Great Modern Classics
Influential books written during the 20th century.
In a previous post I wrote about classics, and the way these are commonly defined. I recommended some works that have impacted many readers around the world, with some of them being now studied and analyzed universally in the academic field.
This time I'm going to list some modern classics: important works of fiction that have been of strong influence since the previous century.
Each of them continue to spread valuable messages, setting the ground for several significant themes to be examined.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
This book tells the story of a pilot, who is stuck in the desert after encountering some trouble with his aircraft. While trying to fix the issue, a little boy suddenly appears and becomes his companion for some days. The child tells the pilot stories from his travels on different planets, offering valuable lessons of the heart. Although originally a work addressed to children, its great impact doesn't depend on the reader's age: anyone can welcome the Little Prince, whose simple words convey the essential.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This dystopian tale follows a man named Guy Montag, whose job is to burn books—he is a fireman. Houses in where books can be found are entirely burnt down, since the State strictly disapproves of their existence. Although Guy doesn't question much the gravity of the actions imposed by his superiors, he eventually gets to realize the oppression under which people are forced to live, including, of course, himself. Serving not only as homage to books and their importance, Bradbury's work also portrays the results of mass control and brainwashing.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book revolves around a young girl named Scout, whose father, a lawyer, defends the case of a falsely accused black man during the Great Depression in Alabama. The situation creates conflict between Scout's neighbors and her family, driven by prejudice and lack of understanding. We follow the young girl's innocent interpretation of the (at times) harsh world, while she learns valuable lessons from the events that unfold around her.
1984 by George Orwell
Another dystopian tale, which depicts Great Britain in the future, under a totalitarian regime: the people who serve the dominant Party are being constantly under surveillance, even in their own lodgings, while the rest of the populace are not even considered humans. Following Winston Smith's every-day life, we get to know details on the way oppression, mental manipulation and constant propaganda condition peoples' state and their behavior. The extreme descriptions of this system convey the dark atmosphere that such a regime creates, while some of the book's themes are nowadays considered quite relevant.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
This book is a biography of a young man called Chris McCandless, a vagabond soul that couldn't tolerate society's and materialism's intangible chains, and his big expedition. After university he left for the great outdoors to explore what's beyond—far from his responsibilities and what he perceived as a source of pain (mainly his relationship with his father). It's a controversial book that has created different kinds of reactions: from readers being inspired by McCandless' fugitive spirit, to others, who consider his choices completely unreasonable.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
This coming-of-age story follows Francie Nolan, who grows up in a poor family in Brooklyn, New York, in the very beginning of the 20th century. These living conditions force Francie and her family to adapt to them as best as possible: the young girl finds comfort mostly in books, and in other simple, every-day things. The different aspects of the story showcase the economically tough situation that working-class citizens had to face, including Francie's father, who was drawn to alcoholism. Despite the difficult circumstances, Francie is given certain opportunities to surpass them, embodying hope and tenacity.
Note: No AI was used to write this post. Only my partner's valuable help to spot little mistakes.