Quite a large number of those books considered amongst the greatest ever written belong in the genre of adventure. It's here where the reader is promised thrills and spills. In the best adventure novels, however, they also get emotion, character depth and vivid, poetic prose. Here is a rundown of a few books which sit amongst the best loved, most read and most exciting examples the form has taken in history.
D. H. Lawrence's "The Plumed Serpent". This 1926 tale of pagan religious upheavals during the Mexican revolution caused plenty of controversy on its release. That was business as usual for its incendiary author, who seemed unable to avoid hullabaloo whenever he put pen to paper. "The Plumed Serpent" is also a terrifically thrilling piece of fiction with a wonderfully sophisticated plot and plenty of Lawrence's trademark verve.
"Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift. The Irish clergyman Jonathan Swift wrote his magical tale of a shipwrecked sailor's adventures in far and distant lands as a satirical broadside against what he viewed as the worst excesses of humanity. Chief amongst his targets were the warring Catholics and Protestants of his native land, power hungry politicians and bigots everywhere. It's also a rattling good read.
Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness". Conrad's 1899 classic details the adventure of steamboat captain Marlowe as he take his boat down the Belgian Congo in search of missing agent Mr. Kurtz. On the way he will encounter danger and beauty. By the end he will begin to question the moral certainties which he has long held firm in his colonial, Western mind.
Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days". Jules Verne committed many of the great adventure stories to print and, to be truthful, he could have had more than one entry on this list. This 1873 novel, however, is generally cited as his best. It follows the attempted circumnavigation of our globe by English gent Phileas Fogg, spurred by a wager in The Reform Club of London and is amongst the most influential pieces of storytelling in history.
"The Hobbit" (J. R. R. Tolkien, 1937. )Though its author is most famous for penning the Lord of the Rings novels, they are preceded by this wonderful little novel. Mixing humor with thrilling action, terrifying monsters with poetic prose, "The Hobbit" is perhaps the blueprint for all adventure fantasy that came after it. Plus it's the first print appearance of the world's most beloved wizard, Gandalf.
"The Call of the Wild" (Jack London, 1903). This book details the life of Buck, a powerful dog sold to drag sleds in Canada's Klondike. A wonderfully symbolic tale of primitivism and returning to nature, it's also a harshly realistic look at life in this hostile region. An incredible piece of writing.
"The Old Man and the Sea" Ernest Hemingway. Few books sum up the lonely, romantic figure of the adventurer like Hemingway's famous novella. It is the story of an old fisherman who knows he has hooked his catch but lacks the strength to reel it in. A story of bitter-sweet determination and desire, it is easily amongst the best adventure novels.
D. H. Lawrence's "The Plumed Serpent". This 1926 tale of pagan religious upheavals during the Mexican revolution caused plenty of controversy on its release. That was business as usual for its incendiary author, who seemed unable to avoid hullabaloo whenever he put pen to paper. "The Plumed Serpent" is also a terrifically thrilling piece of fiction with a wonderfully sophisticated plot and plenty of Lawrence's trademark verve.
"Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift. The Irish clergyman Jonathan Swift wrote his magical tale of a shipwrecked sailor's adventures in far and distant lands as a satirical broadside against what he viewed as the worst excesses of humanity. Chief amongst his targets were the warring Catholics and Protestants of his native land, power hungry politicians and bigots everywhere. It's also a rattling good read.
Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness". Conrad's 1899 classic details the adventure of steamboat captain Marlowe as he take his boat down the Belgian Congo in search of missing agent Mr. Kurtz. On the way he will encounter danger and beauty. By the end he will begin to question the moral certainties which he has long held firm in his colonial, Western mind.
Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days". Jules Verne committed many of the great adventure stories to print and, to be truthful, he could have had more than one entry on this list. This 1873 novel, however, is generally cited as his best. It follows the attempted circumnavigation of our globe by English gent Phileas Fogg, spurred by a wager in The Reform Club of London and is amongst the most influential pieces of storytelling in history.
"The Hobbit" (J. R. R. Tolkien, 1937. )Though its author is most famous for penning the Lord of the Rings novels, they are preceded by this wonderful little novel. Mixing humor with thrilling action, terrifying monsters with poetic prose, "The Hobbit" is perhaps the blueprint for all adventure fantasy that came after it. Plus it's the first print appearance of the world's most beloved wizard, Gandalf.
"The Call of the Wild" (Jack London, 1903). This book details the life of Buck, a powerful dog sold to drag sleds in Canada's Klondike. A wonderfully symbolic tale of primitivism and returning to nature, it's also a harshly realistic look at life in this hostile region. An incredible piece of writing.
"The Old Man and the Sea" Ernest Hemingway. Few books sum up the lonely, romantic figure of the adventurer like Hemingway's famous novella. It is the story of an old fisherman who knows he has hooked his catch but lacks the strength to reel it in. A story of bitter-sweet determination and desire, it is easily amongst the best adventure novels.
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