10 Classics Ranked from the Easiest to the Hardest to Read

Easiest to Read - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A modern classic set in the 1920s Jazz Age, The Great Gatsby is known for its straightforward language and captivating story about love, wealth, and the American dream.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel explores themes of racial injustice and moral growth. It’s engaging, with a strong narrative that is easy to follow.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

A delightful tale of romance, manners, and family in 19th-century England. Austen’s witty prose makes this an enjoyable and relatively accessible read.

1984 by George Orwell

Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece is both thought-provoking and easy to read, with its straightforward writing style and powerful social commentary.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

 Another Orwell classic, Animal Farm is a short, allegorical novella about the rise of totalitarianism. Simple in structure but profound in meaning.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Often cited as the first science fiction novel, Frankenstein presents a gripping story with easy-to-understand language, though some of its themes are complex.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

A tale of obsession and revenge, Moby Dick can be difficult due to its lengthy passages and dense language, but the adventure is worth the challenge.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Known for its intense emotions and dark themes, Wuthering Heights may be challenging because of its non-linear timeline and multiple narrators.

Ulysses by James Joyce

Joyce’s modernist masterpiece is infamous for its complex narrative structure, stream-of-consciousness writing, and vast array of literary references.

Hardest to Read - War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

This epic novel is considered one of the most challenging classics, both for its sheer length and the extensive cast of characters. Tolstoy’s exploration of Russian society is monumental, but it requires dedication.