the human species.
Pros
This spectacular literary novel is an epic piece of literature that’s worth savoring word for word.
The Forsyte Saga is made up of three individual novels that Galsworthy published between 1906 and 1921.
The Forsyte family is a large upper-middle-class clan who is fully aware of their new fortunes.
This trilogy follows the story of the whole family and their rise to wealth and power at the end of the 18th Century.
Wealthy Galsworthy allowed a lot of his own experiences with money and financial opportunities to flow into his masterpiece trilogy.
But this is not just an epic family saga that gives us a glimpse into the movements of cash but it is also an amusing insight into England’s class system of the 18th and 19th Century.
The Le Cirque de Rêves is a colorful circus that only opens its doors at night but there is a new love blossoming behind the walls of this magical place.
Marco and Celia are magicians who compete for the favors of the crowds but their fates are always bound together when they are on stage.
Mysterious and seductive, their deep love binds them in a way that soon becomes dangerous.
Pros
Despite its magical name, “The Night Circus” is not a fantasy novel but it goes much deeper than your traditional fiction.
Cons
While Morgenstern’s world is well-structured, her characters feel a little flat and confusing sometimes.
“Frankenstein” is undoubtedly one of the most famous books of all time. Everyone knows the creation story of a hideous monster that desired to be human.
But it isn’t enough to have the appearance of a man. Being human means so much more than a body.
Mary Shelley’s masterpiece reminds us that no matter how much you try to integrate as an individual, society can still reject you on its own merits. And rejection can lead to anger, rage and revenge.
Shelley’s amazing masterpiece was so controversial at the time of publication, that she chose to tone down some of the violent elements in 1831.
Pros
Originally known as “The Modern Prometheus”, Mary Shelley’s science fiction novel shocked and surprised people during her lifetime and a hundred years later.
Cons
Although this is a must-have classic, Shelley’s writing style is different from contemporary fiction.
Themes: science fiction book, monster, social rules
Dorethea Brooke is a beautiful young woman who seeks to shower the world with good deeds. Innocence and purity personified, Ms. Brooke is a pious and devout woman.
But when she becomes convinced that Edward Casuabon is the right match for her, Dorothea ends up in an unhappy marriage.
“Middlemarch” is a wonderful insight into social conventions, hope and despair that lay so closely together.
While there is little chance for Dorothea, Tertius Lydgate might just have the answer to her prayers.
Pros
This epic literary classic from George Eliot is one of the best character descriptions of a woman of her time.
Cons
The length of the book can make the description of peasant lives very tedious at times.
Set among the anarchy of the great expansion of America towards the West, there are relentless tides of blood and death.
When a teenage boy crosses the Mexico-Texas border, he quickly finds himself between the rival clans of Indians and Americans.
Pros
As part of the most essential works of American fiction “Blood Meridian” explores the deep savagery and individual fates of individuals who lived during the time when America grew.
Cons
There is a lot of brutality, blood and violence in this book.
Nathan Price is a preacher who plans to civilize the locals of the Belgian Congo.
After he moved his whole family, including wife and daughters, to the wilderness, he realizes that they are not prepared for the realities of post-colonial Africa.
There isn’t just much to learn about the continent’s different cultures but also rituals and traditions. The whole experience transforms everyone in the family forever.
Pros
If you are looking for an epic adventure novel, then “The Poisonwood Bible” is a must-read.
Cons
Barbara Kingsolver has a fantastic writing style but simple things are often described in an overly complex way.
Themes: Belgian Congo, African continent, African fiction, corruption, politics, colonialism
Cora is a slave on a Georgia cotton plantation. She finds life especially hard because she is an outcast among her fellow slaves until the arrival of Caesar.
The new arrival from Virginia opens up the doors to new opportunities for Cora. He tells her of the underground railroad which could be their escape to freedom.
But the path to their new life is covered in blood. Cora and Caesar embark on a wild run away from the clutches of plantation life to the free lands of the North.
Pros
This is a truly stunning novel about a classic topic: slavery.
Cons
While “The Underground Railroad” received a lot of book prizes, it doesn’t have the great substance of some other slavery fiction novels.
