Fiction novels are prominent in English literature, offering readers a rich tapestry of narratives spanning various genres and periods. From the intricate plots of mystery novels to the imaginative realms of science fiction, these works of art captivate audiences with their compelling characters and complicated narratives.

They serve as mirrors to society, reflecting the cultural, social, and political realities of the times they were written in. Authors such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and George Orwell, among others, have left indelible marks on the landscape of English literature through their fiction novels.

These works continue to be celebrated for their literary merit and profound impact on readers worldwide. Whether it’s a timeless classic or a contemporary masterpiece, each fiction novel in English literature offers a unique exploration of the human experience.

Best Fiction Novels of English Literature Make You Crave More

The best fiction novels in English literature offer many experiences and insights. They transport readers to different worlds, introduce them to diverse characters, and immerse them in various situations, all while exploring universal themes of love, loss, adventure, and identity. These novels stimulate the imagination, challenge perceptions, and provoke thought, often leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

Moreover, they have the power to effect change in multiple ways. Individually, they can influence a reader’s worldview, foster empathy by providing perspectives different from their own, and inspire personal growth. On a broader scale, they can highlight societal issues, spark discussions, and even influence cultural and social change.

For instance, novels like “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “1984” written by George Orwels have played significant roles in raising consciousness about racial injustice and the dangers of totalitarianism, respectively.

In essence, the best fiction novels in English literature offer entertainment, education, enlightenment, and the potential for personal and societal transformation. They are a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring value of literature.

