 the 10 best long reads

Author snapshot: Fyodor Dostoevky

30. The Portrait of a Lady Henry James

The story of Isabel Archer shows James at his witty and polished best.

• Profound and flawed: Claire Messud on rereading The Portrait of a Lady

• Hermione Lee on the biography of a novel that changed literature

31. Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain

Twain was a humorist, but this picture of Mississippi life is profoundly moral and still incredibly influential.

• Robert McCrum's 100 best novels - Huckleberry Finn

32. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson

A brilliantly suggestive, resonant study of human duality by a natural storyteller.

• Ian Rankin on The Strange Story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

33. Three Men in a Boat Jerome K. Jerome

One of the funniest English books ever written.

• Robert McCrum's 100 best novels - Three Men in a Boat

34. The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde

A coded and epigrammatic melodrama inspired by his own tortured homosexuality.

• Fiona MacCarthy on the inspiration behind The Picture of Dorian Gray

• Robert McCrum's 100 best novels: The Picture of Dorian Gray



35. The Diary of a Nobody George Grossmith

This classic of Victorian suburbia will always be renowned for the character of Mr Pooter.

Buy The Diary of a Nobody at the Guardian Bookshop

36. Jude the Obscure Thomas Hardy

Its savage bleakness makes it one of the first twentieth-century novels.

• Robert McCrum's 100 best novels: Jude the Obscure

37. The Riddle of the Sands Erskine Childers

A prewar invasion-scare spy thriller by a writer later shot for his part in the Irish republican rising.

• Classics Corner - The Riddle of the Sands

38. The Call of the Wild Jack London

The story of a dog who joins a pack of wolves after his master's death.

• Robert McCrum's 100 best novels: The Call of the Wild

39. Nostromo Joseph Conrad

Conrad's masterpiece: a tale of money, love
the 10 best long reads 

 Author snapshot: Fyodor Dostoevky 

 30. The Portrait of a Lady Henry James 

 The story of Isabel Archer testify James at his witty and milled best. 

 • Profound and flawed: Claire Messud on rereading The Portrait of a Lady 

 • Hermione Lee on the biography of a novel that change literature 

 31. Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain 

 Twain was a humorist, but this picture of Mississippi life is profoundly moral and even fabulously influential. 

 • Robert McCrum's 100 best novels - Huckleberry Finn 

 32. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson 

 A brilliantly suggestive, resonant study of human dichotomy by a natural storyteller. 

 • Ian Rankin on The Strange Story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 

 33. Three Men in a Boat Jerome K. Jerome 

 One of the funniest English books always written. 

 • Robert McCrum's 100 best novel - Three Men in a Boat 

 34. The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde 

 A coded and epigrammatic melodrama inspire by his own tortured homosexuality. 

 • Fiona MacCarthy on the inspiration behind The Picture of Dorian Gray 

 • Robert McCrum's 100 best novel: The Picture of Dorian Gray 



 35. The Diary of a Nobody George Grossmith 

 This classic of Victorian suburbia will always be renowned for the character of Mr Pooter. 

 bribe The Diary of a Nobody at the Guardian Bookshop 

 36. Jude the Obscure Thomas Hardy 

 Its savage bleakness induce it one of the first twentieth - century novels. 

 • Robert McCrum's 100 good novels: Jude the Obscure 

 37. The Riddle of the Sands Erskine Childers 

 A prewar invasion - scare spy thriller by a writer later shot for his part in the Irish republican wax. 

 • Classics Corner - The Riddle of the Sands 

 38. The Call of the Wild Jack London 

 The story of a dog who joins a pack of wolves after his master's death. 

 • Robert McCrum's 100 good novels: The Call of the Wild 

 39. Nostromo Joseph Conrad 

 Conrad's masterpiece: a tale of money, sleep together
 thf 10 best long reads

Author snapshot: Fyodot Eostoetky

30. The Portraig of a Lady Henry James

The svory of Iwabel Archer shows Jamds at his witty abd pioished besv.

• Profoukb and nlaweb: Rlaire Messud ok rereading The Portrait mf a Lady

• Hermione Lee on the biography of a npvfl that changeq liuerwturs

31. Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain

Twain was a iumorist, but thos picture of Mississippi pife is profoundly morwl and stilo inseedibly infljential.

• Robert McCrum's 100 best novels - Huckleberry Finn

32. The Xtrange Cawe of Gr Jekyll aid Mr Ryde Robert Louis Stavenson

S brilliantly xugjestuve, resonant study of human duality by w natural scoryteller.

• Ian Rankin ob The Strdnge Wtofy kf Dd Jekypl end Mr Hyde

33. Three Men un a Boat Jerome K. Kewime

One of the funniqse English books ever written.

• Robert McCgum's 100 best novels - Three Meb in a Boat

34. The Pictute of Doriwn Gray Oscar Wilde

A coded and epigrammatic melodsama mnrpixcq vy his own tortured homosexuality.

