This is a list of English translations of must-read foreign books since the seventeenth century.
The most popular foreign novels of the past 500 years, translated into English, offer a rich and diverse glimpse into the cultures and perspectives of people from all over the world. These novels have been praised for their literary merit, their historical significance, and their ability to resonate with readers on a deep emotional level.
One of the most popular foreign novels of all time is Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (Spain). This novel is a classic work of satire and humour, and it tells the story of a delusional knight who sets out on a quest to save the world. Cervantes’s writing is witty and insightful, and his characters have become iconic figures in popular culture.
Another enduringly popular foreign novel is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia). This novel tells the story of the Buendía family over the course of a century, and it is a masterpiece of magical realism. Márquez’s writing is lyrical and evocative, and his characters are complex and unforgettable.
Some of the other great classics that have been translated into English include War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
The novels on this list represent a wide range of genres and styles, and they offer readers the opportunity to experience different cultures and perspectives from all over the world. They are also all works of great literary merit, and they have had a profound impact on the world of literature.
In addition to being popular with readers, many of these novels have also been adapted into successful films and television shows. This has helped to introduce these stories to a wider audience and to further their popularity.
The most popular foreign novels of the past 500 years, translated into English, are a testament to the power of literature to transcend borders and cultures. These novels have captured the hearts and minds of readers all over the world, and they continue to be enjoyed by new generations of readers:
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (Spain, 1605), translated by Edith Grossman
Don Quixote is a classic novel by Miguel de Cervantes, published in two parts in 1605 and 1615. It tells the story of Alonso Quixano, a Spanish nobleman who has lost his mind after reading too many chivalric romances. He believes himself to be a knight-errant, and sets out on a series of adventures with his faithful squire, Sancho Panza. Along the way, he mistakes windmills for giants, inns for castles, and prostitutes for damsels in distress. Don Quixote is a complex and sympathetic character, who is both idealistic and delusional. He is a symbol of the power of imagination and the importance of following one’s dreams, even if they seem impossible.
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (France, 1862), translated by Charles E. Wilbour
Les Misérables is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862. It tells the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who struggles for redemption after serving 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Valjean is pursued by the relentless Inspector Javert, but he is also helped by kind strangers, including Fantine, a single mother who dies leaving him to care for her daughter, Cosette. Les Misérables is a powerful and moving story about love, forgiveness, and the human capacity for redemption.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (France, 1831), translated by Frederick Shoberl
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. It is set in Paris in 1482 and tells the story of Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and his unrequited love for the beautiful dancer Esmeralda. Quasimodo is persecuted by society because of his appearance, but he ultimately finds redemption through his love for Esmeralda
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (France, 1844–1846), translated by A.K. Griggs
The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas (père), completed in 1844. It is one of the author’s most popular works, along with The Three Musketeers. The Count of Monte Cristo is a classic tale of good versus evil, and it has been adapted into numerous films, television shows, and musicals. It is a story that continues to resonate with readers today because of its themes of justice, revenge, and the power of forgiveness.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (France, 1844), translated by A.K.
The Three Musketeers is a classic swashbuckling novel by Alexandre Dumas, published in 1844. It tells the story of the young D’Artagnan and his three friends, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, as they defend the honor of the king and queen of France against the machinations of Cardinal Richelieu. The novel is full of action, adventure, and romance, and it has been adapted into numerous films, television shows, and musicals.
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (France, 1857), translated by Eleanor Marx Aveling Griggs
Madame Bovary is a classic novel by Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856. It tells the story of Emma Bovary, a doctor’s wife who is stifled by provincial life and seeks escape in romantic fantasy and adultery. The novel is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and it is considered to be one of the greatest novels ever written.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878
Anna Karenina is a novel by Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. It is considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever written. The novel tells the story of Anna Karenina, a beautiful and passionate woman who is trapped in a loveless marriage. She falls in love with Count Vronsky, a young and dashing officer, and the two begin an affair. Anna’s decision to leave her husband and son for Vronsky leads to her social ostracism and eventual downfall. Anna Karenina is a complex and moving novel that explores themes of love, betrayal, faith, and social convention. It is a story about the human capacity for both great joy and great suffering.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russia, 1880), translated by Constance Garnett
The Brothers Karamazov is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, published in 1880. It is considered to be one of the greatest novels ever written. The novel tells the story of the Karamazov brothers, Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha, and their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. Fyodor Pavlovich is a wealthy and hedonistic landowner who is hated by his sons. He is eventually murdered, and all three of his sons are suspects.
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Austria-Hungary, 1915), translated by Willa and
The Metamorphosis is a novella by Franz Kafka, published in 1915. It tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. Samsa’s family and friends are horrified by his transformation, and he is forced to live a secluded and isolated life. The novella is a powerful exploration of the themes of alienation, transformation, and the human condition.
The Trial by Franz Kafka (Austria-Hungary, 1925), translated by Willa and Edwin Muir
The Trial is a novel by Franz Kafka, published in 1925. It tells the story of Josef K., a man who is arrested and put on trial for a crime that is never revealed to him. K. is forced to navigate a labyrinthine bureaucracy as he tries to understand the charges against him and defend himself. The novel is a powerful exploration of the themes of guilt, innocence, and the absurdity of the modern world.
