Bottom Line Books LogoOverdue Books

Classics

Explore books in the Classics category

146 books in this category

The Odyssey

The Odyssey

Homer

An ancient Greek epic poem detailing Odysseus’s journey home, exploring themes of perseverance, adventure, and heroism.

Learn More
The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

A classic novel depicting the decadence of the Roaring Twenties, exploring themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream.

Learn More
The Republic

The Republic

Plato

A foundational philosophical text discussing justice, the ideal state, and the role of the philosopher-king in society.

Learn More
The Wealth of Nations

The Wealth of Nations

Adam Smith

A seminal work in economics that lays out the principles of free markets, division of labor, and the 'invisible hand' guiding economic activity.

Learn More
The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway

A novella about an aging fisherman's epic battle with a giant marlin, symbolizing perseverance and personal triumph.

Learn More
The Prince

The Prince

Niccolò Machiavelli

A classic treatise on political power, exploring strategies for gaining and maintaining control.

Learn More
One Hundred Years of Solitude

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

A landmark novel in magical realism, chronicling the multi-generational story of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo.

Learn More
To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

A classic novel addressing racial injustice and moral growth in the Deep South, seen through the eyes of a young girl.

Learn More
The Oxford Shakespeare

The Oxford Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

A complete collection of Shakespeare’s plays, with analysis and commentary on language, themes, and cultural impact.

Learn More
The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo

Alexandre Dumas

A tale of betrayal, revenge, and redemption, following the journey of Edmond Dantès.

Learn More
The Master and Margarita

The Master and Margarita

Mikhail Bulgakov

A satirical novel blending fantasy and reality, exploring themes of power, freedom, and good vs. evil.

Learn More
Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land

Robert A. Heinlein

A science fiction novel about a human raised by Martians, exploring social norms, religion, and human behavior.

Learn More
The Godfather

The Godfather

Mario Puzo

A classic novel about the powerful Corleone crime family, exploring themes of loyalty, power, and family.

Learn More
Letters from a Stoic

Letters from a Stoic

Lucius Seneca

A collection of philosophical letters offering insights into Stoicism, ethics, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Learn More
The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

A classic novel about teenage alienation and rebellion, following the iconic character Holden Caulfield.

Learn More
The Unbearable Lightness of Being

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Milan Kundera

A philosophical novel exploring love, freedom, and identity against the backdrop of Soviet-era Czechoslovakia.

Learn More
East of Eden

East of Eden

John Steinbeck

A novel exploring family, morality, and identity in California's Salinas Valley, loosely retelling the story of Cain and Abel.

Learn More
History of the Peloponnesian War

History of the Peloponnesian War

Thucydides

An ancient historical account of the war between Athens and Sparta, providing insights into power, politics, and strategy.

Learn More
Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

William Golding

A novel about a group of boys stranded on an island who descend into savagery, exploring themes of civilization and human nature.

Learn More
The Iliad

The Iliad

Homer

An ancient Greek epic poem about the Trojan War, exploring themes of honor, heroism, and fate.

Learn More
On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo

On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo

Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche’s philosophical exploration of morality, values, and self-identity, questioning societal norms.

Learn More
Beyond Good And Evil

Beyond Good And Evil

Friedrich Nietzsche

A foundational philosophical text questioning conventional morality and exploring themes of power and individualism.

Learn More
Goodnight Moon

Goodnight Moon

Margaret Wise Brown

A beloved children's book about bedtime, known for its calming rhymes and simple illustrations.

Learn More
Catch-22

Catch-22

Joseph Heller

A satirical novel set in World War II, critiquing bureaucracy and the absurdity of war.

Learn More
On the Shortness of Life

On the Shortness of Life

Lucius Seneca

A Stoic classic reflecting on time, the value of life, and the importance of living purposefully.

Learn More
Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak

A classic children’s book about imagination, self-expression, and emotional growth, following the journey of a young boy named Max.

Learn More
Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web

E. B White

A classic children’s story about friendship and sacrifice, following the bond between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte.

Learn More
A Manual for Living

A Manual for Living

Epictetus

A classic Stoic text offering advice on resilience, self-discipline, and leading a virtuous life.

Learn More
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Edward Gibbon

A comprehensive history of the Roman Empire's decline, examining the causes behind its fall and lasting influence.

Learn More
The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Anonymous

An ancient Mesopotamian epic poem following the adventures of Gilgamesh, exploring themes of friendship, mortality, and heroism.

