Does a stack of old, thick books fill you with anticipation and excitement, or boredom and dread?
In this article, I want to take you from the latter to the former.
If you’re new to the world of classics, you might still be wondering whether you can really enjoy the world’s great art.
You might not be sold on the idea that beauty really matters, or that it has the power to transform your life.
That’s why I put together this list of classics for beginners.
These classic books are spiritually enriching, but approachable enough for a newbie to enjoy. They’ll get you hooked on the profound themes and incredible artistry of age-old books.
I’m convinced that if you give these books a try they’ll start to transform you. It won’t be long before you’re coming back to the Classics section for more.
Keep reading to get a taste of my top ten recommendations for classic books for beginners. Then pick one that piques your interest and dive in!
PS - Under each listing I've included my personal recommendation for which edition and/or translation to start with. The links are Amazon affiliate links, so anything you purchase will directly support Rewire the West's mission.
These are not, however, affiliate links for the sake of affiliate links. These are my genuine recommendations, and I stand by each one as my go-to edition for each respective work. Happy reading!
The Divine Comedy
Let’s face it: no one is surprised to see the Divine Comedy on my must-read classics list.
As I’ve explained in depth in my Develop with Dante YouTube series, the Divine Comedy is an absolute gold mine of life-transforming insights.
If you join Dante on his journey from Hell to Heaven, you can’t help but come away with new self-knowledge and inspiration for your own journey.
Haven’t had a chance to dive into the Comedy yet? Here’s a quick need-to-know summary:
Dante, a poet from Renaissance-era Italy, casts himself as a character in an epic spiritual journey. He sees himself as lost on the way of life, prey to passions like lust and greed that could tear him apart.
In the poem, the ancient poet Virgil comes to Dante’s rescue. Virgil leads Dante on a journey through Hell and Purgatory.
As he suffers through the arduous journey of Hell, Dante faces the worst, most self-destructive aspects of human nature. Next, while climbing the mountain of Purgatory, he faces the difficult task of turning those vices into virtues.
Finally, Dante reaches the sphere of Heaven, where his lost love, Beatrice, meets him. He encounters the glory of heavenly souls and sees that his efforts have succeeded in bringing him to the place of ultimate fulfillment.
The Divine Comedy is a densely religious poem. However, it’s also a treasure chest for non-religious people.
It’s an allegory for the journey of self-development that we should all be on. In my opinion, it’s the ultimate guide for anyone who wants to do what Dante did: overcome their self-sabotaging faults and reach their goal.
Better yet, the Divine Comedy isn’t just stuffed with insight - it’s also an approachable read.
Dante’s garish descriptions of Hell will make your toes curl while his glorious poetry about Heaven will leave you teary-eyed. He even squeezes in some irreverently funny moments in Hell.
This epic poem has inspired countless works of art, like the painting Dante and Virgil. Once you catch on, you’ll find Dante’s theme of purification and ascension everywhere, from literature to ballet to architecture - even Over the Garden Wall and Yu-Gi-Oh!
Recommended Edition of the Divine Comedy:
Dr. Anthony Esolen's translation is practically the only version I recommend to readers now. After having read Dante in the original Tuscan and compared it with Dr. Esolen's translation, I can say confidently that his translation of Dante is one of the absolute best out there.
Incredibly faithful to the original, Dr. Esolen also retains as much of the art of Dante's poetry as possible, and does so with a high degree of success. His translation was published in three volumes (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso), and you can purchase each one at the respective links below:
Inferno (translated by Dr. Anthony Esolen)
Purgatorio (translated by Dr. Anthony Esolen)
Paradiso (translated by Dr. Anthony Esolen)
Macbeth
I’m a firm believer that everyone’s life needs a little more Shakespeare. Not only will his poetry sweep you off your feet, but you’ll find yourself identifying with characters and learning from their mistakes more than you ever thought possible.
The question with Shakespeare, though, is where to start?
When people ask me how to start reading Shakespeare, I recommend Macbeth. It’s not only one of his shortest plays, but probably the most gripping and action-packed.
The title character is a Scottish nobleman who has a dark supernatural encounter after winning a battle. Haunted by a tantalizing prophecy, Macbeth begins to grasp after more and more power, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
This play raises questions like: what would it take to motivate you to betray your principles? And how do you know when you’ve gone too far?
If you’re already intrigued, get a closer look with this Macbeth summary and analysis.
Recommended Edition of Macbeth:
There are a million editions of Shakespeare out there, so it's often hard to know which one to choose.
My personal recommendation is to stay away from more academic versions like Norton, Folger, or the Oxford Shakespeare. They're great if you really want to dive into the text, but I think the excess of footnotes and annotations can be overwhelming, for both beginners and scholars alike!
