Rating of the best books of classic literature for 2020

Classical literature will never go out of style. These are the best, most talented works of poetry, prose and drama, recognized as world masterpieces, considered benchmarks for their era. Currently, there is no need to borrow books from the library, any edition can be purchased in a regular book boutique or ordered directly from home in an online store. We offer a rating of the best books of Russian and foreign classical literature for 2020.

How to choose a book to read

Before buying, it is advisable to know what to look for in order to avoid mistakes when choosing a literary classics, so that the reading process becomes a pleasant experience, the work has been read to the end and left a mark on the soul for a long time.

Criterias of choice

It is appropriate to be guided by several parameters:

1. genre;
2. author;
3. quality of design;
4. cost.

Genre. All literary works of Russian and foreign classics belong to different genres in content, the list of which includes:

• detective;
• comedy;
• science fiction;
• ladies' novel;
• thriller.

It is advisable to consider the genre when choosing a book, so that the reading process is fun and interesting. Then you can get maximum pleasure from reading the work.

In terms of form, classic creations are divided into stories, ballads, essays, stories, novels, plays. Before purchasing a book, you should definitely study the annotation in order to understand whether this genre is interesting for you personally.

Author. Every poet, writer or classic playwright has his own, incomparable with any other, style. Because of this, we like the books of some authors, but the works of others are not accepted. At the same time, absolutely all classics in the field of literature are recognizable and interesting. When choosing a book, you should study the peculiarities of the author's style in order to understand whether it will not be difficult or boring to read.

The quality of the design. Despite the ability to read any book online, traditional paper editions remain the most popular and attractive to the reader. Therefore, the quality of the design must be high. Several important parameters are striking:

• dimensions - those who are used to reading in transport, taking their favorite book with them in their purse or backpack, will definitely like the miniature editions made in a reduced format;
• weight - when reading an open book you have to hold it in your hands for a long time, so it is important that it weighs a little, without causing discomfort; it is good to buy books that are divided into separate volumes, or have a cover and binding from lighter grades of paper;
• paper - the quality of the used paper is important for aesthetic reasons: pages made of white paper look beautiful, and the text on them is easier to read than on gray, the density also matters, but from the practical point of view: thin offset paper can tear even with unsuccessful flipping;
• ink - ardent book lovers know very well that sometimes a pungent, unpleasant chemical odor emanates from the pages, from which a headache can worsen and the condition worsens, fingers can also get dirty when turning pages, which is also unpleasant. Large well-known publishers use only expensive high-quality paint, which has no fragrance, does not leave marks on the skin of the hands and is completely safe for health;
• cover - can be soft paper or glossy, hard paper. The latter option is preferable for those who value the durability of the publication. The first is suitable for those who like to carry books in their purse, because in this case its weight will be much less. In gift, serial publications, a dust jacket is often used, which can be removed when reading. It makes the folio look presentable and solid. Also, a brief information about the author and an abstract are often printed on the dust jacket.

Cost. When choosing a book, it is appropriate to find out how much it costs in different stores: there are often discounts, sales, and gift promotions. The price of publications varies from budget to premium, depending on the quality of paper and paint, type of cover and binding, prestige of the publishing house, circulation. The main recommendation: you should not save money if you plan on long-term use and storage of the folio in your home library.

Rating of the best books of classical literature

We present the top books of Russian and foreign classical literature that you need to read in 2020.

Russians

L. Tolstoy War and Peace

The number of pages is 1360.
The average price is 658 rubles.
Publisher - AST.

One of the greatest works of world literature does not lose its relevance in 2020 thanks to the talented presentation of the domestic humanist writer, subject matter, interweaving of plot lines. The epic novel, which features more than 500 characters from all walks of life in Tsarist Russia, from the imperial family to ordinary soldiers, describes important world events associated with the Patriotic War of 1812. The best work, in the opinion of the readers, in which the psychology of the Russian people is accurately and truthfully presented. The book was reprinted in 2019 by a well-known Russian publishing house in the All in One Volume series, the only inconvenience of which is the heavy weight - 1.2 kg. A beautiful hardcover edition on high-quality paper, with pictures and photographs of reproductions of Russian artists on the theme of the war with Napoleon can be a wonderful gift.

• a masterpiece of Russian classics;
• deluxe edition;
• all four volumes in one book;
• with illustrations;
• affordable price;
• high quality paper;
• comfortable font.

• heavy weight.

M. Bulgakov Master and Margarita

The number of pages is 480.
The average price is 1,038 rubles.
Publishing house - ABC SPb.

