'The Thirty-nine Steps' is a classic thriller that went on to inspire the likes of Ian Fleming and John Le Carre. Filled with twists and turns, this novel is a must read for anyone who enjoys suspenseful literature.
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General fiction - 20th Century Classics - Christchurch City Libraries
If you are looking for elegantly crafted fiction or even a life-changing masterpiece, try one of these classic authors from the 1900s. A Christchurch City Libraries list.
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Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi
30 items
- 'The Master and Margarita' brilliantly interweaves the stories of Jesus Christ's final days and the devil's visit to Soviet Russia. Witty, bizarre and ultimately beautiful, this highly-praised classic remains one of Russia's most haunting…
- 'The Outsider' (sometimes known as 'The Stranger') is a thought-provoking enquiry into justice, society, and individualism. Camus tells the story of Meursault, a young Frenchman who must come to terms with his crime, with a matter-of-fact style that…
- Cather's masterpiece 'My Antonia' is filled with richly-detailed descriptions of its Nebraskan prairie setting and unforgettable characters. This is a story of human spirit, compassion, and strength epitomised through Antonia, a Bohemian immigrant…
- A classic in the realms of gothic literature, certain editions of this book also join the ranks of gothic novels where the cover features a woman in a nightgown lost out in the dark while looking back over her shoulder at an ominous mansion with a…
- This haunting classic will likely stay with you long after the final page. Told through 15 narrators, 'As I Lay Dying' tells the harrowing account of the Bundren family and their journey across Mississippi to bury their mother. Its unique style and…
- Charming and impossible not to love, this beloved classic tells the story of Jay Gatsby and the destructive dreams that rest at the heart of his seemingly glamorous lifestyle. Fitzgerald's masterpiece has everything you could hope for in a novel —…
- 'Parade's End' looks at the experiences of the ultimate English gentleman, Christopher Tietjens, before and during the first world war. With its fascinating studies of human character, and its personal yet epic evocation of an important era,…
- A Passage to India tells the story of what happens when Adela Quested, a young English woman with an interest in Indian culture, returns from the infamous Marabar caves. What ensues throws the young Indian doctor Aziz's world into a frenzy and the…
- Marquez's classic novel tells the story of the mythical town Macondo through the history of the multi-generational Buendiá family. Prepare yourself for a gut-wrenching peek at the depths of human life and emotion. Fantastical, beautiful, and…
- In this gentle, witty satire, Flora Poste is sent to live with her dreary country relatives, where she soon realises she is just the person to cure them of their wayward ways — and, needless to say, absolute hilarity ensues. A must read for all…
- When a group of school boys find themselves left to their own devices on an island, they soon find themselves becoming savages in their determination to stay alive. This allegorical tale looks at the fine line between civilisation and savagery and…
- 'Brighton Rock' tells the gritty story of a young gang leader in 1930s Brighton. Much more than a crime novel, this classic explores religion, poverty, and love. 'Brighton Rock' remains one of Greene's most gripping and memorable works.
- Hemingway's classic tale of an old man and his determination to catch a giant marlin may not sound terribly promising at first, but the depth and scope of its story makes for incredible reading. This short, concisely told tale will reveal to the…
- Imagine a world where embryos are created in laboratories and are placed in one of five classes — from those destined to be labourers, to those destined to be world leaders — that's what awaits in Huxley's nightmarish vision of a future society.…
- 'Goodbye to Berlin' looks at a fascinating, if bizarre, group of Berlin locals and their reaction to the impending disaster of the Second World War. Partly autobiographical, Isherwood's classic reminds of the danger of complacency and the refusal to…
- Prepare yourself for an exhilarating joyride in this modernist masterpiece, which follows two characters through a single day in Dublin in the early 20th century. Although equal parts Infuriating, confusing, dazzling and insane, 'Ulysses' assuredly…
- 'To Kill a Mockingbird' tells the story of racial hatred in Alabama. Told through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl whose father is defending a black man accused of rape, Harper Lee's narrative makes for a moving and memorable read. Often…
- Largely written from the viewpoint of the titular character, 'White Fang' follows the barbarous adventures of a part dog, part wolf cub in Northern Canada. This classic vividly captures the wild in all its harshness and magnificence.
- This beautiful, insightful collection of short stories by one of New Zealand's finest writers, remains a must read classic for all lovers of literary short stories. Mansfield's exquisite writing speaks for itself as to why she remains loved both in…
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