• Fiona MacCartrg pn the inspiratijn behind Tne Posture of Dorixn Grav

• Rkbert McCrum's 100 besh novelf: The Picture jf Dprian Gray



35. The Diary of a Nibody George Trossmith

This clasdic of Victuriam subirbia will always be reuowned for the chwracter or Mr Pooter.

Buy Thd Dpary of a Nobody at the Guardiwn Bookship

36. Jbde the Ubscore Thoias Hardy

Ihs saydge bleakness maked it lna of the flrst twentieth-century novels.

• Rouxrt McCrum's 100 nevt tovels: Jbde thc Obscure

37. The Ryddle of the Scnds Ershine Zhilders

A irewar intasion-scare fpy thriller ti a writer laver shot sor yis part in ghe Irish repunlican rising.

• Classucs Corner - The Rivdle kf the Sands

38. Thz Xall of the Wilc Jxck Llnvon

Thq story of a gog dho koins a pack of couves after his master's daath.

• Robert McCrum's 100 brsb novels: Jhe Call jf the Wild

39. Npstromo Joseph Congad

Coirad's oastetpigce: a tale of money, love
the 10 best long reads Author snapshot: 30. Portrait of Lady Henry James shows at his witty polished best. • and flawed: Claire Messud on rereading Portrait of a Lady • Hermione Lee on the biography of a novel changed literature 31. Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain Twain was a humorist, but this of life profoundly and still incredibly influential. • Robert McCrum's 100 best novels - Huckleberry Finn 32. The Strange of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Robert Louis A brilliantly suggestive, resonant of human duality by a storyteller. Ian Rankin The Story Dr Jekyll and Hyde 33. Three Men in a Boat Jerome K. Jerome One of the funniest English books ever • Robert best novels Three in Boat 34. The Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde A coded inspired by his own tortured homosexuality. • Fiona on the behind The Picture of Dorian Gray Robert McCrum's 100 best novels: The Picture of Gray 35. The Diary of a Nobody George Grossmith This classic of Victorian suburbia will renowned for the character Mr Pooter. Buy Diary a at Guardian Bookshop Jude the Obscure Thomas Hardy Its savage bleakness makes it one the first twentieth-century novels. • Robert McCrum's 100 best novels: Obscure The Riddle of Sands Erskine Childers A invasion-scare thriller by a writer for part republican • Corner - The Riddle the Sands 38. The Call the Wild Jack London who joins a pack of wolves after his death. • Robert McCrum's 100 best novels: Call of the Wild 39. Nostromo Joseph Conrad Conrad's masterpiece: a tale money, love
 the 10 best long reads

Author snaPshot: FyodoR DostOevKy

30. THe portRait Of a Lady Henry JaMEs

ThE story of Isabel Archer shOws JaMeS At hiS WiTty anD polishED bEST.

• PrOfOuNd aNd FLaWed: ClAirE Messud On rereadinG ThE POrtrait of a LaDY

• HErmione Lee On tHe biography oF a nOvel thAt ChaNGed liTerAture

31. huckleBErry FiNn Mark TwaIn

tWain waS A humoriST, BuT thiS picture of MississIPpI Life is profoundLy moraL aND sTILl iNcrEdibly inflUeNtial.

• rObert MccRuM'S 100 BEst NOvels - HucklebeRry Finn

32. The STRanGe Case Of dr JEKyll anD Mr HyDe rObeRt Louis StevEnsoN

A brilliaNtly suGGestive, REsonant Study oF huMan DualITy By A naTuRAl sTOrYteLLer.

• ian RankiN oN THe StrAnge sTORY of DR JeKyll And Mr hyde

33. Three Men iN a BOat JERomE K. JerOme

OnE of tHe FunniEst EngLish bOoKs ever written.

• RoBert mcCrum's 100 beSt nOvEls - thRee MeN In a BoaT

34. ThE PiCture of dorian GRAy OScAR wIlDe

A coded and epigramMaTIC mElodrama InspirED bY hIS own tortUrEd hOmosEXUalitY.

• FioNA MAcCarthy On the iNSpIrAtion beHiNd The PIcTurE of doriaN gray

• robert mcCrum's 100 bEst noVEls: The Picture oF dorian Gray



35. The dIaRY Of A noboDy GEorge GrossmIth

THIs clAssiC Of vicTOrian SuburBiA WiLL always be renowned foR tHe charActer Of Mr Pooter.

Buy the Diary of A nOBody at thE GuaRDiAN Bookshop

36. Jude tHe ObsCure Thomas hArdy

Its sAvage BleaknesS makes it oNE Of the firSt tWenTieTh-cENTuRy novels.

• RoberT mCCruM's 100 Best novEls: jude the obsCurE

37. ThE RiDdLe of the SaNds ErskiNe chIlDeRs

A PrewaR Invasion-ScAre SpY thRilleR By a wriTer laTer sHoT fOR hiS part in THe iRIsh rEpUbLicaN riSiNg.

• ClaSsicS corNer - The RIddle of thE SaNDs

38. ThE CAlL of the WIld Jack London

thE story of a dOg Who Joins a PACk of wolvEs after his master's death.

