It wasn’t until the 8th century that someone collected all these tales into a single book, which we now know today as The Arabian Nights and Tales from 1,001 Nights. The Arabian Nights is a collection of tales and stories told throughout Asia for centuries. The Arabian Nights: Tales From 1,001 Nights By Unknown Authors Like with The Iliad, certain descriptions go on forever with unnecessary details.It follows on from The Iliad but works as a stand-alone epic.The tale of Odysseus is a classic myth known for its adventure.It follows the story of Odysseus, one of the great figures in Greek mythology, as he wanders for 10 years following the Trojan War. Like The Iliad, The Odyssey was likely written during the 7th or 8th century BC and today is one of the most well-known war epics in Western literature. Certain descriptions can go on and on and feel irrelevant.įollowing on from The Iliad, we have another epic from Homer, The Odyssey.Still deeply relevant after so many centuries of history.

Great option for someone who loves Greek mythology.

It vividly tells both the heroism and horror of both men and gods during the Trojan War, making this epic a grim but engaging poetic read. Many believe that The Iliad was written sometime in the 7th or 8th century BC and although this epic is over two millennia old, it is still a relevant and readable book today.

One of the first epics in Western literature is Homer’s The Iliad. So, here are some of the best classicals you should check out! The Iliad By Homer Some were written during ancient times or are so old we no longer know the true identity of the poet.īecause classicals are so old, there are only a few in this category – but they are still just as emotive, challenging, and engaging as the others on this list. However, if you want to start reading classic literature, it can be difficult to know where to start and which ones should be at the very top of your must-read list.Ĭheck out the list below for some of the best classic books you need to read! Best Classical Books To ReadĬlassicals are the oldest of the classics. They are thought-provoking mirrors of ourselves and also allow us to learn more about people, places, and conflicts we will never truly experience.

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