List Of Best 53 Fiction Novels Of English Literature

1. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan: This Christian allegory follows a man named Christian who leaves the City of Destruction and journeys to the Celestial City, encountering various obstacles along the way. The story is framed as a dream and explores themes of faith and salvation.
2. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: The novel tells the story of Robinson Crusoe, an Englishman who becomes a castaway on a deserted island after a shipwreck. Despite numerous challenges, Crusoe survives and even thrives on the island, showcasing human resilience and ingenuity.
3. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift: This satirical work narrates Lemuel Gulliver’s adventures. Gulliver travels to various fantastical lands, including Lilliput (where people are tiny) and Brobdingnag (a land of giants). The novel uses these strange lands and their inhabitants to critique and satirize society and human nature.
4. Clarissa by Samuel Richardson: This tragic novel tells the story of Clarissa Harlowe, a virtuous young woman brought to ruin by her family. Pressured to marry a man she detests, she is tricked into fleeing with a charming villain, Robert Lovelace, leading to her downfall.
5. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding: The novel follows the life of a foundling, Tom Jones, who becomes a womanizer. Despite his flaws, Tom is a good-hearted character who learns the values of love, loyalty, and friendship through his adventures and relationships with various people.
6. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne: Follows the life of Tristram Shandy. The story is filled with humorous and philosophical diversions, and it’s known for its unconventional narrative structure.Tristram, the narrator, tries to tell his life story but is constantly diverted by the need to describe the eccentricities of his family. The novel is filled with accidents and mishaps between Tristram and his family, making it a delightful read.
7. Emma by Jane Austen: The novel revolves around Emma Woodhouse, a young woman who believes she has a gift for matchmaking. Despite her conviction that she will never marry, Emma makes it her goal to find the perfect match for her new friend, Harriet Smith.However, her plans go awry when it becomes clear that her affection is for Emma, not Harriet. The novel is a critique of the social classes and the role of women in society.
8. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Victor Frankensteins written novel tells the story of, a Researcher who discovers the secret to creating life. He uses this knowledge to create an inhumane monster, which before long becomes the source of his misery and demise. The novel explores themes of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of playing God.
9. Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock: This novel is a light-hearted satire of the Romantic movement in literature. The story revolves around Christopher Glowry, a melancholy widower who lives with his son Scythrop in a mansion known as Nightmare Abbey. The novel is filled with amusing visitors who highlight their eccentricities or obsessions.
10. Edgar Alan Poe The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket: It is Poe’s only complete novel, telling the tale of Arthur Gordon Pym, who stows aboard a whaling ship. The book contains adventures and misadventures, including shipwreck, mutiny, and encounters with hostile natives. The story ends abruptly as Pym and his companion continue towards the South Pole.
11. Sybil by Benjamin Disraeli: This novel, The Two Nations, explores the divide between the rich and the poor in Victorian England. The story follows Charles Egremont, a wealthy Englishman, who meets and falls in love with Sybil, the daughter of a flawed yet passionate social reformer—the novel delves into the social injustices of the time and the need for social reform.
12. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: This novel tells the story of Jane Eyre, an orphaned girl who experiences love, betrayal, and personal growth. Despite her low status, Jane is hired as a governess for the ward of the mysterious Mr. Rochester. As she falls in love with him, she uncovers a dark secret that could ruin their chances of happiness.
13. Middlemarch by George Eliot: Middlemarch studies provincial life in early 19th-century England. The novel focuses on Middlemarch residents’ lives, particularly the idealistic Dorothea Brooke and ambitious Dr. Tertius Lydgate, both of whom marry disastrously. The book explores themes of social change, self-interest, and the status of women.
14. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: This novel follows the journey of the young and adventurous Huck Finn as he travels down the Mississippi River with Jim, a runaway slave. The story critiques the entrenched attitudes, particularly racism, of the Southern states during the 19th century.
15. Ulysses by James Joyce: Ulysses is a modernist novel that parallels Homer’s Odyssey. It is renowned for its stream-of-consciousness narrative method and careful structuring. The story takes place in Dublin on a single day (June 16, 1904) and follows the experiences of Leopold Bloom, a Jewish everyman, his wife Molly Bloom, and Stephen Dedalus, a young intellectual.
16. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo: This debut novel follows the story of 11-year-old Gopi, who is left in the care of her father and two older sisters after her mother’s funeral. Gopi practices squash daily at Western Lane, a sports center outside London.The book ends with her playing the final of the Durham and Cleveland squash tournament. The novel explores the tensions of family life, the challenges of growing up, and the impact of grief.
17. Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess: This novel is about Jess, a Black liberal financial analyst, and Josh, a white conservative coworker. They meet at their Ivy League college, where they clash on everything from affirmative action to Obama.After graduating, they ended up working together in the same investment bank. As they lunch, spar, and pick each other’s brains, Jess begins to see Josh in a different light. Their tempestuous friendship turns into an electrifying romance that shocks them both.
18. Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri: This collection of nine stories takes Rome as its protagonist rather than its setting. The stories explore various aspects of life in Rome, from the lives of its residents to the cultural and social variances of the city. The reports delve into themes of visibility and invisibility, aggression, cultural differences, and the meaning of home.
19. Locks by Ashleigh Nugent: This novel follows the story of Aeon, a mixed-race teenager from a middle-class English suburb. After being arrested three times for crimes he did not commit, Aeon travels to Jamaica to understand the Black identity imposed on him. In Jamaica, he is mugged, arrested, and ends up in a detention center. The novel explores themes of the struggle for respect, recognition, race, and identity.
20. Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney: This novel follows the lives of Alice, a novelist, and Eileen, her best friend. Alice gets to meet Felix, who works at a warehouse and invites him to join her on a trip to Rome.Meanwhile, in Dublin, Eileen struggles to move on from a recent break-up and ends up flirting with Simon, a childhood acquaintance. The novel delves into the complexities of relationships in an ever-changing world.
21. The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk: This novel tells the fictionalized story of a real Polish Jewish man named Jacob Frank, who claimed to be the Messiah in the 1800s. The book is the product of extensive historical research and took the author seven years to write.It begins in 1752 in Rohatyn and ends in Holocaust-era Korolówka. The novel combines dozens of third-person perspectives of those connected to Jacob Frank.
22. Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen: This novel is a family drama that tells the story of the Hildebrandts, a middle-class family in 1970s New Prospect, a fictional suburb of Chicago. The narrative employs the past and present tenses and is written from both the first and third-person points of view.
23. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro: This novel is set in a dystopian future in America and is narrated by an Artificial Friend named Klara, who has been designed to serve as a companion to lonely children. The story shows how Klara perceives the world and tries to be there for little Josie through thick and thin.
24. Palmares by Gayl Jones: This novel is set in 17th-century Brazil and tells the story of Almeyda, a Black slave girl who grows up on Portuguese plantations and eventually escapes to a fugitive slave settlement called Palmares. Following its destruction, Almeyda embarks on a journey across colonial Brazil to find her husband, lost in battle.
25. The Women of Troy by Pat Barker: This novel is a feminist retelling of the traditional Trojan horse tale. The story is set in the days following the Greek and Trojan conflict. The narrative formally employs the past and present tenses and is written from both the first and third-person points of view.
26. Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout: This novel is a sequel to the Man Booker longlisted and New York Times bestselling novel My Name is Lucy Barton. The story follows Lucy Barton, a successful writer widowed from her second marriage. She is summoned to the aid of her ex-husband, William Gerhardt, who is beset with problems.One problem is that his third wife Estelle has left him, taking their 10-year-old daughter and much of his furniture. William invites Lucy to Maine to meet his lost half-sister, Lois Bubar. Lucy agrees to go, as she still harbors feelings for William and wants to distract herself from her grief over David.
27. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki: This novel follows the story of Benny Oh after the death of his father, Kenji. The novel centers on themes of narrative form, grief, and the importance of artistic creation amid socioeconomic issues and environmental crises.Zen Buddhist teachings shape the way the characters of this novel handle their ethical and social conflicts. Benny begins hearing what he believes to be the voice of his late father whenever he is close to Kenji’s ashes. Gradually, this escalates into his hearing the voices of inanimate objects around the house and in school.
28. The Magician by Colm Tóibín: This novel tells the fascinating story of its main character Thomas Mann, whose life was filled with great Contradiction and acclaim. He found himself in the wrong side of history when the First World War was going on.He cheerled the German forces. Though it did not stop him to have a clear vision of the right future in the second, He understood the anticipating the horrors of Nazism. He flees Germany for Switzerland, France, and, ultimately, America, living first in Princeton and then Los Angeles.
29. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead: This novel is set in Harlem during the late-1950s and early-1960s. It portrays African-American life in New York City during social upheaval. The story follows Whitehead’s 2019 book The Nickel Boys, which won him a second Pulitzer Prize in the Fiction genre. It is a work of crime fiction and a family saga in Harlem between 1959 and 1964.
30. Painting Time by Maylis de Kerangal: In this novel, we are presented with a burgeoning young artist Paula Karst. She is enrolled at the famous Institut de Peinture established in Brussels. Paula strives to replicate the essence of woods and the wear of marbles in her painting. She discovers that this requires not only method, technique, and talent, but also craftsmanship. This sets her apart from her school friends.
31. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr: This novel tells the story of five main characters through three timelines. The characters are Anna and Omeir in and around 15th-century Constantinople, Zeno and Seymour, whose plots converge in 2020, and Konstance, who lives in the future.All the fields are connected through the Cloud Cuckoo Land folios, a fictitious Ancient Greek story that follows Aethon as he endeavors to find a utopia called Cloud Cuckoo Land.
32. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: a fascinating novel set in the Jazz Age and tells the dramatic story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, who was in pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy young woman he loved in his youth.Gatsby’s exuberant lifestyle and wild parties are simply an attempt to impress Daisy. Gatsby wants Nick to set a reunion between himself and Daisy, but he is fearful that Daisy will reject to see him if she knows he still loves her.
33. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: The story of Dorian Gray is told in this novel, a man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. As Dorian indulges in a life of pleasure and immoral acts, his portrait ages and decays, reflecting the state of his soul while he remains young and attractive.The novel explores themes of aestheticism, moral corruption, and the desire for eternal youth.
34. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse: This novel is a comedic tale that follows the adventures of Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves. The story revolves around misunderstandings, love affairs, and mistaken identities.Bertie’s Aunt Dahlia sends him to Totleigh Towers to steal a silver cow creamer, but there he comes under suspicion as someone Sir Watkyn had once sentenced for a drunken offense.
35. There but for the by Ali Smith: This novel tells the story of a man who locks himself in the spare room in the middle of a dinner party. The story unfolds over the following year or so through the perspectives of four characters whose lives the man, Miles, has touched in small ways.
36. Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry: This novel is set in Quauhnahuac, Mexico, in 1938 and follows the Consul, a former British diplomat with an alcohol addiction, on the day of his death. The small cast of characters includes the Consul’s half-brother, Hugh, his ex-wife, Yvonne, and his friend-turned-enemy, Jacques Laruelle. The novel explores themes such as a breakdown in trust for longstanding institutions and the universe’s indifference to humans.
