List Challenges
Travel Movies Books Food Other
Sign In
Trending
New
Popular
type to search
Sign In
 Make a List Browse Lists Search Lists Leaders Help / Contact Newsletter

100 Must-Read Lesser-Known Classics - Page 2

Here are my criteria: I decided on an arbitrary end date of 1950, in order to focus on earlier books and avoid the troublesome category of "modern classics." (What is a modern classic, anyway? Who knows!) I also tried to pick books that aren't commonly taught in high schools and colleges. Your mileage will vary with this one, obviously. But I wanted this list to be a source of suggestions for expanding your classics reading beyond the usual suspects from school. This list is also very much from a U.S. perspective: in other countries and cultures some of these books may be commonly read and taught. But since I'm familiar with the U.S. educational system, I'm using that as my starting point.
So, here's the list! The books are arranged in chronological order, with the author's nationality and the publication date (in many cases the approximate date) listed.
-Rebecca Hussey
462 users · 4,082 views
 
from bookriot.com · made by Shannon_2121
avg. score: 4 of 100 (4%)
required scores: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 
type to search

How many have you read?

Page 2 of 3
41
Lady Audley's Secret (Mary Elisabeth Braddon)
Lady Audley's Secret
Mary Elisabeth Braddon
42
The Story of Avis (Elizabeth Stuart Phelps)
The Story of Avis
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
43
A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains (Isabella L. Bird)
A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains
Isabella L. Bird
44
Travels With a Donkey
Travels With a Donkey
45
The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas (Machado De Assis)
The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas
Machado De Assis
46
Hester (Margaret Oliphant)
Hester
Margaret Oliphant
47
The Story of an African Farm (Olive Schreiner)
The Story of an African Farm
Olive Schreiner
48
Hunger (Knut Hamsun)
Hunger
Knut Hamsun
49
Effi Briest
Effi Briest
50
Trilby (George Du Maurier)
Trilby
George Du Maurier
51
Elizabeth and Her German Garden (Elizabeth Von Arnim)
Elizabeth and Her German Garden
Elizabeth Von Arnim
52
The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales (Charles Chesnutt)
The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales
Charles Chesnutt
53
I Await the Devil's Coming
I Await the Devil's Coming
54
The Man Who Was Thursday (G.K. Chesterton)
The Man Who Was Thursday
G.K. Chesterton
55
Jakob Von Gunten (Robert Walser)
Jakob Von Gunten
Robert Walser
56
Kokoro (Natsume Soseki)
Kokoro
Natsume Soseki
57
Herland (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)
Herland
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
58
Tender Buttons (Gertrude Stein)
Tender Buttons
Gertrude Stein
59
The Home and the World (Rabindranath Tagore)
The Home and the World
Rabindranath Tagore
60
Diary of a Madman
Diary of a Madman
61
The Return of the Soldier (Rebecca West)
The Return of the Soldier
Rebecca West
62
Demian
Demian
63
The Sheik (Edith Maude Hull)
The Sheik
Edith Maude Hull
64
Kristin Lavransdatter
Kristin Lavransdatter
65
Cane
Cane
66
Zeno's Conscience (Italo Svevo)
Zeno's Conscience
Italo Svevo
67
The Home-Maker (Dorothy Canfield Fisher)
The Home-Maker
Dorothy Canfield Fisher
68
There Is Confusion (Jessie Redmon Fauset)
There Is Confusion
Jessie Redmon Fauset
69
Bread Givers (Anzia Yezierska)
Bread Givers
Anzia Yezierska
70
Chaka the Zulu
Chaka the Zulu
71
Lolly Willowes
Lolly Willowes
72
Home to Harlem
Home to Harlem
73
Quicksand (Nella Larsen)
Quicksand
Nella Larsen
74
Dona Barbara (Romulo Gallegos)
Dona Barbara
Romulo Gallegos
75
A High Wind in Jamaica (Richard Hughes)
A High Wind in Jamaica
Richard Hughes
76
Dance Night (Dawn Powell)