My personal favorite edition of Shakespeare is the Pelican Shakespeare. It's an offshoot of Penguin (who, of course, also has their own series of Shakespeare...) but is super streamlined for ease of reading and comprehension.
The text is lovely to read as it takes up the whole page and is free of any intruding footnotes. Some might say that there are too few footnotes, but I say there are just enough: you'll understand more Shakespeare than you realize, and Pelican's annotations come in to help only where absolutely necessary.
Lastly, the cover art in this series is lovely, and the price is impossible to beat. To get a beautiful edition and the best bang-for-your-buck, check out Pelican's edition of Macbeth below:
Macbeth (Pelican Shakespeare Edition)
Anna Karenina
No list of classic literature go-tos is complete without a Russian masterpiece.
Russian novels can be challenging to beginners. They tend to have an unfamiliar plot rhythm and complex sense of irony that leaves modern English-speaking readers guessing.
That’s why I chose Anna Karenina for my beginner classics list (and dedicated a whole article to it here!).
Tolstoy’s masterpiece has a distinctly Russian feel, but it centers on something we can all relate to: difficult family relationships.
The vivid characters and drama make this novel a page-turner. Plus, it raises questions like what love truly is, what sacrifices we should be willing to make to society, and how to find meaning in life - themes that are more timely now than ever.
Recommended Edition of Anna Karenina:
When it comes to translations of Russian classics, the debates get heated.
For whatever reason, there are few "universally applauded" English translators of authors like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. The same translators are often applauded by some and despised by others.
I can only speak to what I've read, which are the translations by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsy. Their translation of Dostoevsky's Crime & Punishment was the first work of theirs I read, and I quite enjoyed it.
I never shared any of the complaints inevitably leveled against them, and having read more about their process of translation, I think they have a good way of approaching and translating the text.
Penguin Classics and Everyman's Library (two of my preferred publishing houses/imprints) seem to think so as well, with Pevear and Volokhonsky being the main translators for their editions.
So all that said, I recommend the Penguin Classics edition of Anna Karenina. Check it out below to start exploring the astonishing world of Russian literature today:
Anna Karenina (translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky)
The Aeneid
Virgil’s epic poem tells how the hero Aeneas founded the city of Rome.
Although the Aeneid became Rome’s national epic, there’s much more to it than adventures and flag-waving.
Virgil loved his city, but he was a master of subtle political critique. He doesn’t mind letting Aeneas’s weaknesses show through to reflect the problems that he saw in Rome.
The Aeneid has it all: eye-wateringly good poetry, dramatic adventure, supernatural encounters, and hidden political commentary.
Most of all, though, the Aeneid is inspiring because its hero faces so much opposition from the gods. In the face of powerful forces, Aeneas shows us that we’re not at the mercy of fate: we’re the creators of our own destiny.
For a deeper analysis of the Aeneid, check out my full article on it here.
Recommended Edition of the Aeneid:
When it comes to Ancient Greek poetry, some translators may render one work brilliantly, another underwhelmingly. In other words, just because someone translated Iliad well, their Odyssey might be a shipwreck (pun intended!)
As for the Aeneid, I believe Robert Fagles's translation is a great place to start. His is simply fun to read, and it's a great edition for those who want to embrace the "epic poetry" aspect of this epic poem (as opposed to a more literal, but dry rendering).
To check out Fagles's Penguin Classics Edition, click the link below:
Aeneid (translated by Robert Fagles)
The Odyssey
Though often confused with the Aeneid, the Odyssey was written by the Greek poet Homer about 1,000 years before Virgil lived. If nothing else, it’s worth a read because it’s one of the oldest pieces of ancient literature that’s still read today.
Fortunately, there are lots of other reasons to dig into this classic. It topped the list of history’s most influential stories because its themes are so inspiring, yet so relatable.
The Odyssey chronicles the homeward journey of the hero Odysseus (also known as Ulysses) from the Trojan war.
Unlike most other Greek myths, where a young hero sets off to achieve a quest, the Odyssey is about an older, wiser man who just wants to get home.
That doesn’t mean that Odysseus has it easy. His journey is beset by monsters, shipwrecks, and opposition from the gods.
Ultimately, the Odyssey asks whether wisdom and patience can triumph over the worst that the world can throw at you - and whether the hardest battle is coming home at the end of the war.
PS - for a deeper dive into the themes of Homer's Odyssey, check out the extended article I wrote on it here.
Recommended Edition of the Odyssey:
This one is easy: Stanley Lombardo's translation of the Odyssey is without a doubt the translation to use if you want to truly fall in love with Homer's classic.
The language in this one is riveting, and Lombardo's knack for pacing is, in my humble opinion, without rival. From the very opening lines, you can tell this is going to be a good one:
SPEAK, MEMORY—
Of the cunning hero,
The Wanderer, blown off course time and again
After he plundered Troy’s sacred Heights.
