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One thing I have noticed in the book community is that certain books remain in the spotlight for decades or even centuries, while others remain in the background.
I know I sound a little whiny because this is basically the order of things in life, but it’s definitely smart, especially when I know for a fact that the books being overlooked are really good.
So if you’re like me and always root for the underdog, I think you’re going to enjoy the many underrated classic books on this list.
As usual, this post is a healthy mix of different genres, so regardless of whether you like sweet romance or an aching bildungsroman, I strongly believe you’re going to find something you will enjoy in this post.
1. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Set in Soviet Russia, this novel intertwines the story of the Devil (Woland) visiting Moscow with a retelling of the trial of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem.
The Devil’s visit leads to chaos and satire of Soviet society. Parallel to this, there’s a love story between the Master, a repressed writer, and Margarita, his devoted lover.
Somehow, Margarita ends up making a pact with Woland to be reunited with the Master in this charmingly subversive underrated classic.
2. The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien
This darkly comedic novel follows an unnamed narrator who, after committing a murder and being caught up in a bizarre series of events, finds himself in a surreal police station.
Our narrator experiences strange phenomena and meets several peculiar characters while ruminating on their ideas of identity and the malleable concept of reality.
3. Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm
Set in the early 20th century, this satirical novel follows Zuleika Dobson.
Zuleika is an incredibly beautiful and charming young woman who causes a frenzy among the Oxford University students when she comes to visit her grandfather.
Though packaged as a fun romp, this book leans into its criticism of society and our obsession with vanity and the absurdity of idealising beauty.
And, even more importantly, the comic and sometimes tragic events that occasion her appearance give flavour to what’s already an utterly gobsmack-inducing book filled with slapstick humour.
4. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Although known to many, this fantastic book is still less popular in comparison to other classics.
This novel tells the story of Edmond Dantès, a wrongfully imprisoned man who escapes from jail and finds a hidden treasure.
He then uses his newfound wealth to seek revenge on those who betrayed him, while also helping others in what is probably the most iconic mesh of justice, revenge, and redemption.
5. The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton
This novel follows Gabriel Syme, a poet who becomes a detective to infiltrate a secret anarchist group.
The story takes numerous twists and turns as Syme discovers that the group’s members are not what they seem and encounters various absurd and philosophical dilemmas.
Also See: 20 Must-Read Historical Fiction Books Set In The 1900s and 1910s
6. The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi) by Alessandro Manzoni
Set in 17th-century Lombardy, this Italian novel tells the story of Renzo and Lucia.
They are two peasants who are engaged to be married but face numerous obstacles, including a powerful nobleman who desires Lucia for himself.
The novel then follows their struggles against societal and personal challenges within a richly detailed historical context.
7. The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford
This novel presents the story of two couples whose lives intertwine and unravel over several years.
Told from the perspective of the unreliable narrator, Edward Ashburnham, it reveals the complexities of human relationships and the impact of hidden secrets and deceptions.
8. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
In early 20th-century New York, Lily Bart, a young woman of considerable beauty but limited means, struggles to secure a wealthy marriage to maintain her social status.
The novel follows her attempts to understand the many complexities of high society, her personal desires, and societal expectations.
9. The Awkward Age by Henry James
This novel revolves around a young girl, Nanda, who is being groomed for marriage in late 19th-century London.
Her experiences and interactions with various adult figures reveal the moral and social hypocrisies of the time.
This is a super fantastic classic book that not a lot of people know, but it’s still just as interesting as the best of them.
10. The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall
Published in 1928, this groundbreaking novel tells the story of Stephen Gordon, a woman who identifies as a lesbian in a society that refuses to accept her sexuality.
The book follows her struggles to find love and acceptance while dealing with societal prejudices and personal conflicts.
11. The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares
This Argentine novel follows an unnamed fugitive who escapes to a mysterious island, where he discovers a strange, abandoned mansion inhabited by peculiar people.
He soon learns that these inhabitants are part of a bizarre experiment involving a machine that can project past events into reality.
The novel combines elements of science fiction, romance, and existential reflection, in a tale of obsession and isolation that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
12. The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, this novel intertwines the lives of two characters.
One is Henri, a French soldier who becomes disillusioned with war.