Learn More
The Complete Essays

The Complete Essays

Michel de Montaigne

A collection of philosophical essays exploring themes such as friendship, happiness, and human nature, foundational to modern thought.

Learn More
The Brothers Karamazov

The Brothers Karamazov

Fyodor Dostoevsky

A philosophical novel about faith, doubt, and morality, centered on a murder mystery within a troubled Russian family.

Learn More
The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

A novel about a family's migration during the Great Depression, highlighting issues of poverty, injustice, and resilience.

Learn More
Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon

Daniel Keyes

A science fiction novel about a mentally disabled man who undergoes experimental surgery to increase his intelligence, exploring identity and ethics.

Learn More
The Glass Bead Game

The Glass Bead Game

Hermann Hesse

A philosophical novel about intellectual pursuits and self-discovery, set in a fictional, utopian society.

Learn More
All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front

Erich Maria Remarque

A powerful novel depicting the horrors of World War I from a German soldier’s perspective, focusing on trauma and loss.

Learn More
The Idiot

The Idiot

Fyodor Dostoevsky

A novel following the life of a noble but naive man, exploring themes of morality, innocence, and society’s cruelty.

Learn More
Slaughterhouse-Five

Slaughterhouse-Five

Kurt Vonnegut

A novel blending science fiction and anti-war themes, following a soldier's experiences in World War II and his existential reflections.

Learn More
The Gay Science

The Gay Science

Friedrich Nietzsche

A philosophical work exploring themes of individuality, morality, and the concept of eternal recurrence.

Learn More
The Way of Life, According to Laotzu

The Way of Life, According to Laotzu

Witter Bynner

A poetic translation of Lao Tzu's *Tao Te Ching*, emphasizing harmony with nature and inner peace.

Learn More
The Origin of Species

The Origin of Species

Charles Darwin

The foundational text on evolutionary biology, introducing the theory of natural selection.

Learn More
Candide

Candide

Voltaire

A satirical novel following the naive protagonist Candide on his misadventures, critiquing optimism and society.

Learn More
The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

A novel about a man who remains young while his portrait ages, exploring themes of vanity, morality, and the nature of beauty.

Learn More
Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

Fyodor Dostoevsky

A philosophical novel about a man who commits murder and grapples with guilt, exploring themes of morality and redemption.

Learn More
Moby Dick

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

A novel about the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab to hunt the great white whale, exploring themes of fate and revenge.

Learn More
Winnie-the-Pooh

Winnie-the-Pooh

A. A. Milne

A beloved children’s book following the adventures of Pooh and his friends, highlighting themes of friendship and curiosity.

Learn More
I, Robot

I, Robot

Isaac Asimov

A collection of sci-fi stories about robots and artificial intelligence, exploring ethical and philosophical implications.

Learn More
As I Lay Dying

As I Lay Dying

William Faulkner

A Southern Gothic novel about a family’s journey to bury their matriarch, exploring themes of family, identity, and mortality.

Learn More
Invisible Man

Invisible Man

Ralph Ellison

A novel about a Black man’s experiences with race and identity in America, highlighting themes of invisibility and self-discovery.

Learn More
For Whom the Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ernest Hemingway

A novel set during the Spanish Civil War, following an American volunteer as he grapples with love, duty, and mortality.

Learn More
The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious

The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious

Carl Jung

Explores Jung’s theories on universal archetypes and the collective unconscious, foundational to Jungian psychology.

Learn More
Cry, the Beloved Country

Cry, the Beloved Country

Alan Paton

A novel set in apartheid-era South Africa, exploring themes of injustice, family, and reconciliation.

Learn More
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Lewis Carroll

A classic novel about a young girl’s fantastical journey in Wonderland, blending whimsy and wordplay.

Learn More
In Search of Lost Time

In Search of Lost Time

Marcel Proust

A multi-volume novel exploring memory, time, and identity, often considered one of the greatest works of modern literature.

Learn More
On the Nature of Things

On the Nature of Things

Lucretius

An ancient Roman poem exploring Epicurean philosophy, covering atoms, the soul, and the natural world.

Learn More
The Razor's Edge

The Razor's Edge

W. Somerset Maugham

A novel following a man’s search for meaning and enlightenment, questioning materialism and conventional success.

Learn More
Hamlet

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

A tragedy about the Prince of Denmark grappling with revenge, mortality, and betrayal.

