Recs if you like King Lear...

Just a fun little list of books that have inspired songs. Please list the book and the song with the artist in your suggestions, or if it's a concept album based on a book, just include the book and the album with the artist. I will not be including any books by JKR, Neil Gaiman, or Orson Scott Card, or songs by Iced Earth. Will not be adding musicals based on books, songs written for films based on books, or songs that are classic poems to music.

Books for those who want to be well-read without the debt (created by someone with said debt)

Note: I will be deleting my PB account within the next two weeks, and I believe this list will be erased. Feel free to screenshot it if you see anything that interests you! ☺️ 3/17/2026

A compilation of all plays for ease of access, even those with debatable authorship. In vaguely chronological order based off performance dates of plays per Shakespeare scholars (debates of chronology are a rabbit hole).

Why do I overlive, Why am I mocked with death and lengthened out To deathless pain? (Paradise Lost 10.773-775)

Derived from Emily Wilson's exploration of tragedy that is concerned with living rather than dying.

“Lives do not always end at the expected time. People go on living even after the moment when they or others feel they should have died. Each of these writers presents a character who experiences an intolerable sense of suffering and loss, and feels that he has lived too long, but, nevertheless, decides to resist suicide.”

Including works where even if suicide is not a concept a character dwells upon, there is a sense of confusion or intense weariness at the continuation of life past a cataclysmic, life-altering event and that moment defines every choice for the rest of their life.

Includes some of her discussed works as well as works that I think fit this concept. Please recommend any books you think will work!

Here's a list of every book I studied, read, or was reccomended to read as part of my Writing and Literature BA - for eager academics, fellow writers & nostagic graduates💕 Let's milk my education💪

Notes in the margins are a must. — Me, a neurotic literature degree holder

This isn't MY list. These are the foundational texts of the Western Canon. Up until the early 1900s, these were unquestionably part of any educated person's background. Austen, Lewis, Twain, James, Sayers, Tolkien....what do you think they grew up reading that informed the genius works they created? Their masterpieces didn't materialize out of thin air. This list is by no means comprehensive, but you'll be off to a solid start.

"As it ever was, so it will be again."

aka you know there's gotta be a river, there's gotta be some obscure and complicated folklore, there's gotta be some sort of myth/historical reference or retelling.

All the stories from the bard and stories that he inspired- I definitely need recommendations for this one!!

Books where hubris and arrogance are central themes.

A list dedicated to the life, works, and study of William Shakespeare. Includes many of the books featured on Shakespeare Unlimited, the podcast produced by the Folger Shakespeare Library.

A reading list that I thought I’d share consisting of all the books on the Brink Literacy Project’s tarot deck. I’m going for completionist and this is here for anyone who’d like to keep track and do the same, or who wants to read classic literature paired with tarot cards 🤗

(Apart from the first five, all books are in order, starting with the Major Arcana, and moving Ace to King through the Wands, Cups, Swords, and then Pentacles suit).

"if we were villains" is one of my favourite books and i like to go back to it every year but while reading it as it is is very enjoyable, i thought about compiling a list of other books mentioned/used in iwwv (or just the ones i think could add to your experience), mostly Shakespeare's plays so the next time i read it i can be fully prepared to feel devastated<3 if i forgot about anything, let me know enjoy!

I will update this list frequently! Recommendations welcomed.

The Primary Works section of the Reading List of Thomas C. Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Ever wondered what books of your nation are taught in other countries? Well, I always do. This is what we study in English literature (by any English speaking country) here in Italian highschools.

I only study English, so I can only do it for this language. If any Italian highschooler wants to add books mentioned by their text that I didn't have, or books their teachers made them study in class, they are welcome to do so.

Hope someone is interested.

Books saved the narrator in "Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal" by Jeanette Winterson. Books may yet save us. This is a list of all the books mentioned & referenced in the novel. Feel free to comment any that I missed

i have not read all of these, mainly based on other lists ive seen elsewhere

All these books are taken from various courses I've taken as English Literature undergrad! Contains both well known classics and ones you probably have never heard of. (work in progress)