37. The Promise: This novel is a fictionalized recounting of the story of Mahmood Mattan. He was one of the last men to be executed in Wales for crimes he didn’t commit. Mahmood, a Somali seaman, father of three, and resident of Butetown, Cardiff, was hanged after being convicted of slitting the throat of pawnbroker and moneylender Lily Volpert in 1952.He was arrested within hours of the murder and sentenced despite having alibis confirmed by four separate witnesses. His name was cleared in 1998, 46 years after his death.
38. The Fortune Men: This novel is a fictionalized retelling of the story of Mahmood Mattan, who in 1952 became the last man hanged at Cardiff Prison in Wales. In 1998 – 45 years later – his conviction and hanging was overturned. The novel follows the fictionalized lives of 5 children murdered in a Woolworths during a V-2 attack in London in 1944, imagining an alternate universe in which the 5 children lived.
39. Light Perpetual: This novel pursues the fates of five main characters, all from the fictional neighborhood of Bexford in London, by taking one day from their lives at intervals every 15-years, starting with their wartime childhoods and stretching to the end of the first decade of this century.
40. China Room: This novel tells the story of Mehar, a 16-year-old bride who finds herself living in the “china room” – a cramped, hitherto seldom used building on a farm, its nickname derived from the willow-pattern plates that adorn it, which once formed part of a dowry.Mehar shares the room with Gurleen and Harbans. Someone She has only recently met; the three of them have been married to three brothers in a single day. Now, their days go by doing chores and waiting for the family headmistress, Mai, to tap one of them on the shoulder, sending her to a bedroom to meet her significant other and, it is hoped, become pregnant with a son.
41. Luster by Raven Leilani: This novel follows the story of Edie, a 23-year-old woman who lives and works in New York. She meets Eric online and begins a relationship she believes is vulnerable and honest. They share secrets and truths about one another through the internet and even have virtual sex. Eric tells Edie that he has been married for 13 years.He and his wife, Rebecca, have recently decided to open their marriage up. When Edie and Eric finally meet a month later, both feel awkward about the collision of fantasy with reality. They spend the day at an amusement park and then get drinks together.Edie is enamored with Eric because he asks her genuine questions about herself and her day. He drives her home, and she invites him up, but he declines and asks to see her later that week. She goes upstairs and paints his portrait. It is the first time she has painted in two years.
42. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez: This novel is the history of the isolated town of Macondo and of the family who found it, the Buendías. The city has had no contact with the outside world for years, except for gypsies who sometimes visit, peddling technologies like ice and telescopes.The Leader of the family, José Arcadio Buendía, is impulsive and curious. He remains a leader who is also profoundly solitary, alienating himself from other men in his compulsive investigations into mysterious matters. His descendants inherit these character traits throughout the novel.
43. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: This novel is a fictionalized retelling of the story of Mahmood Mattan, who in 1952 became the last man hanged at Cardiff Prison in Wales. In 1998 – 45 years later – his conviction and hanging was overturned.The novel follows the fictionalized lives of 5 children murdered in a Woolworths during a V-2 attack in London in 1944, imagining an alternate universe in which the 5 children lived.
44. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: This novel is set around the 1950s. A young man named Holden Caulfield narrated it. Holden is not particular about his location while he’s telling the story, but he gets it clear that he is going through treatment in a sanatorium or a mental hospital.The events he narrates take place in the last few days in the end of the fall school term and Christmas, Holden was sixteen at the time.
45. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf: This novel covers a single day from morning to night in one woman’s life. an upper-class housewife called Clarissa Dalloway. She walks through her London neighborhood in preparation for the party she was going to host that evening.After returning from her flower shopping, the protagonist, Clarissa Dalloway, receives an unexpected visit from her old friend and suitor, Peter Walsh. Despite their long history, they have always held each other in contempt, and their present conversation is filled with memories of their past interactions and relationships.
46. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe: it’s a story told about Okonkwo, a respected warrior in Nigeria’s Umuofia clan of the Igbo people. Okonkwo’s life begins to unravel as he deals with the changing society, the arrival of European colonists, and his flaws.
47. Lord of the Flies by William Golding: This novel is about a group of British schoolboys lost on a deserted island after their plane crashes. The boys attempt to govern themselves, but society gradually descends into savage chaos.
48. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster: This novel explores the cultural and racial tensions among the British colonizers and the native Indians during the British Raj. The story revolves around Dr. Aziz, a young Indian Muslim physician, and his complex relationships with an English visitor named Adela Quested and her elderly friend, Mrs. Moore.
49. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville: This novel follows the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab for the white whale Moby Dick. Ishmael, a sailor on Ahab’s Pequod ship, narrates the story. The novel explores themes of obsession, religion, and the destructive nature of revenge.
50. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: it is a psychological thriller, telling the story of Nick Dunne. As their fifth anniversary comes up his wife Amy goes missing. As the investigation into Amy’s disappearance unfolds, it becomes clear that their marriage was not as perfect as it seemed, and Nick becomes the prime suspect.
51. Animal Farm by George Orwell: This novel is a fable of the Russian Revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union. It is a story of a group of farm animals. They rebel against their human farmer, wanting to create a society where the animals can treated equally, accessible, and happy.However, their leaders, the pigs, become corrupt, and the other animals realize their society is never equal or fair.
52. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: Looks at the Joad family as they lose their Oklahoma farm during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The family sets out for California and thousands of other “Okies” in search of land, jobs, and dignity.
53. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: Set in a dystopian future in the Republic of Gilead, a theocratic state that has replaced the United States. The story is narrated by Offred, a woman who is a “handmaid,”.She is forced to provide children by proxy for women of higher social status who are infertile. The novel delves into the themes of women’s oppression and their struggle to attain independence.

