Classics and Award Winners
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Considered one of the greatest war stories ever written -- and one of the classics of antiwar literature -Remarque's 1929 masterpiece tells the story of young Paul Baumer, who enlists in the German Army in
World War I and takes his place with his comrades in the trenches.
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
National Book Prize, 1997
(Ex Libris selection)
This novel is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the last years of the Civil War. It appeals to
history buffs, outdoorsmen, and those concerned with roles of women. It has a love story and an
amazing ending.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The intricate plot centers on a ship captain who is betrayed by those he trusts and sent to prison
on a remote island. Watch how he plans his escape and carries out his revenge.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The narrator of this classic is Pip, a young orphan whose encounters with an escaped convict; an
eccentric, even maniacal old woman; and a beautiful girl teach him a great deal about life, love,
and the true definition of success.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Written in 1847, this novel remains a favorite, especially among younger readers who continue
to be entranced by the young Jane and her mysterious Mr. Rochester. An unhappy orphan, Jane
eventually becomes a governess who is smitten by her gruff employer. Jane’s story is filled with
many travails, including a shocking revelation on her wedding day. The happy ending finally
arrives, though, and Jane and Rochester are united forever.
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Pulitzer Prize, 1975
This historical novel is a vivid portrayal of Gettysburg. In alternating chapters the commanders
of both armies reveal their strategies and personal fears. Shaara forcefully captures the
psychology and pathos of a major military confrontation.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkien
(Ex Libris selection)
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
In this classic science fiction tale, men flee a planet on the brink of destruction to seek a fresh
beginning on Mars. Will they come as invaders? Peace-seekers? Explorers? These loosely
connected stories will provide many insights into human nature and our view of our place in the
universe.
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Antonia Shimerda is fourteen, the only one of a family of five who can speak even broken
English when she moves “next door” to Jim Burden in Black Hawk, Nebraska. Told from Jim’s
point of view, the book chronicles his and Antonia’s early friendship, quarrels, and
reconciliations as they survive the breathless, brilliant heat and the unrelenting cold.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
This is the well-loved story of a young orphan boy who must learn to survive on the streets of
London and escape the clutches of nefarious characters.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The classic opening line of Pride and Prejudice establishes the tone and the plot of this novel
first published in 1813. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of
a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” Mrs. Bennet is preoccupied with finding a good
husband for each of her five daughters. As the central characters Darcy and Elizabeth bumble
through a romance replete with pride and prejudice, you’ll see how little the game of love has
changed.
Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier
If you are a lover of the mystery novel, then make tracks to your favorite bookstore. The famous
first line, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly,” invites the reader to enter the life of a young
woman who marries the handsome Maxim DeWinter and moves to his lavish country estate. The
spectacular ending will not disappoint you!
The Road by Cormac McCarthy Pulitzer Prize, 2007
(Ex Libris Selection)
While the whole world has been reduced to a bleak and savage post-apocalyptical landscape, one
man struggles to provide love, nourishment, and protection for his young son.
Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse
Harry Haller is a sad and lonely figure, a reclusive intellectual for whom life holds no joy. He
struggles to reconcile the wild primeval wolf and the rational man within himself without
surrendering to the bourgeois values he despises. His life changes dramatically when he meets a
woman who is his opposite, the carefree and elusive Hermine. The tale of the Steppenwolf
culminates in the surreal Magic Theater—for mad men only. (Publisher’s synopsis)
.The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
A brilliant profile of the Lost Generation, Hemingway's first bestseller captures life among the expatriates
on Paris's Left Bank during the 1920s, the brutality of bullfighting in Spain, and the moral and spiritual
dissolution of a generation. (Publisher’s synopsis)
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
This classic work of historical fiction explores the French Revolution from the perspective of
families in London and France. Filled with intrigue, suspense, revenge, love, and self-sacrifice,
this lengthy and intricately woven work is well worth your time.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights has been called “the most haunting love story in the English
language.” The story is of Catherine and Heathcliff’s tender attachment that increases over the
years and grows into a passion that destroys one generation and nearly wrecks a second. (Hint:
make sure your copy of the book contains a genealogy chart.)