10 Short Classics You Can Read in One Sitting (+10 in my TBR)

 

Hello, everyone! Two things I love are classics and short reads, so I'm always on the lookout for books I can add to my TBR. Of course, there are plenty of lists online with great recommendations. Yet, I keep only seeing the same 10-15 books recommended, even though I agree that they are amazing picks. For this reason, I wanted to make a version of my own that wouldn't just contain The Stranger by Albert Camus, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (but this is a sneaky way of recommending these books myself). 

I have tried to make my list as diverse as I could. And because I have only read but a fraction of world literature, I'm also going to add an additional list at the end with 10 more short classics that are currently in my TBR. So, hopefully you can find a classic book that is less than 250 pages that you can easily read in one sitting or in a weekend. 

Short Classics Under 250 Pages

#1 The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a book that brings back many fond memories to me as I've had a copy of this book since my early childhood. And since then, it is a book that I keep going back over and over again.  

The thing about The Little Prince is that you might have probably heard about it, and know what it's all about. However, it is a book that contains so much imagination, sensitivity, and empathy that will touch something in your heart. 

This fairy tale for children and adults is just over 90 pages, making it a quick but impactful read.

#2 No Longer Human – Osamu Dazai

If you know my reading taste, then you could probably guess that I would include a Japanese classic book in this list. This time, I chose to include No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai, since I'd already mentioned The Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata in my list of lyrical books (but you can also read it as a short classic). 

No Longer Human is a dark and tragic story of alienation. Our protagonist, Oba Yozo, is not a likeable character, and sees himself as a failure and burden to society, making him more of an anti-hero. 

This books is 177 pages long and is using one of my favourite tropes: the narrator has discovered the protagonist's notebooks and we are reading them. 

#3 Ethan Frome – Edith Wharton

This is a book that you will often find in similar lists and with good reason. Ethan Frome is such a short, but powerful read that will leave a mark. 

In this book, Ethan is stuck in a loveless marriage with Zeena, but ends up falling in love with Mattie, his wife's cousin. What ensues is a tragedy set in frozen New England.

Even though Ethan Frome is just 100 pages long, it manages to be an excellent character study, and an exploration of the theme love versus duty.

#4 The Crescent Moon – Rabindranath Tagore

If you want to read something short and quick, then poetry is a always a great choice. Therefore, I thought I would recommend an Indian classic, a poetry collection by Rabindranath Tagore.

The Crescent Moon is a collection of poems and lyrical prose that was originally published in 1913. The poems are a reflection of childhood, both from the child's and the mother's perspective. The book was originally written in Bengali, and was translated by the author himself.

I happened to find a copy of The Crescent Moon in greek some time ago, and it touched me. It's 124 pages long, so it's a great way to get introduced to this great writer. 

#5 The Enchanted April – Elizabeth von Arnim

The next book in this list is a classic I rarely hear anyone talking about it. However, it's a delightful read, very easy-to-read, and perfect for the summer. 

The Enchanted April takes us to a small medieval castle on the coast of the Italian Riviera. There, we meet four very different women that ended up going there, each for their own reasons.

This classic book is 240 pages, one of the longest in this list. However, if you like cozy books, then you are definitely going to adore it. Plus, who wouldn't want to dream of a dreamy Italian setting during the summer? 

#6 The End of the Affair - Graham Greene

I won't lie that I'm biased when it comes to this book, since it's one of my favourite books of all time. The End of the Affair is probably the most recently published book in the list (1951). However, to me, it's one of the books that need to be read and reread.

As the title of the book suggests, The End of the Affair is just that - Maurice Bendrix's recollection of his affair with Sarah Miles a little after her passing. It is a story of an obsessibe love, a story of intense jealousy, and a love-hate relationship.

And there are so many great lines that will stay with you, like "I'm tired and I'm sick to death of being without you" or "I had to touch you with my hands, I had to taste you with my tongue; one can't love and do nothing".

Just 160 pages long, The End of the Affair deserves a spot in your TBR. 

#7 Demian – Hermann Hesse

Another book that will have an impact on you, despite its short length, is Demian by Hermann Hesse. It's a book about beauty and loss, self-discovery and faith, growth and wonder. I might even go as far as to say that most of Hesse's work feels the same to me, so I would also recommend Siddharta and Steppenwolf. 

"I live in my dreams — that's what you sense. Other people live in dreams, but not in their own. That's the difference".

Demian is the story of a boy named Emil Sinclair, who is drawn to his classmate Max Demian. The mysterious classmate opens a new realm to Sinclair, and we witness his journey toward self-discovery. 

The book manages to do all that in just 176 pages.

#8 Roverandom – J. R. R. Tolkien

I might be influenced because right now I'm rereading The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien has also written some fairy tales? If not, this is me recommending them to you. 

The one I'm recommending first is Roverandom, the story of dog that was turned to a toy by a wizard. Rover departs on a journey to find this wizard and turn him back into his normal size. 

This is Tolkien's children book that was written before The Hobbit, but was only published in 1998. As it is just 127 pages long, it is perfect for reading in one sitting. 

#9 The Shrouded Woman – María Luisa Bombal

When we are talking of magical realism, you are probably thinking of Gabriel García Márquez or Jorge Luis Borges. But what about María Luisa Bombal? This Chilean author is definitely worth your time, and The Shrouded Woman is among the greatest I've read in this genre. 

In The Shrouded Woman we are reading the thoughts of a dead woman as she lies in her coffin. Ana María reminisces about her life, her first love, and her marriage. But what it does best is that it explores womens emotions, in a way that you won't often find in other books.

Just under 200 pages, The Shrouded Woman is a novella that more people need to read.

#10 A Room with a View – E. M. Forster

E.M. Forster is one of the writers I love. Howards End was an amazing book I still think about, and the same goes for A Room with a View. 

If you are looking for a classic book that is easy-to-read and has some romance, A Room with a View is the right pick. Just like The Enchanted April, it is perfect for the summer as it is set in Florence, Italy. The story begins with Lucy fainting in the arms of George, when she witnesses a murder. The more she gets attracted to him, the more she will have to face the snobbery of her class, and choose between what is expected of her and her passion. 

A Room with a View is 240 pages long, making it perfect for a weekend read. 

Short Classics in my TBR

• The Lover – Maguerite Duras
• Passing – Nella Larsen
• Hunger – Knut Hamsun
• Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
• Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys
• Pedro Páramo – Juan Rulfo 
• Invisible Cities – Italo Calvino
• The Awakening – Kate Chopin
• A Personal Matter – Kenzaburo Oe
• Season of Migration to the North – Tayeb Salih

What are your favourite short classics? Which ones are you planning on reading?  

See more of my lists here!