Before we whipped out our old high school syllabi and dug deep into our libraries to start selecting contenders for this list, we first had to answer the question, “How do we define a classic?” The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might guess, though there’s a lot to be said for the old adage, “You know it when you see it” (or, in this case, hear it). But as the history of great literature is vast and deep, we knew we needed some rules of the road.
We debated various points in history as cutoffs (Turn of the century? Old enough to be in public domain? The American bicentennial?) and finally settled on works that were originally conceived in print at least 50 years ago, which felt like a nice round number of years to allow great writing to marinate. Additionally, we wanted to only recognize works that have either particular historical importance or that still vividly resonate today. We believe all of these selections below meet that criteria. And, of course, most critically, each of our picks had to be fabulous in audio. So dust off your aspirational listening list—we have some amazing additions you don’t want to miss.
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Published in 1953 and still a painfully relevant listen about race relations in America, this profound story is brought to life by actor Joe Morton, who narrates with gentle empathy.
If Melville’s seafaring classic is your literary white whale, fear not. Read by Willliam Hootkins, the novel is even weirder, funnier, and more enthralling than its towering reputation suggests.
Not only Stephen King’s first published novel, Carrie is one of his most iconic—and it's narrated by the star of the 1976 film adaptation, Sissy Spacek. Good luck pressing pause on this one.
North and South is perfect for fans of Pride and Prejudice who don’t mind a little more grit. Juliet Stevenson adds depth to the story with her gift for dialects.
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s performance is both a work of art and a gift to anyone hoping to tackle ambitious literature. Her passion for Tolstoy’s masterpiece shines through, making this classic more accessible and enticing than ever.
During many years of false imprisonment, Edmond Dantès meticulously plans his escape—and the perfect revenge. This 19th-century masterpiece is performed by renowned actor, poet, and voice artist Bill Homewood.
This epic exploration of the struggle between good and evil plays out among two families in California’s Salinas Valley. Many, including Steinbeck himself, deem it the Nobel-winning author's greatest work.
Baldwin’s gifts for lyricism and humanity shine in this great novel of sexuality and desire in postwar Paris, a historical benchmark in gay representation strengthened by a timeless performance from Dan Butler.
Wielding a poet’s radiant intonation, the legendary Maya Angelou recounts the story of her life, crafting a dazzling portrait of triumph over adversity.
Thandiwe Newton brilliantly performs the achingly romantic Gothic tale we all had to read in high school. There’s no better way to revisit this Brontë classic.
Mario Puzo's twisting saga of crime, power, and family is performed in this incomparable 50th anniversary edition by the great Joe Mantegna.
George Eliot’s Middlemarch explores human nature, the status of women, and social reform. Juliet Stevenson’s performance is both enduring and unparalleled.
In a groundbreaking feat for the time, The Charioteer offers a positive portrayal of gay men and a sincere plea for tolerance in 1940s England, which is only enhanced by Joe Jameson’s performance.
The story of Billy Pilgrim, a WWII vet who becomes “unstuck in time," is one of Vonnegut’s masterpieces, with deep psychological and social commentary buried in the dark humor.
Plath’s only full-length novel tackles mental illness and the limitations of womanhood in midcentury America. Maggie Gyllenhaal brilliantly taps into the anguish of protagonist Esther Greenwood.
Downton Abbey star and Golden Globe winner Joanne Froggatt performs Emily Brontë’s Gothic classic (her only published novel), a turbulent tale of love, misunderstanding, and revenge.
Ken Kesey's searing takedown of America's psychiatric institutions is unforgettable for its characters, including the cold Nurse Ratched and jail-dodging McMurphy, both brought to life by John C. Reilly’s earthy intonation.
Crime and Punishment showcases Dostoyevsky’s piercing psychological acumen in a masterful detective story; Anthony Heald grippingly portrays Raskolnikov’s turbulent struggle of transgression and redemption.
Marcus Aurelius's meditations focus on duty, forgiveness, brotherhood, strength, and more. With rich narration by Richard Steen, an ordained Buddhist monk, this audiobook makes a perfect listen for any philosophical beginner.
This unflinching account of one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders is one of the all-time best nonfiction listens, illuminated by a masterful performance from screen legend Laurence Fishburne.
All is not warm and fuzzy in this community of rabbits—impeccably developed by Doctor Who's Peter Capaldi—facing warring factions, oppression, and terrifying moments in the woods.
A parody on the exploits of medieval knights, Miguel de Cervantes’s Spanish classic is an anchor of the fantasy genre, and George Guidall’s performance ignites the dreamer in all of us.
