10 Classic Works of Literature That Are Actually Entertaining

If you’re a picky reader, you’ve probably found that some pieces of classic literature just aren’t very fun to read. You might have found yourself falling asleep or zoning out while trying to decipher Shakespeare’s romantic monologues or Jane Austin’s family trees. (And don’t get me wrong, Jane Austin and Shakespeare crafted excellent works!) Sometimes, however, it can be hard to stay focused when reading certain pieces of literature.

Yet, reading the classics is important if you want to be well-read. This is why I compiled a list of classics that won’t bore you to death. As a picky reader myself, I enjoyed each of the works (and I didn’t fall asleep while reading them).

1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

A journey on a raft. An encounter with murderers. A family feud. A race for freedom, and so much more. Narrated by young Huckleberry Finn, this story takes you on an adventure that explores freedom, racism, and morality.

Huckleberry Finn’s drunk and abusive father, Pap, is back in town, and he wants Huck’s award money, which Huck earned at the end of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Huck has been living with the Widow Douglas and her sister Miss Watson, who attempt to “sivilize ” him. They send Huck to school and church, and Huck learns how to read. The Widow Douglas and Miss Watson want to legally adopt Huck, but the new judge in town prevents it because he wants to reform Pap. Of course, the judge’s plan fails, and Pap doesn’t permanently change.

One night, Pap kidnaps Huck and hides him in a cabin. Done with the abuse his drunk father inflicts on him, Huck escapes and fakes his death so that no one will try to find him.

After he runs away, Huck finds Jim, Miss Watson’s slave. It turns out, Huck is not the only one who’s running away. The plot thickens because everyone in town now thinks Jim murdered Huck. The two companions experience many adventures as they journey toward freedom.

Disclaimer: This novel does have coarse language.

"Human beings can be awful cruel to one another."
Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

2. Animal Farm by George Orwell

In case you didn’t guess by the title, this novel is about animals who live on a farm (smiley face). These animals can talk to each other, reason, and problem-solve, and they’re getting tired of the way humans are treating them. They want to be free from their owner, Farmer Jones, and have a farm of their own where humans aren’t in control.

A speech by old Major, one of the pigs on the farm, arouses this desire for freedom. When old Major dies, the animals start planning their revolt against Farmer Jones. The animals take over and kick all of the humans off the farm. Then they name their farm Animal Farm, and agree that “all animals are equal.” This freedom doesn’t last long, however, because one of the pigs named Napoleon begins taking control.

This novella is a humorous satire that represents the Russian Revolution. While you’ll laugh at some parts of it, you’ll also be led to analyze themes of power, corruption, and propaganda.

It’s a fun, easy read. It’s also pretty short (only ten chapters long), so it’s a good pick if you want to finish a book quickly.

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." 
George Orwell, Animal Farm

3. Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand

If you didn’t find interest in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet but still want to read plays, this one’s for you. A mixture between a tragedy and a comedy, this play is set in the 1600s in France. It includes themes of love, appearance, and deception.

You see, Cyrano de Bergerac is brave, noble, and poetic, but he has a big nose. In fact, he thinks he’s so ugly that he will never be able to win the heart of a lover. He still has someone he loves, though. She just doesn’t know it.

Roxane is beautiful, charming, and intelligent. She catches the eye of many suitors, including the eye of Cyrano. Cyrano is hopelessly in love with her, but he doesn’t think he will ever earn her love in return because of his appearance.

Roxane’s other lover is the handsome Baron Christian de Neuvilette, and he ends up winning Roxane’s affection. Christian has one concern, though: he is not good with words. He isn’t poetic and doesn’t know how to express his love to Roxane, which is why he asks Cyrano to do it for him. Cyrano begins writing letters to Roxane as if he were her lover, Christian. Cyrano’s eloquent writing makes Roxane fall in love with his soul, but she thinks she’s falling in love with Christian.

Among the romance and deception, there are also battles and duels. Oh, and by the way, you still get your balcony scene. This time, however, there are two men underneath the balcony and one of them is telling the other what to say to the lovely lady who sits at the top.

Pro-tip: Watch the play before reading it.

"Oh beloved, if you only knew the feelings that reside in my heart, you would see the depth of my love."
Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac

4. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This one might be my favorite on the list. It takes place in a futuristic, dystopian society in which books are illegal, a mysterious nuclear war threat hovers over the country, and constantly watching television programs on a wall-sized TV screen is the norm.

Guy Montag is a firefighter, but he doesn’t keep houses from going up in flames. After all, houses are fireproof by now. So what does Montag do? He burns books for a living.

For a while, Montag never questioned why books were banned. He just did what he was told and kept to the status quo. Then he meets a teenage girl named Clarisse McClellan.

Clarisse is different. She doesn’t drive in a car a hundred miles per hour when she’s upset like most people do. Instead of watching TV screens, she has conversations with her family. She enjoys walking outside in the rain and asking questions. One day, she asks Montag if he’s happy, and he doesn’t exactly know the answer.

His encounters with Clarisse, lead Montag to ask questions. He ends up meeting a retired English professor named Faber, and he starts stealing books.

This is a fast-paced novel with some action, but there are also heartfelt scenes that make you stop to think about the power of knowledge, censorship, and dependence on technology.

"We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?"
Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

5. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

You don’t need to read only contemporary works to find a horror story. This frightening tale addresses themes of loneliness, going against the laws of nature, free will, and revenge. You’re probably already familiar with it.

Robert Walton is an explorer and sea captain sailing to the North Pole. On his journey, Walton writes letters to his sister, telling her everything that is happening on his voyage.