Learn More
Leaves of Grass

Leaves of Grass

Walt Whitman

A collection of poetry celebrating individuality, nature, and the human spirit.

Learn More
Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

A dystopian novel about a future where books are banned, exploring themes of censorship and conformity.

Learn More
Zorba the Greek

Zorba the Greek

Nikos Kazantzakis

A novel about the friendship between a scholarly writer and a free-spirited Greek, celebrating life and the human spirit.

Learn More
Walden

Walden

Henry David Thoreau

A philosophical reflection on simple living, nature, and self-sufficiency, based on the author’s time at Walden Pond.

Learn More
Great Expectations

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

A coming-of-age novel about an orphan named Pip, exploring themes of wealth, love, and identity.

Learn More
Aeneid

Aeneid

Virgil

An epic poem recounting the journey of Aeneas after the fall of Troy, a foundational work in Western literature.

Learn More
The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World

The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World

Edward Shepherd Creasy

Analyzes fifteen battles that shaped world history, examining their causes and consequences.

Learn More
The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka

A novella about a man who wakes up transformed into a giant insect, exploring alienation and identity.

Learn More
The Trial

The Trial

Franz Kafka

A novel about a man inexplicably arrested and prosecuted by an unreachable authority, exploring themes of bureaucracy and existentialism.

Learn More
War And Peace

War And Peace

Leo Tolstoy

An epic novel set during the Napoleonic Wars, exploring themes of love, war, and the interconnectedness of society.

Learn More
Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe

A novel about the impact of colonialism on a Nigerian village, focusing on the life of a local leader.

Learn More
Ficciones

Ficciones

Jorge Luis Borges

A collection of philosophical short stories that explore themes of infinity, reality, and identity.

Learn More
20000 Leagues Under the Sea

20000 Leagues Under the Sea

Jules Verne

A classic adventure novel following Captain Nemo and his submarine Nautilus, exploring underwater wonders and dangers.

Learn More
The Quiet American

The Quiet American

Graham Greene

A novel set in Vietnam, exploring themes of innocence, responsibility, and moral ambiguity in the context of colonialism.

Learn More
Peter Pan

Peter Pan

J. M. Barrie

A classic children’s novel about the adventures of Peter Pan, Wendy, and the Lost Boys in Neverland.

Learn More
Democracy in America

Democracy in America

Alexis de Tocqueville

A classic analysis of American democracy, examining its strengths, weaknesses, and social implications.

Learn More
Don Quixote

Don Quixote

Miguel De Cervantes

A classic novel about a nobleman’s fantastical adventures, exploring themes of idealism and reality.

Learn More
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Betty Smith

A coming-of-age novel about a young girl growing up in poverty in early 20th-century Brooklyn.

Learn More
Under the Volcano

Under the Volcano

Malcolm Lowry

A novel set in Mexico about an alcoholic British consul, exploring themes of despair, love, and self-destruction.

Learn More
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Agatha Christie

A classic murder mystery featuring detective Hercule Poirot, known for its twist ending.

Learn More
Curtain

Curtain

Agatha Christie

The final case of Hercule Poirot, where he faces a complex mystery involving deception and murder.

Learn More
Gaudy Night

Gaudy Night

Dorothy L. Sayers

A mystery novel set in an all-female college at Oxford, where detective Harriet Vane investigates a series of disturbing incidents.

Learn More
A Prayer for Owen Meany

A Prayer for Owen Meany

John Irving

A novel about faith, destiny, and friendship, following the life of a unique and unforgettable character, Owen Meany.

Learn More
Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

A classic novel about friendship and hardship during the Great Depression, following two displaced workers.

Learn More
Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost

John Milton

An epic poem about the biblical story of the Fall of Man, exploring themes of free will and redemption.

Learn More
The Confessions

The Confessions

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Rousseau’s introspective account of his life, offering insights into his thoughts on society, identity, and morality.

Learn More
The Makers of Rome

The Makers of Rome

Plutarch

A collection of biographies of Roman leaders, exploring their virtues, achievements, and moral lessons.

Learn More
Essays

Essays

Plutarch

A collection of Plutarch's essays, covering topics related to ethics, politics, and human nature.

Learn More
Sixteen Satires

Sixteen Satires

Juvenal

A collection of satirical poems critiquing Roman society, touching on themes of corruption, greed, and hypocrisy.

Learn More
The Red and the Black

The Red and the Black

Stendhal

A novel about a young man’s ambition and romantic entanglements in post-Napoleonic France, exploring themes of social mobility.