Tessa Thompson, star of the 2021 film adaptation, shines in Nella Larsen’s classic novel about the cost of racism and “passing” in 1920s America.
Take a trip with Ulysses, a classic so impeccably crafted it’s been said that should Dublin fall, the city could be rebuilt using Joyce’s descriptions alone.
Traversing a wide range of settings—jazz clubs, natural landscapes, seaside taverns—Hughes’s debut collection of poetry soars, especially when voiced by acclaimed performer Dion Graham.
Aslan may be the most majestic of C.S. Lewis’s characters, but Screwtape is his wittiest—and perhaps even wisest. We love the deadpan delivery Joss Ackland brings to this acerbic and very funny tale.
Nabokov’s meticulous attention to the sound of his novel makes the audiobook, narrated by noted actor Jeremy Irons, the perfect way to experience the perverse story of pedophile Humbert Humbert.
Caro’s Pulitzer-winning biography of Robert Moses is one of the most influential works of nonfiction from the 20th century—and Robertson Dean’s performance makes it easy to lose yourself in.
Though her story is set in the 1920s, Kitty Fane could easily be an image-obsessed Instagrammer, kicked offline and forced to face reality. There’s something endlessly recognizable in her evolution, brilliantly captured by Kate Reading.
Santiago hasn’t caught a fish in 84 days. But on day 85, the elder fisherman begins a battle with an oversized marlin. The inimitable Donald Sutherland performs this classic Hemingway novella about the perseverance of the human spirit.
In this bar-raising rendition of The Metamorphosis—starring Edoardo Ballerini’s impeccable narration, Susan Bernofsky's translation, and an intro by David Cronenberg—“Kafkaesque” is indeed the highest of compliments.
Peter Firth, who played Angel Clare in Polanski's 1979 screen adaptation, narrates the heart-wrenching story of Tess, whose plight—the right to rise above her past and the recriminations of an unjust society—continues to resonate with women today.
Academy Award winner Riz Ahmed shines in his performance of Kahlil Gibran’s collection of seminal poems, first published in 1923 and later considered the Bible of 1960s counterculture.
A feat of writing and performance, Orson Welles’s supremely effective audio drama triggered a media frenzy upon its original 1938 broadcast—and it still awes and delights.
The themes of race and gender roles in Hurston’s classic arguably remain as important now as ever, brilliantly performed by legendary actress, playwright, and civil rights activist Ruby Dee.
Isherwood's classic is a somber yet dryly funny portrayal of a man grappling with loneliness, alienation, grief, and his sexuality—brought to life by Simon Prebble.
Though Lawrence's novel scandalized England—and led to a wild obscenity trial—it brought erotic fiction out of the shadows and into the cultural discourse. Lydia West voices a revolutionary classic with passion.
Performed by Humphrey Bower, this magical and moving French classic unspools lessons on loneliness and belonging that remain relevant to listeners of all ages.
Voltaire, a pivotal figure in the Enlightenment, made his mark with this satiric triumph following the woes of a young man who fell in love with the wrong woman.
Austen's best known work and one of the most beloved romance novels of all time, performed by Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike. Need we explain why we so ardently admire and love this classic?
Written during the 5th century BC, this is the oldest classic on our list. Sun Tzu's principles remain applicable today, and narrator Aidan Gillen injects a lively undercurrent to the collection of war stories.
Audie Award-winning performer Frank Muller takes what many consider to be the greatest war novel of all time and turns it into a poignant, gripping, and immersive narrative experience.
Actor, comedian, and carpenter Nick Offerman brings his distinctive baritone and fine-tuned comic versatility to Twain's storied novel, not simply narrating Tom Sawyer but rejoicing in it.
Though not published until after his death, Maurice imagined a future seemingly impossible in the author's lifetime—a happily-ever-after for his two leading men. Peter Firth narrates this Forster classic.
Deftly navigating Swift’s occasionally cumbersome 18th-century language, David Hyde Pierce captures his wit and irony, bringing to life the fantastical imagined lands and languages Gulliver encounters.
Claire Danes brings a measured, thoughtful gravitas to the first widely published edition of this Homeric epic translated by a woman, unspooling the timeless tale of Odysseus’s journey home.
A must-listen for mystery fans, The Moonstone is considered the first full-length procedural detective novel, establishing many of the genre's tropes. British actor Peter Jeffrey delivers all the bluster and charm.
Academy Award winner Emma Thompson exquisitely unfolds this literary psychological thriller, following a governess working at a country estate where things are not quite right.