In 2014, another reprint of the legendary mystical novel by the famous Russian writer was published. The deeply religious author was dissatisfied with the anti-religious order in the country, the renunciation of God, the demolition of churches. But, not being able to raise the problem openly, he veiledly revealed this topic in the novel, which is still considered one of the most mysterious and contradictory in Russian classical literature. On the example of characters from different eras and cultures, the negative result of disbelief is shown - dark forces haunt a person, betray temptations and vices. Only the path to God can cleanse and heal the soul. The book is published in hardcover with a dust cover, on high-quality white paper, with stunning illustrations by G. Kalinovsky. All this makes it an excellent gift, despite the high price and heavy weight - over 1.2 kg.

• quality paper;
• Hard cover;
• glossy dust jacket;
• beautiful illustrations.

• expensive;
• heavy.

M. Tsvetaeva Poems

The number of pages is 320.
The average price is 450 rubles.
Publisher - Belfry-MG.

A collection of poems by the most popular Russian poetess of the twentieth century, publication year 2019. It includes the best poetic works of different years. Hardcover, good quality paper, comfortable font make the edition an ideal gift for fans of the author's work. The poems are written in an original style characteristic of the poetess, sometimes melodic and smooth, sometimes sharp and abrupt, but always equally talented and emotional. Each - a small fragment of real life, someone's fate, makes you feel those feelings that the author reveals to pain.

• Hard cover;
• comfortable font;
• lightweight;
• complete collection.

• high price.

A. Pushkin Eugene Onegin

The number of pages is 224.
The average price is 136 rubles.
Publisher - Eksmo.

In the popular Russian publishing house, in the World Literature series, which contains works of world classics, in 2020 the most anticipated novelty was released in hard paper cover, made in the same antique style with wicker embossing. The Encyclopedia of Russian Life has been republished once again due to the enormous popularity of the novel. A detailed description of the life of the nobility and the Russian hinterland, combined with the ups and downs of love and tragic events in the lives of the characters, is still relevant today, since the theme of honor and hypocrisy, true friendship and first love is touched upon. The author realistically describes the beauty of Russian nature, the hard work of the peasants against the background of the idle well-fed life of the nobles and landowners. Inexpensive for the price, the book will be a real gift for reading lovers.

• beautiful appearance;
• gift decoration;
• low cost;
• quality paper;
• illustrations.

• small font.

V.Krapivin Crane and lightning

The number of pages is 384.
The average price is 439 rubles.
Publisher - Enas-Kniga.

A novel for teenagers and their parents, recommended for the whole family to read. The book is timeless, in which the author touches on the topic of honesty and hypocrisy, friendship and betrayal, moral choice, relations between adults and children. The situations in which the main character, a 12-year-old boy Zhurka, finds himself, help him learn to appreciate friends, distinguish between good and bad, and be true to himself and his word. Several fascinating storylines are intertwined into whimsical patterns of uneasy relationships between characters, the meaning of friendship and loyalty is revealed, which is useful for the formation of a teenager's personality. An exciting, wise book will not leave the reader indifferent from the first lines, it will be read easily and quickly. Reprinted in 2020 in hardcover, with black and white illustrations by artist N. Panin.

The book can be purchased at many online stores:

• Read-city;
• Ozone;
• my-shop;
• Wildberries.

In Chitai-gorod, delivery of an order to the nearest supermarket Pyaterochka is free.

• exciting plot;
• easy to read;
• hard cover;
• light weight;
• beautiful illustrations;
• affordable price;
• free delivery to Pyaterochka;
• available in many stores;
• for family reading.

• not.

Foreign

Stephen King Institute

The number of pages is 608.
The average price is 752 rubles.
Publisher - AST.

Despite the fact that the novel of the "king of horrors" was published less than six months ago and is not replete with too scary, bloody or mystical scenes, it received a lot of positive reviews. Readers note not only an interesting story characteristic of the genre, but also an excellent translation, ease of reading, and an original cover.The edition is read in one breath, keeping you on your toes from the first to the last page, allowing you to completely immerse yourself in the exciting mystical story of the abduction and torture of children with psychic abilities. Together with the main character, 12-year-old boy Luke Ellis, you will live many chilling moments in a creepy boarding school where kidnapped children with supernormal abilities are brought. Here the world outlook is turned inside out, where cruelty and vices prevail. Drinking alcohol, smoking, humiliating and torturing others for no reason is not just allowed, but even recommended. And this of these orders becomes really scary, although the novel cannot be attributed to horror films in the traditional sense of the word. The book will be of interest to teenagers and adults, from unpretentious readers to intellectuals.

• successful translation;
• high-quality design;
• comfortable font.

