Written in Middle English during the 14th century, The Canterbury Tales follows a group of pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury, each sharing a story to entertain their fellow travelers. Through tales of love, greed, chivalry, and trickery, Chaucer paints a vivid and satirical portrait of medieval society. The collection is celebrated for its diverse voices, rich characterizations, and enduring insight into human nature.
An English poet and writer, widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages. He is best known for The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury. Chaucer's work offers a vibrant and satirical portrayal of medieval English society, exploring themes of morality, class, and human nature with wit and keen observation, profoundly influencing the development of English literature.
A landmark anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin tells the story of enslaved man Tom and the brutal realities of slavery in 19th-century America. With vivid characters and emotional power, it galvanized abolitionist movements and shaped public opinion like no other book of its time. Though controversial for its portrayals today, it remains a pivotal work in American literature and history, sparking empathy and national debate.
Set in the rich farmland of the Salinas Valley, California, this powerful, often brutal novel, follows the interwined destinies of two families - the Trasks and the Hamiltons - whose generations hopelessly re-enact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. Here Steinbeck created some of his most memorable characters and explored his most enduring themes- the mystery of indentity; the inexplicability of love, and the murderous consequences of love's absence.
Yevgeny Zamyatin's "We" is a seminal piece of dystopian literature that prefigures many themes explored by later classic works like Orwell's "1984" and Huxley's "Brave New World." Set in the highly regimented One State, a society where individuals are mere cogs in a larger machine and personal freedom is subjugated to an absolute and oppressive ideology, the novel explores the nature of individuality and freedom through the protagonist, D-503, a mathematician who begins to question the infallibility of the state after falling in love with a mysterious woman. Zamyatin's work is notable not just for its powerful narrative and rich characterizations, but also for its incisive critique of authoritarianism and its enduring philosophical questions about the human condition, making it a profound and timeless read.
by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" is a profound dystopian novel that delves into the consequences of a society bereft of critical thinking and free expression. Set in a future where books are banned and 'firemen' burn any that are found, the narrative follows Guy Montag, a fireman who begins to question his role in suppressing knowledge. The novel explores themes of censorship, the dehumanizing effects of technology, and the power of literature to inspire change. Bradbury's incisive commentary on conformity and intellectual repression remains remarkably pertinent, making it a timeless critique of society's foibles and the resilience of the human spirit in the pursuit of truth.