The Stranger by Albert Camus (France, 1942), translated by Matthew Ward
The Stranger by Albert Camus is a philosophical novel about a young man named Meursault who is indifferent to the world around him. Meursault is eventually put on trial for murder, but he is unable to understand why his actions are considered wrong.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russia, 1866), translated by Constance Garnett
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a psychological novel about a young man named Raskolnikov who commits murder in order to test a philosophical theory. The novel explores Raskolnikov’s descent into crime and madness, as well as his eventual redemption.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Russia, 1869), translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a panoramic novel that tells the story of Russia’s struggle against Napoleon in 1812. It is a complex and multi-layered novel that explores themes of love, war, family, and the meaning of life.
The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann (Germany, 1924), translated by H.T. Lowe-Porter The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann is a novel about a young man named Hans Castorp who visits his cousin in a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps. Castorp plans to stay for three weeks, but he ends up staying for seven years. During his time at the sanatorium, Castorp meets a variety of interesting characters and learns a lot about himself and the world around him.
The Diary of Anne Frank, (Netherlands 1947) translated by Barbara Mooyaart-Doubleday
The Diary of Anne Frank is a non-fiction book written by Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis during World War II. Frank’s diary is a moving and inspiring account of her life in hiding.
The Tin Drum by Günter Grass (Germany, 1959), translated by Ralph Manheim
The Tin Drum by Günter Grass is a novel about Oskar Matzerath, a young boy who stops growing at the age of three. Oskar is a mischievous and rebellious child, and he uses his drum to protest against the injustices of the world around him.
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Russia, 1966–1967), translated by Mirra Ginsburg
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov is a satirical novel about the devil’s visit to Moscow in the 1930s. The novel is a complex and multi-layered work that explores themes of good and evil, love and loss, and the power of imagination.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia, 1967), translated by Gregory Rabassa
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez is a novel about the Buendía family, who live in the fictional town of Macondo. The novel tells the story of the family’s rise and fall over the course of 100 years.
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (Italy, 1980), translated by William Weaver
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco is a mystery novel set in a Benedictine monastery in the 14th century. The novel tells the story of William of Baskerville, a Franciscan friar who is called to investigate a series of mysterious deaths at the monastery.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (Czechoslovakia, 1984), translated by Michael Henry Heim
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera is a novel about the lives of two couples in Czechoslovakia during the communist era. The novel explores themes of love, infidelity, and the meaning of life.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia, 1985), translated by Edith Grossman
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez is a novel about the enduring love between Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza. The novel spans over 50 years and tells th story of Florentino’s unwavering love for Fermina, even after she marries another man.
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (Japan, 1994), translated by Stephen Snyde
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa is a novel set in an unnamed country where objects and memories disappear overnight. The novel tells the story of a young woman who works as a memory police officer, whose job is to track down and confiscate objects that have disappeared. The novel explores themes of memory, loss, and identity.
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk (Turkey, 1998), translated by Erdağ Göknar
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk is a historical novel set in Istanbul in the 16th century. The novel tells the story of the murder of a master illuminator and the investigation that follows. The novel explores themes of art, religion, and politics in the Ottoman Empire.
Snow by Orhan Pamuk (Turkey, 2002), translated by Maureen Freely
Snow by Orhan Pamuk is a novel set in the fictional town of Kars in Turkey. The novel tells the story of Ka, a poet who returns to his hometown to investigate a series of mysterious suicides. Ka soon finds himself caught up in a web of political intrigue and religious extremism.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Spain, 2001), translated by Lucia Graves
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a mystery novel set in Barcelona in the 1940s. The novel tells the story of Daniel Sempere, a young boy who discovers a mysterious book called The Shadow of the Wind. Daniel is determined to learn more about the book and its author, but he soon finds himself caught up in a dangerous web of secrets.
The Vegetarian by Han Kang (South Korea, 2007), translated by Deborah Smith
The Vegetarian by Han Kang is a novel about a woman named Yeong-hye who decides to stop eating meat after a series of vivid dreams about animal slaughter. Yeong-hye’s decision to stop eating meat has a profound impact on her life and her relationships with her family and friends. The novel explores themes of violence, sexuality, and the body.
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk (Poland, 2009), translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk is a mystery novel set in a small Polish village. The novel tells the story of Janina Duszejko, a retired teacher who investigates the murders of several animals in the village. The novel is a complex and atmospheric exploration of nature, violence, and the human condition.Moreby Hakan Günday, (Turkey, 2011) translated by Zeynep Beler
More by Hakan Günday is a novel about a young man named Mahmut who is obsessed with death. Mahmut is a disturbed individual who finds pleasure in inflicting pain on others. He is eventually convicted of murder and sentenced to death. In prison, Mahmut writes a book about his life, including his crimes and his thoughts on death.
Autumn by Karl Ove Knausgaard (Norway, 2015), translated by Don Bartlett
Autumn by Ali Smith is a novel about four characters whose lives intersect in England in the fall. The novel is a beautifully written and meditative exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time.
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Vietnam, 2015), translated by the author
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen is a novel about a half-French, half-Vietnamese spy who infiltrates the South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War. The novel is a powerful and moving exploration of identity, war, and the human condition.
And that’s our list of the 30 most popular novels translated into English. What’s your take on these – any surprises, or any inspirational fiction novels not on this list that you feel should make the list?