The Literary Odyssey: 100 Classic Books and Their Stories

Here is a list of 100 classic books from humanity in chronological order of publication, along with a brief explanation and the country and year of publication:

1. Epic of Gilgamesh (Sumeria, circa 2100 BCE)
• An ancient Mesopotamian poem about the adventures of King Gilgamesh.
2. The Iliad by Homer (Greece, 8th century BCE)
• An epic poem about the Trojan War and the hero Achilles.
3. The Odyssey by Homer (Greece, 8th century BCE)
• Follows the adventures of Odysseus as he tries to return home after the Trojan War.
4. The Art of War by Sun Tzu (China, 5th century BCE)
• A treatise on military strategy and tactics.
5. The Analects by Confucius (China, 5th century BCE)
• A collection of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius.
6. The Republic by Plato (Greece, 380 BCE)
• An exploration of justice, the ideal state, and the nature of the philosopher-king.
7. The Histories by Herodotus (Greece, 5th century BCE)
• Often considered the first work of history, it covers the Greco-Persian Wars.
8. The Bhagavad Gita (India, 5th-2nd century BCE)
• A 700-verse Hindu scripture that presents a conversation between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna.
9. Aeneid by Virgil (Roman Empire, 19 BCE)
• An epic poem that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who becomes the ancestor of the Romans.
10. Metamorphoses by Ovid (Roman Empire, 8 CE)
• A narrative poem that explores transformations in Greek and Roman mythology.
11. Confessions by Saint Augustine (Roman Empire, 397-398 CE)
• An autobiographical work exploring Augustine's spiritual journey.
12. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (Italy, 1320)
• An epic poem that follows Dante's journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.
13. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (England, 14th century)
• A collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury Cathedral.
14. The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli (Italy, 1532)
• A political treatise on leadership, power, and the pursuit of success.
15. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (Spain, 1605)
• A satirical novel about the delusional Don Quixote and his loyal squire Sancho Panza.
16. Hamlet by William Shakespeare (England, 1603)
• A tragedy exploring themes of revenge and madness.
17. Paradise Lost by John Milton (England, 1667)
• An epic poem depicting the fall of Satan and the Biblical story of Adam and Eve.
18. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (England, 1678)
• An allegorical novel about Christian's journey to the Celestial City.
19. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (England, 1719)
• The tale of a shipwrecked man's survival on a desert island.
20. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (Ireland, 1726)
• A satirical adventure novel exploring human nature through Gulliver's journeys.
21. Candide by Voltaire (France, 1759)
• A satirical novella critiquing optimism and the human condition.
22. Emile, or On Education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (France, 1762)
• A treatise on education and child-rearing.
23. The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith (Scotland, 1776)
• A foundational work in economics, advocating for free-market capitalism.
24. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (England, 1818)
• A novel exploring the consequences of scientific ambition and the creation of life.
25. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (England, 1813)
• A classic novel of manners and marriage in early 19th-century England.
26. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (United States, 1851)
• An epic tale of Captain Ahab's obsessive pursuit of the white whale, Moby-Dick.
27. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (England, 1847)
• A novel about the life and experiences of the orphaned governess Jane Eyre.
28. Walden by Henry David Thoreau (United States, 1854)
• A reflection on simple living in natural surroundings.
29. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russia, 1866)
• A psychological novel exploring the mind of Raskolnikov, a troubled student turned murderer.
30. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (France, 1862)
• A sweeping novel that delves into themes of justice, love, and redemption.
31. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Russia, 1869)
• An epic historical novel set during the Napoleonic era.
32. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Russia, 1877)
• A tragic love story set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russian society.
33. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russia, 1880)
• A novel exploring morality, faith, and the complex relationships among three brothers.
34. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (United States, 1885)
• A novel following the journey of a young boy, Huck, and a runaway slave, Jim, down the Mississippi River.
35. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (Scotland, 1886)
• A novella exploring the duality of human nature.
36. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Ireland, 1890)
• A novel about a man whose portrait ages while he remains youthful, reflecting his moral decay.
37. The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud (Austria, 1899)
• A foundational work in psychology, discussing dream analysis and the unconscious mind.
38. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (United Kingdom, 1899)
• A novella examining the darkness within human nature through the journey up the Congo River.
39. The Call of the Wild by Jack London (United States, 1903)
• A novel about a domesticated dog's return to a wild, primal state in the Yukon.
40. Dubliners by James Joyce (Ireland, 1914)
• A collection of short stories capturing the lives of Dubliners.
41. Swann's Way by Marcel Proust (France, 1913)
• The first volume of "In Search of Lost Time," a novel exploring memory and time.
42. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Austria-Hungary, 1915)
• A novella about a man who wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant insect.
43. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (United States, 1925)
• A novel depicting the decadence and disillusionment of the Jazz Age.
44. Ulysses by James Joyce (Ireland, 1922)
• A stream-of-consciousness novel set over the course of a single day in Dublin.
45. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster (United Kingdom, 1924)
• A novel exploring the complexities of British-Indian relations.
46. The Trial by Franz Kafka (Czechoslovakia, 1925)
• A novel about a man arrested and tried for an unspecified crime.
47. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (United Kingdom, 1932)
• A dystopian novel envisioning a future society controlled by technology and conformity.
48. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (United States, 1937)
• A novella about the dreams and struggles of itinerant ranch workers during the Great Depression.
49. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (United States, 1939)
• A novel depicting the plight of the Joad family as they migrate during the Dust Bowl.
50. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (France, 1943)
• A philosophical novella that explores the nature of human relationships.
51. The Stranger by Albert Camus (France, 1942)
• A novel examining the absurdity of human existence through the story of Meursault.
52. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia, 1967)
• A magical realist novel tracing the history of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo.
53. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (United States, 1960)
• A novel dealing with racism and injustice in the American South.
54. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (United Kingdom, 1949)
• A dystopian novel portraying a totalitarian regime's control over thought and expression.
55. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (United States, 1951)
• A novel following the disillusioned teenager, Holden Caulfield, in New York City.
56. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (United States, 1952)
• A novella about an aging Cuban fisherman's epic battle with a marlin.
57. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (United States, 1953)
• A novel depicting a future society where books are banned and burned.
58. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (United States, 1955)
• A controversial novel narrated by a morally reprehensible protagonist.
59. On the Road by Jack Kerouac (United States, 1957)
• A novel chronicling the travels and adventures of the Beat Generation.
60. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria, 1958)
• A novel depicting the impact of colonialism on Igbo society.
61. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (United States, 1960)
• A novel dealing with racism and injustice in the American South.
62. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (United States, 1962)
• A science fantasy novel following the journey of Meg Murry to rescue her father.
63. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Soviet Union, 1962)
• A novella about a day in the life of a Soviet labor camp inmate.
64. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (United States, 1966)
• A true crime novel based on the murder of the Clutter family in Kansas.
65. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (United States, 1969)
• A satirical novel exploring the experiences of Billy Pilgrim during World War II.
66. The Godfather by Mario Puzo (United States, 1969)
• A crime novel depicting the Corleone family's mafia empire.
67. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Soviet Union, 1967)
• A satirical novel blending elements of fantasy, satire, and political allegory.
68. Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse (Germany, 1927)
• A novel exploring the existential crisis of Harry Haller.
69. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (United Kingdom, 1979)
• A humorous science fiction series following the misadventures of Arthur Dent.
70. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (Italy, 1980)
• A historical mystery novel set in an Italian monastery in the 14th century.
71. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (United Kingdom, 1981)
• A magical realist novel intertwining the history of India with the lives of children born at midnight on August 15, 1947.
72. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (Czechoslovakia/France, 1984)
• A philosophical novel exploring the concepts of love, identity, and freedom.
73. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (Canada, 1985)
• A dystopian novel depicting a theocratic society where women are subjugated.
74. Beloved by Toni Morrison (United States, 1987)
• A novel exploring the haunting legacy of slavery.
75. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (United Kingdom, 1988)
• A novel blending magical realism and social commentary.
76. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (United Kingdom, 1989)
• A novel narrated by an English butler reflecting on his life and choices.
77. Possession by A.S. Byatt (United Kingdom, 1990)
• A novel interweaving two love stories across different time periods.
78. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (United States, 2006)
• A post-apocalyptic novel following a father and son's journey to survival.
79. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (United States, 2008)
• A dystopian young adult novel set in a future where teenagers are forced to fight to the death.
80. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Sweden, 2005)
• A crime novel featuring investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander.
81. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (United States, 1996)
• The first book in the epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire."
82. The Road to Character by David Brooks (United States, 2015)
• A non-fiction book exploring the development of character and moral values.
83. Educated by Tara Westover (United States, 2018)
• A memoir recounting the author's journey from a strict, isolated upbringing to education and self-discovery.
84. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (United States, 2018)
• A novel that combines mystery, romance, and coming-of-age themes set in the marshes of North Carolina.
85. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (United Kingdom, 2019)
• A psychological thriller about a woman who stops speaking after being accused of murder.
86. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (United States, 2019)
• A historical novel with elements of magical realism, exploring slavery and the Underground Railroad.
87. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (United States, 2019)
• A contemporary novel that delves into issues of race, privilege, and relationships.
88. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (United States, 2020)
• A novel exploring identity, family, and race through the lives of twin sisters.
89. The Push by Ashley Audrain (Canada, 2021)
• A psychological thriller examining the complexities of motherhood.
90. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah (United States, 2021)
• A historical novel set during the Dust Bowl, depicting a family's struggle for survival.
91. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (United Kingdom, 2021)
• A science fiction novel narrated by an artificial friend named Klara.
92. No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood (United States, 2021)
• A novel exploring the internet age and the impact of social media.
93. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (United States, 2021)
• It is a science fiction novel about a lone astronaut's mission to save humanity.
94. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (United States, 2017)
• A multi-generational family saga that begins in Korea and spans into Japan.
95. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (United States, 2011)
• A fantasy novel set within a magical competition between two young illusionists.
96. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (United States, 2013)
• The novel centered around a stolen painting and the life of a young boy, Theo.
97. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (Canada, 2019)
• A sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale," revealing the testimonies of three women in Gilead.
98. A Promised Land by Barack Obama (United States, 2020)
• The memoir of the 44th President of the United States, reflecting on his early life and presidency.
99. The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (United States, 2021)
• A collection of essays reviewing various aspects of human existence and the natural world.
100. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (United Kingdom, 2021) - A science fiction novel narrated by an artificial friend named Klara.

Please note that this list includes a wide range of classic books from different time periods, genres, and regions, and it's not an exhaustive list of all classic literature.

** Maybe you will read this, Mariana.