English-language literature is more in demand than ever. Which books are worth picking up in the original language? Five world literature tips in the check.
English has been part of most people’s lives since their school days, but the language has also become part of everyday life thanks to Anglicisms and the like. So it’s no wonder that the market for English books is booming. As is you should try your live betting odds if you will like these books. It’s also a great way to brush up on your personal English skills.
Not only British and American classics, but also contemporary novels are finding their way onto our bookshelves. Everyone should read these five book highlights in the original language.
OUR LIST FOR YOU
- ‘1984’ by George Orwell
Language level: medium to difficult
Pages: 336
Year of publication: 1949
George Orwell’s vision of a totalitarian state complete with thought police, historical revisionism, cyber-surveillance etc. is more relevant today than ever. In ‘1984’, the reader accompanies the well-behaved functionary Winston Smith, who begins to doubt the system more and more.
Anyone looking for an exciting dystopia will not be disappointed by this modern classic. It is not without reason that ‘1984’ is one of the biggest sellers of the last few decades.
- ‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara
Language level: easy to medium
Pages: 736
Year of publication: 2015
Not only the classics are worth reading in the original language, contemporary novels also inspire with their sensitive writing style and gripping stories. Hanya Yanagihara follows four New York friends in a powerful epic about trauma, friendship and identity.
‘A Little Life’ was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, the National Book Award and the Baileys Prize. It is one of the best-selling and most talked-about works of recent years.
- ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ by Oscar Wilde
Language level: easy to intermediate
Pages: 252
Year of publication: 1890
If you are looking for an English-language novel with a poetic writing style, Oscar Wilde is the right choice. With the rich, beautiful and tragic Dorian Gray, the Irish writer has created one of the most famous characters in world literature. Dorian longs for eternal youth and beauty – from then on, a portrait miraculously ages in his place.
This classic captivates the reader with a psychologically profound story that holds up a mirror to an increasingly superficial society. The longing for beauty comes across particularly well in the original language.
- ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley
Language level: medium
Pages: 270
Year of publication: 1818
Everyone is probably familiar with Frankenstein’s monster. But what is behind the well-known horror story? First published anonymously in 1818, it tells the story of researcher Viktor Frankenstein, who creates an artificial human being. But the monster escapes his control.
Mary Shelley’s poetic and dark style of writing is one of the cornerstones of the British Gothic horror movement. The romantic-fantastic tale continues to terrify and terrify readers to this day.
- ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ by Ernest Hemingway
Language level: difficult
Pages: 112
Year of publication: 1952
A classic that is worth reading doesn’t always have to be a thick volume: Ernest Hemingway was even awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954 for his story, which is just 112 pages long. The fisherman Santiago has not caught anything for 84 days. But one day, a huge fish bites and Santiago is pulled out to sea.
This US classic tells a very emotional story of the old fisherman’s struggles and adventures at sea. The language is an important aspect: every word in Hemingway’s exceptionally short sentences is perfect.
There are already very good German translations of most English-language literature on the market – so why go for the English original? Classics and contemporary literature with unique writing styles in particular often convey charm and humour better in the original language.
Which English books you should read is ultimately a question of taste. British or American classics are a good choice – language and style often take centre stage here.