• high price.

Agatha Christie Ten Little Indians

The number of pages is 288.
The average price is 210 rubles.
Publishing House - E.

The ingenious work of the detective queen is a real gift for fans of the genre. For all the years of reprint, the novel was published with a total circulation of more than 100 million copies. From the first lines, the intriguing eerie story of ten strangers gathered on the Black Island keeps the reader in suspense. And a harmless children's rhyme becomes a terrible prophecy of the death of every guest. Until the last lines, it is absolutely not clear who the mysterious ruthless killer is. A completely unexpected ending awaits the reader. The psychological problem of an ideal crime, the idea of ​​mandatory retribution and punishment of a criminal even if he is acquitted by a court, lies at the heart of a detective story. The book is sold as a cult classic, hardcover, which significantly extends the life of the book.

• exciting plot;
• Hard cover;
• a light weight;
• good paper quality;
• budget price.

• no illustrations.

Victor Hugo Les Miserables

The number of pages is 768.
The average price is 188 rubles.
Publishing house - ABC SPb.

The fantastically twisted plot of the epic novel, reflecting the spiritual history of France in the 19th century, is relevant to this day. The struggle between good and evil in society and human souls touches on three themes of the bestseller, to which its parts are devoted:

• humiliation of men;
• fall of women;
• oppression of children.

The heartbreaking, full of hardships and dangers, the story of the former convict Jean Valjean, who embarked on the path of reform and did a lot of good to others, the constant flight from the gendarmes, the salvation of little Cosette, who then grew up with her adoptive father within the walls of the monastery, numerous betrayals, surveillance, constant flight from skillfully placed traps, and the author's characteristic ending with tears in his eyes. The tension and empathy will not leave the reader while reading the novel. The book of the last year of edition 2019 was published in the Azbuka-Classic line. It is convenient to take it with you on the road and to read it in transport: it does not take up much space, is light and compact due to its soft cover and small size. The only drawback is the rapid loss of the beautiful appearance of the cover and paperback: when flipping it wears out and becomes unusable, the pages can come off in places of inflection.

• compact size;
• a light weight;
• low cost;
• all parts in one volume;
• comfortable font.

• fast wear.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery Little Prince

Number of pages - 112
Average price - 195 rubles
Publisher - Eksmo

The well-known philosophical tale of love, friendship, kindness and fidelity, published in 2019 in hardcover with a convenient font and original illustrations by the author. The bestseller tells the story of a prince living on his own tiny planet, caring for a capricious rose, dreaming of finding new friends.To this end, he goes on a journey to other planets, where he meets adults who do not understand him. Having got to planet Earth and met with the pilot, on whose behalf the story is being told, he found understanding and warmth. The Little Prince also made friends with the Fox, who became his friend, and the Snake, who is able to return anyone to his planet, which he did at the end of the story, again flying to the stars and his pampered rose. He took with him a box with a lamb muzzled from eating roses, drawn by a pilot who, as a child, knew how to draw drawings that were incomprehensible to adults. A naive parable about kindness and understanding will be interesting to everyone, regardless of age.

• beautiful design;
• reads quickly;
• a light weight;
• convenient format;
• affordable price.

• not.

Margaret Mitchell Gone With The Wind

The number of pages is 1040.
The average price is 660 rubles.
Publisher - AST.

The world-famous bestseller, which received the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in America, has been reprinted many times in separate volumes and in one book. This edition consists of several parts, combined together, therefore it has an impressive size and heavy weight - about a kilogram. It's hard to hold it in your hands, but otherwise there are no drawbacks. The heartbreaking family saga, from which it is simply impossible to tear yourself away from reading, makes you live with tears in your eyes with the main heroine of the novel, the magnificent and courageous Scarlett O'Hara, her life's vicissitudes and tragedies. The events unfold in the middle of the 19th century, during the Civil War. The main character in an instant turns from a young girl into a courageous woman, to whose lot a huge amount of shocks, losses and difficulties falls. Piercing scenes, heartfelt experiences, contradictory actions, mistakes and losses - all this is abound in the novel. Along with the description of family life and love events, the work accurately conveys the spirit of the era, the theme of patriotism and courage. More than one generation of readers suffer and rejoice, cry and fight together with the incomparable Scarlett.

• beautiful design;
• quality paper;
• hard cover;
• all parts in one folio;
• affordable price.

• heavy.

The presented review of popular Russian and foreign classical literature will tell you which book is better to buy for an ordinary person, where to start acquaintance with the masterpieces of literary classics. The selection contains a summary, the average cost of the most popular books by the best authors. Which book is better to read - the choice is yours!