Recs if you like The Aeneid...

katabasis (n.) “descent”; often referring to a descent into the underworld, or the realm of the dead.

Overlooked, lesser known classics from all over the world and of many genres.

This list also exists as a book club on Fable under the same name.

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

Texts that teachers at Texas Tech have been warned not to teach

Books with Éowyn-type characters; women with an inclination to the martial or glorious but who are often frustrated or blocked in, or mocked for, their ambitions. ("A cage," [Éowyn] said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”)

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

Famous epic poems from a range of different countries

Every book depicted on PBS's Wishbone (1995–1997)

I tried to find the latest version (2026).

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.

In light of the recent interest in Greek mythology because of the release of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, here is a list of Greek myths and retellings of them

A study of the past

Works where hell is heavily involved in the plot.

this is a collection of books I saw mentioned on booktok in relation to R.F. Kuangs new book Katabasis that's coming out somewhen this year. and since I am nothing but determinded I decided to make a list and try to read the ones I think are the most important (bc let's be honest I won't read all of them)

Books mentioned or quoted in The Secret History and books mentioned by donna tartt

This website ranks global literature using "best of lists" from over 700 sources. I compiled this list with the nonfiction % set to 50%.

A list of most epic poems (complete and fragmentary) that we have conserved and were written in Latin and during Antiquity (so no medieval works). I wasn't able to find an English edition for each work, and the fragments of different works might also be grouped together sometimes.

Everything I read during my Classics BA at KCL

Books or poems that were mentioned in the book 'Babel' by R.F.Kuang. (Not every single one but most that I made note of)

The books in this list are a compilation of the ancient and classical texts from around the world. Whether you are looking for a good translation or curious about ancient texts and authors, like Homer and his Illiad and Odyssey, then this is where you can come to satiate your curiosity for the ancients. Please let me know if there are any I have missed!