And, the other is Villanelle, a Venetian woman who becomes entangled in a web of passion and deception.
14. The Liar by Stephen Fry
The Liar follows Adrian Healey, a charming and compulsive liar who recounts his life story with humor and wit.
Adrian’s tall tales and fabrications lead to a series of chaotic and amusing events as he enters relationships and career misadventures.
Through his lies and self-deceptions, the book shows the many themes of identity, truth, and the power of storytelling.
15. The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell
This series of four interconnected novels—Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, and Clea—is set in Alexandria, Egypt.
And, it follows the lives and relationships of a group of expatriates.
Each book provides a different perspective on the central events and characters and you’ll see the complexities of love, politics, and cultural tensions.
16. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
This semi-autobiographical novel follows Stephen Dedalus from his early childhood through his formative years in early 20th-century Ireland.
As Stephen grapples with his identity, religious conflict, and artistic aspirations, Joyce shows the themes of self-discovery, artistic development, and the constraints imposed by society.
The novel is known for its stream-of-consciousness style and rich, introspective narrative that makes this a criminally underrated classic book.
17. The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
This novel tells the story of Charles Arrowby, a retired theater director who retreats to a seaside house to write his memoirs and reflect on his life.
But, his peaceful existence is disrupted when he encounters past acquaintances and faces unresolved issues from his past, including a lost love.
18. The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake
This fantasy series includes Titus Groan, Gormenghast, and Titus Alone.
It follows the life of Titus Groan, heir to the vast and decaying Gormenghast Castle.
The trilogy traces the castle’s strange and archaic society and the themes of duty, identity, and rebellion against oppressive tradition are at its forefront.
I’ll recommend this classic because it’s one of the very few classic fantasy books that are super good but don’t get enough time in the limelight.
19. Nostromo by Joseph Conrad
Set in the fictional South American country of Costaguana, this novel follows the political and economic turmoil surrounding a valuable silver mine.
The story primarily revolves around Nostromo, an Italian adventurer who becomes a key figure in the political machinations and the exploitation of the mine.
20. Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot
This verse drama presents the final days of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is martyred in 1170.
The play focuses on Becket’s internal conflict and his struggle with political and religious pressures.
Through its poetic dialogue and chorus, the play tells us more about the tension between temporal and spiritual authority.
21. The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse
The Glass Bead Game is set in a distant future and follows the life of Joseph Knecht.
Joseph is a scholar and master of the Glass Bead Game, an intellectual game that synthesizes all knowledge and art.
As Knecht rises through the ranks of the intellectual elite, he grapples with the limitations of his position and the search for deeper meaning.
22. The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
This novella follows Ivan Ilyich Golovin, a high-ranking judge in 19th-century Russia, who faces a terminal illness.
As he confronts his impending death, Ivan reflects on the superficiality of his life and the emptiness of societal norms.
Tolstoy uses Ivan’s journey to explore existential themes, the nature of true living, and the search for meaning in the face of mortality.
23. The Waves by Virginia Woolf
This novel presents the inner lives of six characters through a series of stream-of-consciousness monologues.
Interestingly, it captures their thoughts and experiences from childhood to old age.
Woolf’s experimental narrative style made this a super profound and poetic meditation on human experience and connection.
24. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
This philosophical novel follows Siddhartha, a young man in ancient India who leaves his privileged life in search of spiritual enlightenment.
His journey takes him through various stages of life, from asceticism to material wealth, as he tries to understand the nature of existence and achieve inner peace.
25. The Masterpiece by Émile Zola
This unpopular classic novel is part of Zola’s Rougon-Macquart series and focuses on the life of Claude Lantier, a painter struggling to achieve artistic success in Paris.
As he tries to make sense of his artistic vision and personal demons, the novel provides a critical look at the art world and the challenges faced by creative individuals.
Do you think you’re going to check out any of these underrated classic books? Which ones do you think will make it to your TBR for the week?
Let me know in the comments section, and I’ll tell you which ones are my personal favourites.
If you want more classic book recommendations, here is a list of the very best American classic books ever written.
And for romance lovers like myself, I have also written a post about the most swoon-worthy classic romance books.