Learn More
On Sparta

On Sparta

Plutarch

Biographies of notable Spartans, highlighting their values, military prowess, and contributions to Greek history.

Learn More
The Charterhouse of Parma

The Charterhouse of Parma

Stendhal

A novel about an Italian nobleman’s life and love affairs against the backdrop of European political unrest.

Learn More
The Rig Veda

The Rig Veda

Anonymous

One of the oldest texts in human history, containing hymns and religious verses central to early Indian spiritual practices.

Learn More
The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day

Ezra Jack Keats

A children’s picture book about a young boy’s experiences in the snow, celebrating urban childhood and diversity.

Learn More
Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

A classic novel about the complex social and romantic entanglements of the Bennet family, particularly Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.

Learn More
Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë

A gothic novel exploring intense, tragic relationships and the destructive power of love on the Yorkshire moors.

Learn More
The Art of Happiness

The Art of Happiness

Epicurus

A philosophical treatise on achieving happiness through simplicity, self-reflection, and moderation.

Learn More
The Western Canon

The Western Canon

Harold Bloom

A defense of classic literature, exploring works Bloom considers essential to Western culture.

Learn More
Lives of the Eminent Philosophers

Lives of the Eminent Philosophers

Diogenes Laertius

A collection of biographies of ancient Greek philosophers, providing insights into their lives and philosophies.

Learn More
Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson

A collection of Samuel Johnson's essays and writings, showcasing his reflections on literature, society, and human nature.

Learn More
The Complete Greek Tragedies

The Complete Greek Tragedies

David Grene

A collection of ancient Greek tragedies, including works by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, translated into English.

Learn More
A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

Ernest Hemingway

A classic novel about love and loss set against the backdrop of World War I.

Learn More
Selected Epigrams

Selected Epigrams

Martial

A collection of witty, often satirical poems by the Roman poet Martial, reflecting on Roman society.

Learn More
The Beautiful and Damned

The Beautiful and Damned

F. Scott Fitzgerald

A novel following a young couple’s decadent lifestyle in 1920s New York, exploring themes of wealth, love, and moral decay.

Learn More
Brideshead Revisited

Brideshead Revisited

Evelyn Waugh

A novel about faith, love, and friendship, centered on an aristocratic English family and their relationship with the narrator.

Learn More
Mythology

Mythology

Edith Hamilton

A retelling of ancient Greek, Roman, and Norse myths, providing insights into classical mythology.

Learn More
Essays

Essays

George Orwell

A collection of Plutarch's essays, covering topics related to ethics, politics, and human nature.

Learn More
The Landmark Herodotus

The Landmark Herodotus

Herodotus

A comprehensive edition of *The Histories*, detailing ancient cultures and events, with maps and commentary.

Learn More
Plutarch's Lives Volume 1

Plutarch's Lives Volume 1

Plutarch

Biographical accounts of notable Greeks and Romans, providing insights into character and historical events.

Learn More
Plutarch's Lives Volume 2

Plutarch's Lives Volume 2

Plutarch

Continuation of *Lives*, with biographical sketches that explore leadership, morality, and ambition.

Learn More
Rebecca

Rebecca

Daphne du Maurier

A Gothic novel about a young bride haunted by the legacy of her husband’s first wife in an eerie mansion.

Learn More
The Tao of Power

The Tao of Power

R.L. Wing

An interpretation of the *Tao Te Ching*, providing insights into ancient Chinese philosophy and wisdom.

Learn More
The Trial of Socrates

The Trial of Socrates

I. F. Stone

Examines the historical and philosophical reasons behind Socrates' trial and death sentence in ancient Athens.

Learn More
An Outline of Psycho-Analysis

An Outline of Psycho-Analysis

Sigmund Freud

A summary of Freud’s psychoanalytic theories, discussing the unconscious, repression, and human behavior.

Learn More
The Annotated Alice

The Annotated Alice

Lewis Carroll

An annotated edition of *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland* and *Through the Looking-Glass*, offering context and insights into Carroll’s work.

Learn More
Civilization and Its Discontents

Civilization and Its Discontents

Sigmund Freud

Examines the conflict between human instinct and societal expectations, exploring themes of repression and dissatisfaction.

Learn More
Beowulf

Beowulf

Seamus Heaney

A modern translation of the classic Old English epic poem, recounting the hero’s battles against monsters.