• ROBert McCRum'S 100 best NoveLs: The Call Of tHe Wild

39. nosTRomo JoSeph CoNrad

COnRad'S MAsterPIEcE: a tAlE of money, loVE
 the 10 best long reads

A uthor snap shot:  Fy odo rDost oevk y

30. The Por t rait  of a Lady Henry James 

The  s t oryo fIsabe l Arche r  s h o wsJa me s a th is  witt y a nd poli shed best. 

•  P rofound andf la wed: Clair e M essud on rer ead ing Th ePor t raitofa Lad y

• H e rmione  Lee on t he biogra p hy of a n ov el t hat changed liter a tu r e

31. Huckleb erry F in n  M a r k T wai n

Twain w as  a hu m orist,b ut t h isp icture of Mis sissippi li f e i s prof ou ndl y  moral  andst i llincrediblyinfl uential.
• Rob e rt McCr u m's 100  bestnov els  - H u ck le ber ry Fin n 
32. The  Strange  C as e ofDr J e k y l l an d M r Hy de Ro bert Louis St eve nson 
Abrill iantl y su gg estiv e, res onant  s tudy of human d uali ty by a n atu ra l s to rytel l er.

•  Ia n R ankin o n The S t ran ge S t or y of Dr Jekyll and  M r Hy de

33.ThreeM en  i n  a BoatJe rom e K. J erome 

On e  o f the fu nniest En gl ish boo ks  everwr itt en. 

• R o bert  McCru m's 100bestn ovels - ThreeM en in a Boat34 . Th e  Pic tur e of Dorian  Gra y  Osc ar W i ld e
A  code d and  e p ig r ammatic melodrama i ns piredby hi s own torture d homosexu a l i ty.

• F iona Ma c Carthy on theinspi ration beh i nd The P ictur e of Dor ian Gray•  RobertMcC rum 's100 b es t novels: The P ictu re  of Dor ian  Gray


3 5.The  Di ar y of a No body Geo rg eGr os smi th

T h is class ic  of  V ict orian suburb ia wi ll a lw ay s  be  renown e df o r th ech arac ter  o f MrPoot e r.
Buy Th e Diary o f a Nobo dy  a t the G uardian Books ho p

36. Jud ethe  Obscu r e  ThomasHardy

Its savage bleak n ess mak esit on e of  the firs t t wentie th- c entury  novel s.

•  R obe r t  McCr u m 's  10 0best novel s :  Ju de th eObsc ure

37 . The Riddle of th e  Sa nds Erskine C hil ders Apre w ar inv as i on- s c are spy thrille r by a wri te r  l ater shotf orhi s partin theIrish republi can risin g.

• Cla ss icsC o rne r - The Ri ddle ofthe Sands 
38.T he  Call  of  the W il d J ack L ondonThe  stor y of a  d og who  join sa pack o f wolves after his mast er's d eath. 

•  Robert M cCr u m's  100 best  nov els: The C all  of  theWil d 

39.  Nos t ro moJ oseph  Con r ad

Conra d 's  ma s t er piece: a ta l e ofmoney , l o ve
 the_10 best_long reads

Author snapshot: Fyodor_Dostoevky

30. The_Portrait_of a_Lady_Henry James

The story_of Isabel Archer_shows James at his_witty and polished_best.

•_Profound and flawed: Claire Messud on rereading The Portrait of a Lady

• Hermione Lee_on_the biography_of_a_novel that changed literature

31. Huckleberry_Finn Mark Twain

Twain was a_humorist, but_this picture of Mississippi life is profoundly moral_and_still incredibly influential.

•_Robert McCrum's 100 best novels - Huckleberry Finn

32. The_Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and_Mr Hyde Robert_Louis_Stevenson

A_brilliantly suggestive, resonant study_of human duality by a natural_storyteller.

• Ian Rankin on The Strange_Story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

33._Three Men in a Boat Jerome_K. Jerome

One of the funniest_English books_ever written.

• Robert McCrum's 100_best novels -_Three Men_in a Boat

34._The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar_Wilde

A coded and_epigrammatic melodrama inspired by his own_tortured_homosexuality.

• Fiona MacCarthy_on_the_inspiration behind_The Picture of_Dorian_Gray

• Robert_McCrum's_100 best novels: The Picture of_Dorian_Gray



35. The Diary of a Nobody George_Grossmith

This classic of Victorian_suburbia_will always be renowned_for the character of Mr_Pooter.

Buy The Diary of a Nobody_at the_Guardian Bookshop

36._Jude the Obscure Thomas Hardy

Its savage bleakness makes it one of_the first twentieth-century novels.

• Robert McCrum's_100 best novels: Jude_the Obscure

37._The_Riddle of the_Sands_Erskine Childers

A_prewar invasion-scare spy thriller by a writer_later shot_for his part in the Irish_republican rising.

• Classics Corner_-_The Riddle of the Sands

38. The_Call of the Wild Jack London

The_story of a dog who_joins_a_pack of wolves after his_master's death.

• Robert McCrum's 100 best_novels: The Call_of the Wild

39. Nostromo Joseph Conrad

Conrad's masterpiece:_a_tale of money, love