In a remote Polish village, a woman investigates the mysterious murders of animals and men. Obsessed with William Blake and astronomy, she is set to find the culprits for these crimes.
While Tokarczuk is well known for her bestselling novel “Flights”, this epic suspense thriller in Polish fashion is no less enticing for readers.
Pros
Tokarczuk is well-known for her references to essential topics, such as the disappearance of vital communities and nature.
Cons
In her usual style, Tokarczuk isn’t always easy to read but her characters are resolved in the end.
Themes: animal rights, polish fiction, folk mystery, hunting
Roy and Celestial are newlyweds who appear to be the typical American couple. She is a rising star in the art world, while he climbs the career ladder as an Executive.
When Roy is wrongly imprisoned, the couple’s life changes and their marriage quickly crumbles.
This popular novel portraying a seemingly-perfect marriage is a firm staple of Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club Recommendations.
Pros
“An American Marriage” is a truly addictive read that is difficult to put down once you start.
Cons
Although this fiction book is a good representation of an “average” American couple, some scenes are a little too melodramatic.
When the first shooting stars appear in the night sky, nobody knows what will happen just a few hours later.
But when a huge artificial cylinder drops onto an abandoned patch near London, curious locals are drawn to the object, just to discover that they are beset by Martians. Is mankind ready to fight back and survive this alien onslaught?
What makes H. G. Wells’ masterpiece so epic is that it was written in a semi-documentary style at a time when technology was still in its infancy.
Pros
Not just an epic movie but “War of the Worlds” will always be an epic science fiction classic.
Cons
With so many sci-fi novels around, this book can feel old-fashioned sometimes.
In 1818 Maryland, Frederick Douglass was born as a slave. All throughout his childhood, he was handed down to several enslavers, from field to city and different plantations.
Douglass experienced an immense amount of cruelty but he also saw how his fellow slaves treated each other.
When he escapes the life of slavery, Douglass swore to himself to change society and he pledged the rest of his life to the abolition of slavery.
His memoir was part of his life-long quest to show American society that there are different ways to live together in a civilized manner.
During his lifetime, Douglass rewrote several parts of his life, so while much of his work is a true representation of the time, there are also fictional elements in this narrative.
Pros
This is not your standard slavery literature but Douglass takes you deep down into the pits of American history.
Cons
While it isn’t light as a topic, the book itself is a bit too short.
Themes: anti-slavery movement, slavery, authentic history
While Neil Gaiman is best known for his Sandman comics, he has also written a great number of other amazing books, including “Caroline”.
Young Caroline walks through a mysterious door that lands her in a better version of her own home but nothing is quite as Caroline knows it.
She has another mother and father who don’t want Caroline to grow up. She has to use all her courage to escape the clutches of her controlling parents and return to the life she knew.
Perfect for young readers between 8 and 12, “Caroline” has the same sense of spooky horror as you get from the Sandman books.
Rachel grows up in a tight-knit community among Jewish refugees but she wants more than this settled life. She wants adventure and exploration.
When Rachel is married to a widower with three children, her world seems to get even smaller but fate turns for this young woman when her husband dies.
Soon after, his nephew Frederick arrives from France to sort out the estate. He is dashing, handsome and everything that Rachel had always wanted before her marriage.
Pros
While the plot sounds chick-lit at a first glance, there is so much more depth and meaning to this book than is obvious at first.
Cons
The main characters feel distant and not quite believable.
Themes: Jewish, historical fiction, romance, love story
Stiegg Larsson is a prolific writer and his epic series “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” didn’t just make him famous among film fans but also in literary circles.
Lisbeth Salander is a young hacker who gets involved with radical journalist Mikael Blomkvist when they are looking to solve a range of mysterious murders connected to Sweden’s most wealthy families.
Harry Potter is one of the best-known fictional characters around the world. His magical adventures have inspired generations to read and dream.
“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” is the fourth book in the J.K. Rowling Harry Potter series. With its large number of pages, this book is a turning point in the wizard’s story.
Sheba is a middle-aged teacher at a comprehensive school in London. When she starts an affair with one of her young students, her life turns upside down.
