2025 Classics Reading List

A love note from my library to yours

I have been reading the classics almost exclusively for 4 years.

By “exclusively” I don’t mean that I never venture into the waters of contemporary literature. However, I try to maintain a primary diet of classic literature. I have developed a hunger for classic literature. It is edifying, and the more I read it, the more I want to read it.

In my time with the classics I have encountered many beautiful books. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever reach the end. “Perhaps I just got lucky in those first few years and not all classics are as good,” I think. But then I read another; and another; and another. I am shaken to the core again by the beauty of these books.

I thought it would be fun to share a list of my absolute favorites from the classics I have consumed in the past few years. This way, I can give you a broader list than just my “favorite reads of 2024.” If you are just beginning your journey with the classics, or if you are in need of some recommendations for the year ahead, I hope this list gives you a good starting point. Who knows, you might just find your next favorite read.

Fair warning: this list reflects not only great literature but also my personal journey. It is a snapshot of the books I have “lived in” most recently. It is not meant to be a “greatest classics of all time” list, nor is it meant to cover every genre and every era (if it were, you would rightly notice some gaping holes). To produce such a list would be a *much* larger project (others have valiantly taken this sort of project upon themselves, such as

Jacob Allee

over at

Study the Great Books

). Think of my list here as a little love note from my library to yours. It’s not a scholarly lecture. It’s a conversation over coffee.

I hope you enjoy looking through it. Let me know in the comments what great works of literature you would add!

As always, happy reading.

-Maddie

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2025 Classics Reading List

• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie — Like every good children’s story, Peter Pan is just as much for adults as it is for kids. Beautiful, nostalgic, magical, it will leave you with an ache that is one part sadness, one part longing, and two parts joy.

• North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell — I can’t say enough about this book. It is a romance, yes, but it is much more than that. It is also a commentary on the relationship between the social classes. How much do we owe our fellow man? When does social charity become enabling? It also has perhaps my favorite female lead of all time.

• Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis — I will always and forever recommend this book. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I’ll just say it is a fictional look at the themes of The Four Loves. As with all of his fiction, Lewis holds up a mirror to our own lives and makes us answer painful but necessary questions about the nature of our own loves. (I recommend reading it alongside or after The Four Loves).

• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens — I didn’t understand the Dickens hype… until I read Dickens. I recommend starting with this one, although all of them are special in their own way.

• Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain — This book will have you laughing out loud, (especially if you can find a friend who will commit to doing the voices of the characters). I had no idea Mark Twain was so funny. Not only that, but this book asks the important question: What are the dangers of being “civilized?”

• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien — If you haven’t read it yet, let this be the year!¹

• Mansfield Park or Emma by Jane Austen — Everyone recommends Pride and Prejudice. I am going to be a rebel and recommend these two instead. I genuinely enjoyed them more. They still display Austen’s wit and beautiful prose, but the themes are a bit more complex and serious than in her other novels.

• Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell — It’s the story of the paradoxical power of self-determination to both save and destroy a person. This book also gave me the best insight I have ever found into the historical reality of Southern culture during and after the Civil War. It’s value cannot be understated for providing that unique perspective on the past, but it is also a great work of literature in its own right.

• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas — Don’t let the size of this book deter you. You will breeze through all 1200 pages! It’s a masterpiece, exploring themes of forgiveness and revenge. Accessible without sacrificing depth, this is the perfect place to start if you are new to the classics.

• The Ballad of the White Horse by G.K. Chesterton — A paragon of lyrical verse, TBotWH portrays the victory of Christian hope over the despair of pagan ideology. Fun fact: It was the first poem I have read in a long time that moved me to tears.

• Letters from a Stoic by Seneca — Everyone needs a little philosophy in their lives. Seneca’s style is super fun and his sharp wisdom is very relevant for today’s culture How can human nature be so consistent between Ancient Rome and now? It never ceases to amaze me. (There are some issues with the Stoics’ position on emotions, but it’s still worth reading).

• Les Miserables by Victor Hugo — My friends, my friends! You need to read this book. If you are new to classics, maybe don’t start here. But get to it eventually. I recommend the Norman Denny translation. He captures the poetic spirit of Hugo’s romantic writing style. In comparison with his, other translations felt flat. (There is a lovely podcast called “How to Eat an Elephant” that will walk you through a close read of the book and its themes).

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte — This book still makes my heart ache, and I finished it three years ago. It discusses the tension between being true to your inner self, while also being true to your moral convictions. It celebrates the triumph of reason and virtue over passion.

• Heidi by Johanna Spyri² — This was the first book I read when I began sharing about my literary journey online. Even though it is a kid’s book, it doesn’t shy away from heart-rending topics such as suffering and God’s will. It affirms the assessment of C.S. Lewis, who said, “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty.”

• Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy — Everyone should experience a Thomas Hardy novel at some point in their life. This one tells the story of a beautiful, strong-willed, and careless woman, and the very real consequences that come from self-deception.

• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy — This is also one I would not recommend reading until one has a few other classics behind them. A storyline like this requires close reading skills to see what the author is really trying to get at. Nevertheless, I had to include it. Tolstoy writes with searing accuracy about the human heart.

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — There are so few good coming of age stories for girls, but this is among the greats. Reading it as an adult, I can see myself in every one of the March girls. It explores everything young women have to contend with in deciding who they will be. You simply won’t find wisdom like this in most modern books for girls.

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis — Yes, Lewis gets two places on my list. Sorry not sorry. If you have not read Narnia since your childhood, it’s time to revisit it. You won’t regret it.

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (trans. J.R.R. Tolkien) — A spooky tale of virtue and chivalry, asking the question of what it means to wed the knightly virtues of chivalry to the higher virtues of Christendom.

• The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte — I just finished this one and had to include it. It is a very Jane Eyre-esque book, but it has a style and story all its own. If you don’t mind minor spoilers, I shared a review of it last month here.

• King Henry V by Shakespeare — I know there are many more famous works of Shakespeare, but this one has been my absolute favorite ever since high school. It’s short, accessible, and entirely enjoyable. (There’s also a great movie version starring Kenneth Branagh that you can enjoy when you’re done).

• Robin Hood — I enjoyed Roger Lancelyn Green’s version (more suited to middle grade readers, but enjoyable for any age). Howard Pyle’s is also great. There is nothing like a romping tale of heroic outlaws who question the status quo and stay true to their king, even when being loyal is against the law. (When you’re done reading it, check out my recent post on Justice, Jesus, and Robin Hood).

• At the Back of the North Wind — I am so glad I finished this in time to include it. A longer review is forthcoming, but for now I will simply recommend it with all my heart. It so accurately depicts the longing for heaven and God, but in language that everyone can understand, which is the simple, clear, and poignant language of our desires.

1. If you *do* read LOTR this year, and if you’re interested in how Tolkien’s faith influenced the trilogy, I would love it if you checked out my book, The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism (click here).

2. For those who might be tempted to dismiss my children’s literature recommendations: These books have done as much (and often more) for my adult heart than any of the other titles on this list. Sometimes the simplest stories convey the deepest truths.