No one captured WWII quite like Joseph Heller did, foregrounding the bureaucratic absurdity and brutal insanity of war—brilliantly mixed with a strong dose of humor.
Set in 1930s Chicago, Wright's powerful novel is an unsparing reflection on being Black in America and the hopelessness felt by impoverished peoples nationwide.
Only Clarice Lispector could wring such depths of existential horror and hallucinatory strangeness from a “plot” that consists of killing a cockroach—you just have to hear it to believe it.
Jonathan Davis’s narrative take on Camus's existentialist masterpiece holds space for both the story's original genius and translator Matthew Ward’s subtly modern air.
Where would sci-fi or steampunk be without Jules Verne? Add in Tim Curry’s narration and you have a listen that reminds us why we fell in love with stories in the first place.
Performed by actor Russell Tovey, this is one of the most infamous queer-coded novels in English literature—even cited as evidence against Wilde in his 1895 sodomy trial.
Performed by Janis Ian and Jean Smart, this Grammy-nominated listen is a slow-burn romantic novel about two small-town women who defy their families to start a life together in 19th-century New England.
Filled with whimsical characters such as the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter, Carroll's beloved madcap classic is enlivened further by a shimmering performance from superstar Scarlett Johansson.
Sissy Spacek’s clear-as-a-bell Southern lilt immediately places you in young Scout Finch’s world, primed and ready for Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize–winning story of honor and injustice.
It’s a unique challenge to voice an animal, but Pablo Schreiber expertly captures the perspective of Buck, the canine hero of London's classic tale of adventure and survival in the Yukon.
Narrator Will Patton gives life to this stream-of-consciousness tale about a reckless road trip, evoking nostalgia for the endless possibilities of youth.
Brave quests, monstrous beasts, valiant battle scenes—there’s a lot packed into one of the oldest epics ever told, and legendary narrator George Guidall does it all.
Audie Award-winning narrator Richard Armitage, with his signature British lilt, offers a heartfelt rendering of classic romantic poetry from Lord Byron, William Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and more.
Viktor E. Frankl combines philosophical treatise with survival memoir, creating something greater than the sum of the two. Simon Vance illuminates all facets of this extraordinary account, the heartbreaking and the academic alike.
While Dracula is riveting in its own right, the audiobook is truly hair-raising, bringing together Alan Cumming, Tim Curry, and a cast of award-winning narrators to tell the bloodsucking tale that continues to inspire horror stories.
From a foreboding housekeeper to a massive eerie mansion, this tense, twisty Gothic hits all the right notes to draw you in—and narrator Anna Massey keeps your attention until the very last word.
Rich in romanticism and endearing characters, My Ántonia is a stirring evocation of Nebraska’s prairie life and landscape. This version stars Jeff Cummings and an introduction by Ken Burns.
Waugh's most lauded work is an examination of memory that details the lives and times of a wealthy family living in the enormous Brideshead Castle—voiced by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons.
A lush work of magical realism, García Márquez’s gripping tale of turbulent romance is skillfully narrated by bilingual performer Armando Durán, who pulls listeners into this immortal love story.
An epic of politics, mysticism, and imperialism set on a desert planet, Herbert’s Dune Saga in many ways defined the sci-fi genre. And this Audie Award-winning full-cast performance does it justice.
What makes this edgy thriller so endlessly appealing is Highsmith’s insight into the ruthless Ripley, who pursues the life he wants at any cost. Kevin Kenerly’s jittery narration amps up the unease.
Murasaki Shikibu’s 11th-century novel, the first in Japanese, flows beautifully in Dennis Washburn’s fluid, approachable translation and the pitch-perfect casting of narrator Brian Nishii.
Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking story is made even more suspenseful by Dan Stevens, whose cool yet clearly pained voice crafts an intricate portrait of Dr. Frankenstein’s inner turmoil.
Isaac Asimov is synonymous with the Golden Age of Sci-Fi, with good reason—in I, Robot, he revolutionized the genre by introducing the Three Laws of Robotics. "Golden Voice" Scott Brick narrates.
Tolkien's work is the very pillar of the fantasy genre. Hear his magnum opus as it was meant to be told—through the multifaceted, dynamic performance of Rings alum Andy Serkis.
His 1845 autobiography shocked the world with its firsthand account of slavery. Almost 180 years later, Douglass’s eloquence and leadership continue to inspire, shining through in narrator Raymond Hearn’s urgent baritone.