Learn More
Very Good, Jeeves!

Very Good, Jeeves!

PG Wodehouse

A collection of humorous short stories featuring the bumbling Bertie Wooster and his clever valet, Jeeves.

Learn More
The Will to Power

The Will to Power

Friedrich Nietzsche

A posthumous collection of Nietzsche's notes on philosophy, power, and morality, exploring existential themes.

Learn More
The Long Goodbye

The Long Goodbye

Raymond Chandler

A classic hard-boiled detective novel following Philip Marlowe, blending mystery with themes of friendship and betrayal.

Learn More
Dune

Dune

Frank Herbert

A sci-fi epic set in a desert world, exploring themes of power, religion, and ecology.

Learn More
Fun with Dick and Jane

Fun with Dick and Jane

Dick and Jane

A classic children’s reader that uses simple language to teach basic reading skills.

Learn More
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Ken Kesey

A novel set in a mental institution, exploring themes of authority, freedom, and rebellion.

Learn More
Les Miserables

Les Miserables

Victor Hugo

A classic novel set in 19th-century France, exploring themes of justice, redemption, and the human spirit.

Learn More
The Interpretation of Dreams

The Interpretation of Dreams

Sigmund Freud

A seminal work on dream interpretation, where Freud introduces his theories on the unconscious.

Learn More
Flatland

Flatland

Edwin A. Abbott

A classic novella exploring dimensions and societal structures through the story of a two-dimensional world.

Learn More
A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens

A classic novel set during the French Revolution, exploring themes of sacrifice, justice, and redemption.

Learn More
Uncle Tom's Cabin

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe

A novel that depicts the harsh realities of slavery in America, helping to fuel the abolitionist movement.

Learn More
The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh

The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh

A. A. Milne

Classic tales of Winnie-the-Pooh and friends, filled with whimsy, humor, and life lessons.

Learn More
Curious George

Curious George

H. A. Rey

Classic children’s book following the curious adventures of George the monkey.

Learn More
Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte

A classic novel following the life of an orphaned girl and her journey to independence and love.

Learn More
Dune

Dune

Frank Herbert

A sci-fi epic set in a desert world, exploring themes of power, religion, and ecology.

Learn More
I, Claudius

I, Claudius

Robert Graves

A historical novel about the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius, filled with intrigue and betrayal.

Learn More
King Lear

King Lear

William Shakespeare

A tragic play about power, loyalty, and madness, centering on King Lear's downfall.

Learn More
Naked Lunch

Naked Lunch

William S. Burroughs

A surreal and controversial novel exploring addiction, control, and societal decay.

Learn More
The Art of Happiness

The Art of Happiness

Dalai Lama

A philosophical treatise on achieving happiness through simplicity, self-reflection, and moderation.

Learn More
Euclid's Elements

Euclid's Elements

Euclid

Classic mathematical text on geometry and number theory.

Learn More
The Complete Novels of Jane Austen

The Complete Novels of Jane Austen

Jane Austen

Collection of novels by the iconic author, exploring social class and relationships.

Learn More
Memoirs or Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of Constantinople

Memoirs or Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of Constantinople

Geoffrey de Villehardouin

First-hand account of the Fourth Crusade.

Learn More
A History of Rome

A History of Rome

Moses Hadas

Comprehensive look at the history of ancient Rome.

Learn More
Little House in the Big Woods

Little House in the Big Woods

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Memoir-based story of pioneer life in 19th-century America.

Learn More
Fragments

Fragments

Heraclitus

Collection of philosophical fragments on change, reality, and wisdom.

Learn More
Essays and Aphorisms

Essays and Aphorisms

Arthur Schopenhauer

Collection of Schopenhauer’s thoughts on human nature and philosophy.

Learn More
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Mark Twain

Classic coming-of-age story set in the American South, following the adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Learn More
Henry V

Henry V

William Shakespeare

Historical play depicting the life of King Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt.

Learn More
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

Carson McCullers

Novel examining isolation and human connection in the Deep South.

Learn More
Maxims and Reflections

Maxims and Reflections

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Collection of Goethe’s insights and reflections on life, philosophy, and human nature.

Learn More
A Hunger Artist

A Hunger Artist

Franz Kafka

Short story exploring themes of isolation, art, and the human condition.

Learn More
Treasure Island

Treasure Island

Robert Louis Stevenson

Classic adventure novel about pirates and buried treasure.

Learn More