Recs if you like The Arabian Nights...

I've seen so many people say they don't read classics as they aren't diverse, and I wanted to give some suggestions that are.

This is a list of classics written by authors who are not Straight, Cis, White, and Men as the title suggests. I am also aiming to include a variety of cultures and regions in this list. If your looking for something more focused (e.g. diverse US classics) check out the lists I posted in the comments.

Suggestions are more than welcome!

size matters for this list, all these classics are more than 400 pages long. they are THICK. suggestions welcome, i am a very generous interpreter of the term "classic" normally but i'm starting with the golden oldies

Every book recommended by members of the band (except for the one that must not be named). Most of these were recommended by Lucy Dacus. If you are sitting on more books which any member of the band recommended, please hit me up and I will update the list!

a collection of fiction and nonfiction texts on gender, race, culture, history, politics that feel like absolute must reads

The books mentioned or alluded to in The Astral Library by Kate Quinn. If it’s a series, book 1 is listed unless a specific book was mentioned. Where just the author was mentioned, I’ve made my best guess.

Listed books/authors are NOT endorsements. Some authors/series are problematic, but I have chosen not to censor this list with one exception that, if mentioned in the book, shall not be named in this list.

books mentioned and/or quoted in the shadowhunters universe! up until lord of shadows! to be updated soon!

hans christian andersen, brothers grimm and more :)

On August 9, 2026, The Telegraph published a list of “The 50 greatest books of all time” by Jake Kerridge

+600 pages asian literature