5 famous books of literature. Harper Lee, believed to be one of the most influential authors to have ever existed, famously published only a single novel (up until its controversial sequel was published in 2015 just before her death). Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was published in 1960 and became an immediate classic of literature. The novel examines racism in the American South through the innocent wide eyes of a clever young girl named Jean Louise (“Scout”) Finch. Its iconic characters, most notably the sympathetic and just lawyer and father Atticus Finch, served as role models and changed perspectives in the United States at a time when tensions regarding race were high. To Kill a Mockingbird earned the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1961 and was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1962, giving the story and its characters further life and influence over the American social sphere. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is distinguished as one of the greatest texts for introducing students to the art of reading literature critically (which means you may have read it in school). The novel is told from the perspective of a young man named Nick Carraway who has recently moved to New York City and is befriended by his eccentric nouveau riche neighbor with mysterious origins, Jay Gatsby. The Great Gatsby provides an insider’s look into the Jazz Age of the 1920s in United States history while at the same time critiquing the idea of the “American Dream.” Perhaps the most famous aspect of the novel is its cover art—a piercing face projected onto a dark blue night sky and lights from a cityscape—an image that is also found, in a slightly different configuration, within the text itself as a key symbol. The late Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez published his most famous work, One Hundred Years of Solitude, in 1967. The novel tells the story of seven generations of the Buendía family and follows the establishment of their town Macondo until its destruction along with the last of the family’s descendents. In fantastical form, the novel explores the genre of magic realism by emphasizing the extraordinary nature of commonplace things while mystical things are shown to be common. Márquez highlights the prevalence and power of myth and folktale in relating history and Latin American culture. The novel won many awards for Márquez, leading the way to his eventual honor of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982 for his entire body of work, of which One Hundred Years of Solitude is often lauded as his most triumphant. E.M. Forster wrote his novel A Passage to India after multiple trips to the country throughout his early life. The book was published in 1924 and follows a Muslim Indian doctor named Aziz and his relationships with an English professor, Cyril Fielding, and a visiting English schoolteacher named Adela Quested. When Adela believes that Aziz has assaulted her while on a trip to the Marabar caves near the fictional city of Chandrapore, where t
2. 1.To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
u - Published in 1960, set in the 1930s in Alabama
u - Focuses on themes of racism, injustice, family, and morality
u - Protagonist Scout sees the world through the eyes
of a child and learns about the bigotry and prejudice
in her community
3. Theme
u - Racism and prejudice
u - Morality and integrity
u - Growing up and loss of innocence
u - The power of empathy and compassion
4. 2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
u - Published in 1925, set in the Roaring Twenties
u - Explores the decadence, excess, and disillusionment
of the American dream from the perspective of narrator Nick Carraway
u - The titular character, Jay Gatsby, represents the
corruptibility of wealth and status
u - Protagonist Nick Carraway is a passive observer
to the events of the novel
5. Theme
u - The corruption of the American Dream
u - Wealth and excess
u - Death and decay
u - Illusions and delusions
6. 3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
u - Published in 1813, set in early 19th century England
u - Satirical examination of societal expectations
surrounding marriage, social status, and wealth
u - Protagonist Elizabeth Bennet navigates through
various courtships and societal pressures,
ultimately choosing love over societal expectations
7. Theme
u - Marriage and gender roles
u - Social class and status
u - The dangers of prejudice and pride
u - The importance of self-awareness and growth
8. 4. 1984 by George Orwell
u - Published in 1949, set in a dystopian future
u - Explores themes of totalitarianism, government control,
and individuality
u - Protagonist Winston Smith challenges the oppressive
regime's attempts to control language and thought
9. Theme
u - Government control and totalitarianism
u - The dangers of propaganda and censorship
u - The power of language and thought
u - Paranoia and fear
10. 5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
u - Published in 1951, set in New York City in the 1950s
u - Protagonist Holden Caulfield is a disaffected youth
navigating the pressures and conformity of post-war American society
u - The novel explores themes of isolation, innocence,
and the struggles of adolescence
11. Theme
u - Alienation and disconnection
u - Phoniness and superficiality
u - The complexities of adolescence
u - Coming of age and maturity
