Classics are the books that have lasted - stories that shaped literature, reflected their time and continue to find new readers decades or even centuries later. From gothic fiction and sweeping romances to satire, dystopia, crime and some of the most influential writing ever published, there is far more to classics than the books you were told to read at school.

Our shelves bring together the well-known essentials with overlooked voices, queer classics and literature from around the world - making it easier to find the ones actually worth reading.