Speak
Of all the cities he saw, the minds he grasped,
The suffering deep in his heart at sea
As he struggled to survive and bring his men home
But could not save them, hard as he tried...
To pick up Lombardo's translation and begin your dive into this thrilling classic today, visit the link below:
Odyssey (translated by Stanley Lombardo)
Jane Eyre
Take a look at modern media and you’ll see the influence of gothic literature everywhere, from vampire movies to #darkacademia. However, a lot of gothic media blurs the line between moral excellence and vice.
The moral ambiguity often comes off feeling forced to me. In the end, it makes for an unsatisfying story.
Jane Eyre is one novel that does it all: it’s rich with spine-tingling gothic imagery and themes, but all its spookiness reinforces the protagonist’s commitment to moral goodness - even when she has everything to lose.
Jane Eyre begins when the title character is an abused, orphaned child.
At first, Jane lashes out at her abusers with righteous anger. As she matures, though, she learns to rise above her grim circumstances with a strength of character that’s staggering to see.
As an adult, Jane is a witty, remarkable woman, but doomed to the intellectually stifling life of a Victorian governess. When she meets a reclusive nobleman who finally notices her value, sparks fly.
When her newfound happiness is threatened, Jane has to choose between betraying her own convictions and losing her only chance at happiness.
Set in a misty landscape of barren moors and remote castles, Jane Eyre is a perfect Halloween read. But as a story about living with integrity, resisting false happiness, and finding redemption, it’s a perfect read for any season.
Recommended Edition of Jane Eyre:
Finally, no need to worry about translation with this one! Pretty much any version of Jane Eyre you get (barring anything abridged for younger audiences) will do the job.
However, we here at Rewire the West don't settle at merely "doing the job." For that reason, I'm going to give you two recommendations for this one.
If you don't mind spending a little extra, the hard-cover Everyman's Library edition is gorgeous and well-worth the investment. If you prefer to go the paperback route though, the Penguin Classics edition is the one to get.
Both the Everyman's Library and Penguin Classics edition provide an introduction and helpful commentary. Click below to check them out and see which one you prefer:
Jane Eyre (Everyman's Library)
Beowulf
One of the oldest works of English literature is also one of the best.
Dating back to the 8th century - less than 300 years after the fall of the Roman empire - Beowulf tells a story of adventurous Danish warriors. It’s packed with heroic deeds, gruesome battles, and heart-stirring poetry.
The story begins with the monster Grendel making nightly attacks on a chieftain’s hall to rip his warriors apart and eat them while they sleep. The title character, Beowulf, is a rising young warrior who volunteers to face the monster Grendel.
Beowulf kills Grendel, only to realize that his monstrous mother wants to avenge him. In an even greater feat of courage, Beowulf pursues her to her underwater lair and kills her too.
The story picks up decades later, after Beowulf’s long, prosperous reign as king. Now an old man, he volunteers to face one final monster...
Not only is Beowulf a great story told in vivid epic poetry, but it also is the great-grandfather of much of our literature today. Most of our fantasy and adventure literature can be traced back to Beowulf’s influence.
I’ve said before that Beowulf teaches us that societies need masculine strength and protection. Read it to remind yourself that you need extraordinary courage to defeat the monsters in your life.
Recommended Edition of Beowulf:
While there are several decent translations of Beowulf out there, Seamus Heaney's translation is the gold standard.
In it, Heaney preserves many aspects of the meter and alliterative elements found in the Old English original, and his translation is rightfully praised by both critics and scholars alike.
Plus, Heaney's version has the Old English original text printed opposite the translation. So whether you want to read the original for yourself, or just feel cool exploring the Old English orthography, Heaney's translation is one to get.
Beowulf (translated by Seamus Heaney)
Crime and Punishment
Do the ends ever justify the means?
Can we ever outrun the evils we’ve committed?
Is anyone - even the ugliest and most repulsive person - really expendable?
Another Russian classic, Dostoyevsky’s novel is a raw, unflinching look at the agonies of poverty and the weakness of human nature.
A young ex-student, Raskolnikov, is trapped in a life of gruesome poverty, and becomes obsessed with the idea of killing a local pawnbroker to steal her wealth.
The murder pulls Raskolnikov into a web of guilt, despair, love, and tortured hope that nearly destroys him and everyone he loves.
Though it’s so brutal that it’s hard to read at times, Crime and Punishment is also impossible to put down.
Dostoyevsky set out to write a story that contradicted the moral nihilism taking hold of Russia. In the end, he shows that redemption happens even in the grimmest, most complicated situations.