Which work is Dickens's greatest? For us, the answer ultimately came down to Richard Armitage, whose performance brings the author's most autobiographical novel to profound, new heights.
You may have read 1984, but hearing it in audio is a whole different experience. Simon Prebble shows incredible range, offering multitudes of accents and underscoring the novel’s dark, looming feel.
Scott Brick delivers a commanding performance of this haunting cyberpunk staple—the basis for Blade Runner—that follows bounty hunter Rick Deckard on a dismal assignment to eliminate six androids posing as humans.
This comprehensive collection of Holmes’s exploits is performed by the singularly talented English actor Stephen Fry, who manages to accentuate both the wry humor and suspense of each story.
Quiet and dignified, John Williams's under-the-radar classic is a masterclass in form following meaning. You will find yourself in turns heartbroken and utterly gripped by the harrowing experience of an ordinary life.
Mirron E. Willis breathes fresh power and spirit into Du Bois’s seminal work on the Black American experience and the “double consciousness” that comes from living in a racist culture.
David Horovitch lends his polished voice to this still-poignant portrayal of upper-class New York society, an instant classic that earned Edith Wharton a Pulitzer Prize in 1921.
Nobel Prize winner Hermann Hesse’s most famous and influential novel follows a young protagonist seeking the meaning of existence while wrestling with the obstacles and temptations of everyday life.
English icon Michael York (Logan’s Run) imbues Huxley’s eerily believable vision of the future with new layers, skillfully flipping between characters that are at turns brooding, sarcastic, despairing, and sensitive.
S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age classic approaches boyhood and belonging with nuance, demonstrating that people can be good and evil, tough and scared. Performed by Jim Fyfe, the story remains golden even decades on.
Is there a more perfect artistic experience than the short stories of Chekhov? Maybe just one—when they’re read by master narrator Richard Armitage, who introduces each with an enlightening overview.
Among the most intimate and heartbreaking accounts of the Holocaust, this glimpse into the everyday life of a Jewish teen in hiding from the Nazis is unforgettable. Selma Blair brings a fittingly gentle cadence to Anne's story.
Truman Capote birthed a genre with his true crime masterpiece about a quadruple murder in rural Kansas and its unforgettable aftermath. Acclaimed narrator Scott Brick’s performance is equally timeless and chilling.
Read by the late author himself, Lord of the Flies offers enduring lessons on human nature, childhood innocence, and the importance of relying on our own reason and intelligence.
Morrison’s searing debut novel, powerfully narrated by the author herself, introduced the unforgettable Pecola Breedlove, a Black girl whose fervent prayer was to be seen and valued by others.
Performed by Samuel L. Jackson, this novel is the perfect introduction to Himes’s trademark dark comedy, sharp social commentary, and the entire Harlem Detective series.
Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel’s account of his time detained at Auschwitz as a young man is recalled with a crystalline starkness that is both gutting and deeply necessary.
Listening to Fitzgerald's classic further highlights its excess-laden world and brilliant character study. Jake Gyllenhaal slides into the voice of iconic narrator Nick Carraway and brings the rest of the characters to life with ease.
A must-listen for pirate fans, especially with Pirates of the Caribbean’s Kevin McNally at the helm, this classic tells the story of young Jim Hawkins and his treasure map where (of course) X marks the spot.
Beautiful, raw, complex, and simmering with both rage and love, Graham Greene's classic is delivered to new heights by Colin Firth, who fully embodies Bendrix’s immense pain and longing.
A powerful exploration of the abuse women suffer in the name of health care, this novella will shock, disturb, and enrage. Jo Myddleton’s voice charts the course of the story, calm at first, then rising in desperation.
Experience this classic on power as you never have before, narrated with a cunning, crisp edge by Grover Gardner and providing the historical context essential to fully grasping Machiavelli’s political perspective.
Legendary marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson forever changed the way we view and interact with the natural world. Kaiulani Lee voices the classic widely credited with sparking the modern environmental movement.
Judy Blume’s influential YA classic illustrates her ability to directly address taboo issues without judgment or moralizing, something that remains too rare in kidlit. The funny and heartfelt tale is beautifully performed by Laura Hamilton.
Agatha Christie is a legend of the mystery genre, and this novel emphasizes that truth. Dan Stevens’s captivating performance firmly roots you in the isolated mansion, as tension mounts with each disappearance.
Our heroine may live in a run-down castle in early 20th-century England, but this coming-of-age tale is timeless. Romance, scandal, and sibling rivalry, all steeped in bohemian Merchant Ivory-esque nostalgia courtesy of performer Jenny Agutter.