Dance Night
Dawn Powell
77
A Note in Music (Rosamond Lehmann)
A Note in Music
Rosamond Lehmann
78
Devil'S Cub (Georgette Heyer)
Devil'S Cub
Georgette Heyer
79
Frost in May
Frost in May
80
Testament of Youth (Vera Brittain)
Testament of Youth
Vera Brittain
Page 2 of 3
Click books you've read
Lists Similar to '100 Must-Read Lesser-Known Classics'
4 Lesser Known Films From 25 Lesser Known Directors
4 Lesser Known Films From 25 Lesser Known Directors
157
100
The English Teacher Reflects: More Lesser Known Classics That People Should Read
The English Teacher Reflects: More Lesser Known Classics That People Should Read
10,260
110
Lesser-Known Classics of the Twentieth Century
Lesser-Known Classics of the Twentieth Century
557
25
Lesser Known Classics
Lesser Known Classics
423
134
50+ Lesser Known Classics in 5 Years
50+ Lesser Known Classics in 5 Years
327
62
Lesser Known Gems From Well-Known Authors
Lesser Known Gems From Well-Known Authors
991
100
Lesser Known Films From Well Known Directors You've Probably Never Seen
Lesser Known Films From Well Known Directors You've Probably Never Seen
348
80
. . . Among Other Works: Lesser-Know Plays by Better-Know Playwrights
. . . Among Other Works: Lesser-Know Plays by Better-Know Playwrights
66
25
18 Lesser-Known Books That People Utterly Adore and Need More People to Read, ASAP
18 Lesser-Known Books That People Utterly Adore and Need More People to Read, ASAP
202
20
Lesser Known Books Read During CH's 90s Childhood
Lesser Known Books Read During CH's 90s Childhood
139
60
Offbeat and Lesser-Known Histories Schlocko Has Read for "The Electables" Podcast
Offbeat and Lesser-Known Histories Schlocko Has Read for "The Electables" Podcast
78
25
J-RPG Musts and Classics
J-RPG Musts and Classics
42
52
Hidden Gems - Lesser Known Movies
Hidden Gems - Lesser Known Movies
9,860
94
Lesser Known Disney Characters
Lesser Known Disney Characters
6,711
147
200 Lesser Known Animated Movies That Are Awesome
200 Lesser Known Animated Movies That Are Awesome
2,865
200
Lesser Known Disney Movies
Lesser Known Disney Movies
2,003
126
Great, Lesser Known Movies You've Probably Ignored
Great, Lesser Known Movies You've Probably Ignored
1,587
320
100 Lesser Known Movies From the Last 100 Years
100 Lesser Known Movies From the Last 100 Years
1,134
100
Amazing but Lesser-Known Books
Amazing but Lesser-Known Books
757
166
Lesser Known Great Books
Lesser Known Great Books
751
45
Lesser Known Actresses
Lesser Known Actresses
739
33
Lesser Known Films You've Never Seen (Probably)
Lesser Known Films You've Never Seen (Probably)
596
100
Interesting but Lesser Know Places Around the World
Interesting but Lesser Know Places Around the World
520
40
101 Lesser Known Movies
101 Lesser Known Movies
404
101
40 Random Lesser Known and Forgotten Films
40 Random Lesser Known and Forgotten Films
384
40
100 Lesser Known Movies to Watch at Home
100 Lesser Known Movies to Watch at Home
366
100
Lesser Known Travel Destinations
Lesser Known Travel Destinations
349
124
501 Lesser Known Gems
501 Lesser Known Gems
343
501
Lesser Known Movies
Lesser Known Movies
338
32
An Assortment of Lesser-Known Gems
An Assortment of Lesser-Known Gems
329
131
All Similar Lists
Newsletter · Help/Contact · Privacy · Copyright Claim   © 2025 App Spring, Inc. · This product uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb.
Seen It - Movies & TV 
Android & iOS
Seen It is a new app from the creators of List Challenges. You can view movies and shows in one place and filter by streaming provider, genre, release year, runtime, and rating (Rotten Tomatoes, Imdb, and/or Metacritic). Also, you can track what you've seen, want to see, like, or dislike, as well as track individual seasons or episodes of shows. In addition, you can see the most watched/liked stuff amongst your friends. Learn more at SEENIT.FUN