Recommended Edition of Crime and Punishment:
As I mentioned earlier, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsy's translation of Crime & Punishment is the one I read, and it's what I would recommend to pretty much everyone.
Pevear and Volokhonsy do a great job of capturing small details that other translations overlook. When giving the names of streets Raskolnikov visits, for example, they render them like the original - truncated and missing the ending.
It's a small detail, but it helps you feel that much closer to the original. The note on the translation in the beginning also helps you better understand naming conventions and other key aspects of Dostoevsky's language.
To pick up Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsy's translation of Dostoevsky's Crime & Punishment today, click below:
Crime and Punishment (translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsy)
Count of Monte Cristo
Faced with our modern culture’s epidemic of despair, this 1844 masterpiece by Alexandre Dumas is more timely than ever.
The story of an unassuming young sailor who is betrayed by his shipmates was an instant classic. As the protagonist, Edmond Dantes, faces betrayal, years of unjust imprisonment, and the loss of everything he hoped for, he has to face the question: is hopelessness ever absolute?
If you’ve ever wondered how bad circumstances have to be before you give up on life, this dramatic adventure story is for you.
The Count of Monte Cristo combines page-turning action with profound reflections on justice, envy, humanity, and triumph over obstacles.
Recommended Edition of The Count of Monte Cristo:
Fun fact, did you know that there are only two completely unabridged translations of The Count of Monte Cristo in English?
One is an anonymous translation from the Victorian era, the other is Robin Buss's translation, which was first published in 1996.
Robin Buss is without a doubt the best translation to turn to if you're looking for both a faithful and enthralling translation of Dumas.
There haven't been many new translations since his, and for good reason - Buss's Count of Monte Cristo is the exemplar of extraordinary translation!
To pick it up now, visit the link below:
The Count of Monte Cristo (translated by Robin Buss)
Lord of the Rings
Published in 1954, Lord of the Rings is far more modern than any other work on this list. However, it’s pretty clear that this work is a true modern classic.
Despite the fact that it’s been around for less than 70 years, it’s the third top-selling book of all time. In fact, it’s only beaten by centuries-old classics Don Quixote and A Tale of Two Cities.
What makes the Lord of the Rings such a classic?
First, it’s rooted in history. J. R. R. Tolkien was a scholar of Old English literature, so his works are steeped in the influence of works like Beowulf and Macbeth, giving them the sense of being older than they are.
Second, it’s rich with meaning.
Let’s face it: most modern fantasy works are little more than indulgent soap operas dressed up with swords and elf ears. (Sorry, George R. R. Martin.)
It’s not surprising that those shows get forgotten as soon as the credits roll. They just don’t carry any weight.
In contrast, Tolkien’s works have staying power because they carry profound significance.
They’re rich with meditations on the meaning of history, our desire for transcendence, and our capacity for heroic good and terrible evil. They inspire us to greater heights of virtue and make us more sensitive to the little things that make life worth living.
In a word, Lord of the Rings has themes that really matter.
Not only that, but even though it’s thick, it’s readable enough for anyone to enjoy. That’s why it’s a perfect way to begin your journey into the classics.
Recommended Edition of Lord of the Rings:
Like Jane Eyre, pretty much any edition of Lord of the Rings will give you the full text of the story.
The real question is, how nice do you want that edition to be?
By now you can probably guess that my bias is towards editions that are bound just as beautifully as the words contained within them. For this reason, I have two suggestions.
The first is for those who prefer individual books for each separate part of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
This is how I personally prefer to read it, and the version I've recommended comes with a substantial reader's companion as well, for those who want to get all they can out of Tolkien's work!
For those who prefer to have the entirety of Lord of the Rings in one volume, then my second recommendation is for you. It's the 50th anniversary edition, a hardcover complete with fold-out maps, a red ribbon bookmark, and even gilded pages.
Either one you choose, you can't go wrong with Tolkien. Check out the links below to compare these two beautiful editions:
Lord of the Rings (Hardcover, 4-part box-set)
Lord of the Rings (Single-copy 50th anniversary edition)
Get More Classics for Beginners
I won’t lie: classic literature isn’t as easy to fall into as the next show queued up on Netflix.
That’s because the classics are more than entertainment. They demand your full attention, leave you pondering them long after the book is closed, and challenge you to be better than you are.
But that challenge is exactly what makes them worth it.
To me, Shakespeare is the ultimate place to start with the classics, because he sharpens your ear for beautiful poetry at the same time as he dishes out unforgettable wisdom.
That’s why I wrote my ebook, The Bard and the Bees: What Shakespeare taught me about sex, evil, and life in our modern world.
Click the link above to get your free copy. I hope it unlocks the Bard’s wisdom for you and opens the door to the wonder of the classics!
Until next time,
-Evan