This is a great resource for those who are doing a study of the Great Books. Editors Louisa Cowan and  Os Guiness have gathered over 50 essays by Christian literary scholars about selected classic works of Western literature. Each essay includes a biographical and historical sketch, a summary of the work being examined, suggestions for further study, and questions raised by the piece of literature. This book does not include pieces of classic literature but is an excellent introduction and guide for Christian students who wish to study the Great Books. (Baker)

Grades: 9th – 12th
Text, 384 pages

Pride and Prejudice is the second published novel by Jane Austin. It deals with such matters as marriage, moral rightness, education, and the role of women in aristocratic English society during the turn of the 19th centuries. (Penguin Classics)

Grades: 9th–adult
Text, 435 pages

King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare and is considered one of his greatest works. This edition is part of the Folger Shakespeark Library. It includes full explanatory notes, scene-by-scene plot summaries, and an introductory essay on Shakespeare’s life and work. (Washington Square Press)

Grades: 9th–adult
Text, 316 pages

Charles Dickens provides readers with a good introduction to Victorian England in this wonderful book. Great Expectations goes beyond a description of Victorian England and addresses enduring issues that we face today. (Bantam)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an epic American novel by Mark Twain. Set along the Mississippi River and written in the vernacular of the day, Twain explores life in America prior to the Civil War. Although controversial for its use of racial stereotypes, Twain uses the adventures of Huck and his companion, the escaped slave Jim, to satirize slavery and the society that supported it. (Bantam)

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel, The Scarlet Letter, has become an American favorite since it was first published in 1850. This "tale of human frailty and sorrow" set in early New England shows the effect of sin on three people—Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth—and deals skillfully with such issues as guilt and redemption, hypocrisy and shame. (Bantam)

This American masterpiece by Herman Melville is considered one of the greatest sea stories ever written. Moby-Dick tells an engaging tale of vengeance and obsession and their effect on man. (Bantam)

The Iliad reveals the final events of the Trojan War, including the siege of Troy. W.H.D. Rouse has produced one of the best English translations of Homer’s epic poem. “Dr. Rouse’s admirable … Iliad has the same qualities of a swift moving novel in which language is essentially that of the present day.… This is certainly the version for those who want to know what Homer is about”—The London Times Literary Supplement. (Signet)

Grade: 9th–adult
Text, 312 pages

The Odyssey is a classic of long standing, composed by Homer in the eighth century B.C. It tells the story of Odysseus as he struggles through many fantastic events to return to his wife and home after the end of the Trojan War. (Signet)

Don Quixote is considered the first modern novel. This epic story of Don Quixote and his faithful squire Sancho Panza is a satire of the outdated chivalry code of the 17^th century. (Signet)

This collection contains several of Jonathan Swift’s major works, including the well-known and popular Gulliver’s Travels. Swift, an Anglican minister, was able to effectively use satire to point out the foibles of human nature. Although originally written in the early 18^th century, Swift’s writings still have the power to challenge readers today. (Bantam)

The Screwtape Letters has become one of C. S. Lewis’s most popular works. Lewis writes about the battle between good and evil, using the device of a series of letters between tempters Wormwood and his mentor Screwtape about how best to cause the fall of an ordinary young man. While of interest to all, it would have particular interest to Christian readers. (HarperSanFrancisco)

The Federalist is the fundamental commentary on the United States Constitution. Originally written as a series of essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of the ratification of the Constitution, it is key to understanding the Founders’ original intent. This edition, edited by George W. Carey and James McClellan, includes a Reader’s Guide, a glossary, and several additional key documents. It also includes the Constitution of the United States and Amendments with marginal cross-references to pertinent references in The Federalist. (Liberty Fund)

Grades: 8th–Adult
Text, 565 pages 

The most popular of Henry James’s longer novels, The Portrait of a Lady examines the differences between Europe and America in this story about a young American woman who moves to England. James explores the clash between independence and responsibility as he tells the story of the heroine’s life in Europe. (Dover)

Augustine of Hippo was the son of a pagan father and a Christian mother. During his early years, he was torn between conflicting faiths and worldviews. In his forties he wrote the Confessions in which he recounts how he renounced his unorthodox ideas and sinful lifestyle to become a staunch advocate of Christianity. His Confessions also address fundamental issues of Christian doctrine. (Penguin)

Grade: 9th–adult