You said: Written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius, Robert Graves' novel captures the madness and debauchery of ancient Rome. Both I, Claudius and Graves’s sequel Claudius the God are regarded today as pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction, as well as gripping reads.  

You said: A beautifully written novel about absolute power. Very relevant. 

 

You said: The autobiographical fiction draws on Maya Angelou’s life overcoming racism and trauma through her love of literature to her becoming a mother at the age of 16. Angelou went on to write six more volumes chronicling her life.

You said: Heartbreaking and funny and definitely a classic. 

 

You said: A medievalist protagonist encounters a series of misadventures in a comedic exploration of the human condition. John Kennedy Toole's novel is widely regarded today as a tragicomic classic that exposes 'intellectualism'.

You said: I chose this book just because the characters are fantastic, and it makes me laugh. 

 

You said: Featuring Maugham himself as a character and adapted twice for the big screen, The Razor's Edge tells the story of an American pilot trying to adjust back to normal life following the First World War. It’s a gruelling look at the devastating effects of post-war trauma, and a philosophical journey to find meaning in life.

You said: A profound story of one man’s journey to find himself. 

 

You said: Many will remember the recent BBC series of the same name; Lark Rise to Candleford is author Flora Thompson’s semi-autobiographical recollections of her youth and growing up in Oxfordshire, and paints a delightful portrait of country life at the end of the 19th century.

You said: Perhaps a little bit out of a left-field, but I love this book. It's simple, it's beautifully written and it's all about capturing a vanishing way of life as countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... really eloquent, really moving! 

 

We said: When proud and passionate Eustacia Vye marries Clym Yeobright, she believes she can finally leave her rural life at Egdon Heath behind. But their unhappy marriage causes a chain of events culminating in tragedy, and their realisation that their destinies cannot be controlled.

You said: I chose this book because Eustacia Vye is misunderstood - as are many women. 

 

We said: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was James Joyce’s first novel and details the young artist discovering his voice, craft and identity through his literary alter ego, Stephen Dedalus. There are echoes of his techniques here before they are refined in his later works such as Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

You said: Joyce is not only the greatest stylist in English, but the novel contains one of the most complex discussions of aesthetics in the 20th century. 

 

We said: Joseph Conrad’s novella has been deemed by many as a ‘difficult read’, but this enigmatic and atmospheric piece of fiction of Charles Marlow’s journey up the Congo river – which also provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now – will leave you unfolding its many layers for a long time after. 

You said: What an amazing piece of writing from someone who had to learn the language first... 

 

We said: A swooningly romantic book with an exhilaratingly combative pairing at the centre. The themes of wealth and gender inequality are woven in seamlessly and are completely integral to the electric dynamic between Margaret Hale and John Thornton.

You said: This novel combines a beautiful love story and discussion of important economical and social issues of its time. 

 

We said: ‘When it first came out it was viewed as being far-fetched,’ said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The continued regression of abortion laws and women’s rights across the world has only made Atwood’s dystopian all the more pertinent; and ensures the book – and TV show’s – place in history as a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

You said: I chose this book because it gives a feminist perspective on the world. Also, Atwood uses events from history to create the story, which I find important. History is a circle. 

 

We said: David, a young American, awaits his fiancée in Paris when he meets Giovanni, a handsome Italian barman. As their friendship develops into an intense affair, David is faced with a choice of following his heart and accepting his sexuality or marrying to suit social convention.

You said: The aesthetics and effect are breathtaking. 

 

We said: Both Mario Puzo's book and 1972 film adaptation became global phenomena with this searing portrayal of New York’s Mafia underworld. A powerful story of tradition, blood, honour and of course, family allegiance.

You said: This novel teaches the reader about the strengths and failures of human nature.