But what makes “Notes on a Scandal” isn’t just the beautiful descriptions of Sheba’s life between loneliness and class but that the narrative is told through the eyes of obsessive Barbara, a fellow teacher.
Danny Torrance is a special five-year-old boy who sees the dark forces around his father Jack Torrance when the whole family moves into the Overlook Hotel during the winter.
Dark and abandoned, the hotel lies among the snowy mountains but not everyone can handle so much loneliness.
Jack Torrance has a history of alcoholism and mental health problems, so as time passes with the winter storms coming in, he falls back into old habits that quickly take a sinister turn.
In addition to the amazing film “The Shining”, King also wrote a sequel to this book, known as “Doctor Sleep”.
Pros
“The Shining” is undoubtedly the novel that made Stephen King famous beyond country borders.
Cons
The book is definitely different from the film.
Themes: violence, mania, children, bestseller, king at his best
With its amazing success in recent years, it is hard to believe that “The Great Gatsby” only sold a few thousand copies in the first year after it was published.
Gatsby lives a luxurious life in his huge Long Island mansion. While he hosts lavish parties with hundreds of people, nobody really knows how he made his fortune.
Although Gatsby enjoys his lifestyle, he only has eyes for Daisy Buchanan but his deep love for her soon ends in tragedy.
Pros
The precise, cynical portrait of the classic American Dream is what makes this book stand out from so many others.
Cons
The film adaptation is a lot more glamorous than the book.
Themes: classic literature, wealth, money, American Jazz Age, tragedy, love affair
“Wuthering Heights” is one of the greatest romantic novels of the 19th Century. It follows the story of Cathy and Heathcliff who have a deeply entwined bond.
But despite their connection, Cathay chooses to marry a suitor with wealth and a large estate.
Heathcliff struggles with Cathy’s decision and he is ready for revenge.
With the beautiful setting of the Yorkshire Moors, this dark novel has all the complex characters and a finale that makes you want to read more.
Pros
The character development in “Wuthering Heights” is absolutely superb.
Cons
The story is incredibly dark and suspenseful, so this isn’t really a light read.
Themes: romance, tragedy, love and hate, gothic story
Patrick Bateman is a high-flying businessman in New York City who has a refined taste for wine and equally high-flying friends who share the luxury with him.
But something is stirring in Bateman that doesn’t fit into a neatly cut suit. His hedonistic passions soon get out of control and his pristine, white apartment turns into a murder scene.
If you want to find out more about Patrick Bateman’s backstory, then take a look at Bret Easton Ellis’ other novels, especially “Less than Zero”.
Pros
This haunting book is Ellis’ third novel where he follows a variety of characters who emerged out of the American 1980s high society.
Cons
The story gets extremely disturbing sometimes, so be prepared for some violence.
The action-packed story of Dune follows Paul Atreides who is an amazingly talented young man who needs to travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe.
With the future of his people at stake, Paul has to fight evil forces with minimal means. But with just the bare minimum, we often unfold our greatest potential.
“Pride and Prejudice” is probably one of the best-known books in the world. It shaped much of our understanding of 19th Century society.
Mr. Darcy is a stark aristocrat, while Elizabeth Bennet is a headstrong young lady, so they both have to take their time to face prejudice and their own pride before they allow the love between them to grow.
Pros
This is Jane Austen’s most popular novel with plenty of life lessons and laughs.
Cons
As an English classic, this isn’t a typical romantic love story.
Themes: must-read classic, true love, 1813 original
Final Thoughts
Over the course of history, we have seen so many fantastic books. Many of these masterpieces have become stories that are deeply ingrained in our memory.
But not only classics, such as “War and Peace” or “Middlemarch”, shine a light on society, also contemporary literature picks up subjects that we should all think about.
From the disappearance of small communities to the climate crisis, true literary fiction explores the boundaries of what is possible and what mankind could achieve in the future.
Dive into our list of sweeping literary books and discover new horizons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Most Read Fiction Book?
Published in 1997, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by J. K. Rowling is the most read fiction book of all time.
What Is The Biggest Literary Masterpiece?
The biggest literary masterpiece of all time is “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy. While this phenomenal book isn’t an easy read, it blends a large number of themes, such as religion, aesthetics, philosophy and economics.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