When Walton and his crew are traveling in the Arctic, they find a man, who is stranded and dying. They take this stranger onto the ship and nurse him back to health. The longer the man stays on the ship with them, the more Walton finds out how he got stranded in the Arctic. The stranger is Dr. Victor Frankenstein.

Dr. Frankenstein went to the University of Ingolstadt where he studied chemistry and natural philosophy. As he studied, Frankenstein longed to unlock the mystery of life. After studying for several years, he finally found it.

Frankenstein used old body parts to put together a creature, and then he brought it to life. When the distorted, human-like monster came to life, Frankenstein realized what he had done and fled.

If you enjoy stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a great option for you.

"I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend."
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The voice of nostalgia hits with this one. Sleeping on the front porch, hot summer days, acting out scenes with your best friend, being young, being innocent. 

Scout and Jem’s father, Atticus Finch, attempts to prove the innocence of a black man named Tom Robinson, who is accused of taking advantage of a young white woman named Mayella Ewell. Through the eyes of young Scout, you witness the blinding effects of racism.

Scout and her brother, Jem, watch their lawyer father take on this controversial case, and their lives are changed by it. Everyone in her school bullies Scout about her father, her father is spit on and scorned, their house is set on fire, and their lives end up being threatened.

Don’t worry though, there are a lot of happy moments in this novel too. Scout and Jem play with their friend, Dill Harris, during the summertime. They have fun outside and sometimes get into mischief. They also love talking about their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley. Boo Radley never comes out of his house, and there are some crazy stories as to why. Eventually, they discover some of the reasons.

While you read this text, you’ll find themes of racism, justice, innocence, and coming of age.

Disclaimer: This work is another one that has coarse language.

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

7. The Pearl by John Steinbeck

How much will people risk? How much will they sacrifice? What will they give to gain riches? How does greed change people? These are some of the questions this novella explores.

Kino and Juana are married and live with their baby boy, Coyotito, in La Paz near the Gulf Sea. Adversary hits when a scorpion stings Coyotito. Kino and Juana take their son to the doctor, but the doctor turns them away because they are poor.

After seeking help from the physician, Juana applies a poultice to the baby’s wound, and she and her family take their canoe to go pearl diving. While under the sea, Kino finds a large, beautiful pearl.

When they return to land, Kino and Juana tell everyone of their wonderful success. The doctor then comes to give Coyotito medicine because now they can pay him. Waiting to sell the pearl, Kino buries it in their brush house, but Juana begins to feel uneasy about the fate the pearl will bring.

"For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more."
John Steinbeck, The Pearl

8. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

It turns out, there’s more to Peter Pan than the green-clothed, energetic cartoon character we grew up with. In fact, the original Peter Pan is a lot younger than the one depicted in the Disney film. He actually still has his baby teeth. He’s also mischievous and lacks empathy.

Wendy Darling knows Peter Pan visits her and her brothers sometimes when they’re asleep. She tells her mother, Mrs. Darling about this one night, and Mrs. Darling is puzzled. A little while later, Mrs. Darling spots this strange little boy in the nursery, but Peter Pan immediately leaves when he sees her. When he flees, the Darling children’s dog/nanny, Nana, shuts the window and traps Peter’s shadow in the house.

When Peter comes back for his shadow, Wendy wakes up, and they have their first actual conversation. Peter wants to bring Wendy to Neverland so that she can tell him and the Lost Boys stories. Wendy’s brothers John and Michael wake up, and they want to come to this magical land too. Peter gives them all pixie dust and they fly away to Neverland where children never grow up.

This story plays with themes of childhood, imagination, time, and growing up.

"I suppose it's like the ticking crocodile, isn't it? Time is chasing after all of us."
J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

9. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Eloquently written, this novel expresses themes of Puritanism vs. Romanticism, hypocrisy, sin, and redemption.

Hester Prynne is forced to wear a scarlet “A” on her breast as punishment for committing adultery. She faces public humiliation while she stands on the town scaffold and is asked who the father of her daughter, Pearl, is. Hester refuses to reveal who the father of the baby is, and the town continues to punish her by treating her as an outcast.

Hester’s husband is thought to be missing at sea, but he is secretly living in town as a physician by the name of Roger Chillingworth. He seeks out revenge.

Years pass and Hester makes a life for herself and her daughter, living in the forest. She still hasn’t revealed who Pearl’s father is, but secrets don’t last forever.

"I have laughed, in bitterness and agony of heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am!"
Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter

10. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

This is another short work if you’re looking for something to finish quickly. This novella’s mystery will also likely keep you reading until you reach its end. Oh, but where to begin with my explanation? This one’s hard to summarize without giving spoilers.

Mr. Utterson is a lawyer who lives an ordinary and somewhat boring life. The most exciting part about his life is the walks he goes on with his friend Mr. Enfield. One day while he and his friend are walking, Enfield tells Utterson about a strange incident when a sinister man trampled a little girl in the street. The man who trampled the girl went into a house and came out with a check. He paid the girl’s family so that they wouldn’t tell anyone about the scene. The name written on the check was Mr. Hyde. Enfield sensed that there was something disturbingly different about Hyde, but he couldn’t say what.

In this fascinating work, you’ll find themes of morality and the duality of human identity.

"I saw what I saw, I heard what I heard, and my soul sickened at it; and yet now when that sight has faded from my eyes, I ask myself if I believe it, and I cannot answer."
Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Closing Thoughts

I hope you find these works just as enjoyable as I did when reading them. I also hope at least one of them sparked your interest and helped you see that reading classic literature doesn’t have to be boring!

Let me know what book in this list sounds most entertaining to you, and if you’ve read any of them. Are there any fun classics I missed?