Readers Want and Need From Fiction Literature

Readers approach fiction literature in English with a variety of thoughts and expectations. Here are some common ones:

• Escape and Entertainment: Many readers turn to fiction as escapism, seeking to immerse themselves in different worlds, times, and experiences. They want engaging plots, compelling characters, and vivid settings that transport them away from their everyday lives.
• Emotional Engagement: Readers often seek an emotional connection with the characters and the story. They want to feel the joy, sorrow, excitement and fear that the characters experience. This emotional engagement can make the reading experience more immersive and satisfying.
• Intellectual Stimulation: Fiction can offer complex narratives, thought-provoking themes, and intricate character development that challenge readers intellectually. Readers may enjoy analyzing the text, interpreting symbolism, or debating the moral and philosophical questions the story poses.
• Cultural and Historical Insight: Fiction can provide valuable insights into different cultures, historical periods, and social issues. Readers may seek out fiction that broadens their understanding of the world and the human experience.
• Personal Growth and Reflection: Through the struggles and triumphs of fictional characters, readers can gain insights into their own lives. Fiction can prompt readers to reflect on their values, beliefs, relationships, and personal growth.
• Language Appreciation: Readers of English literature often appreciate the beauty of the language itself. They enjoy the skillful use of words, the rhythm of the sentences, and the richness of the imagery.
• Innovation and Creativity: Many readers value originality and creativity in fiction. They are drawn to authors who push boundaries, experiment with narrative structures, or explore unique themes and perspectives.

In essence, readers of fiction literature in English seek a blend of entertainment, emotional and intellectual engagement, cultural and historical insight, personal reflection, language appreciation, and creative innovation. Each reader’s preferences may vary, making the fiction literature world wonderfully diverse and endlessly fascinating.

Personal Thoughts on the List

The titles listed in this conversation are widely recognized as significant works in English literature. They span various genres and periods, reflecting the richness and diversity of the literary field. These novels have been celebrated for their narrative craft, character development, exploration of themes, and their impact on readers and society.

They offer readers a range of experiences, from the fantastical realms of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” to the social realism of Charles Dickens’s “Great Expectations.” Whether you’re looking for a classic like Jane Austen’s “Emma” or a contemporary work like Sally Rooney’s “Beautiful World, Where Are You,” there’s something for every reader in this list.