english literature list for dutch secondary school

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Book list English Literature

17thcentury

Plays by William Shakespeare(not all of them are mentioned, for further informationplease check:http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/)

Tragedies

Antony and Cleopatra(1606-1607)

The story of Mark Antony, Roman military leader and triumvir, who is madly in love withCleopatra, Queen of Egypt.

Hamlet(1600-1601)

Since its first recorded production, Hamlethas engrossed playgoers, thrilled readers, and

challenged actors more so than any other play in the Western canon. No other single work

of fiction has produced more commonly used expressions.

Julius Caesar(1599-1600)

Although there were earlier Elizabethan plays on the subject of Julius Caesar and his

turbulent rule, Shakespeare's penetrating study of political life in ancient Rome is the onlyversion to recount the demise of Brutus and the other conspirators.

King Lear(1605-1606)

The story of King Lear, an aging monarch who decides to divide his kingdom amongst his

three daughters, according to which one recites the best declaration of love.

Macbeth(1605-1606)

Macbethis one of Shakespeare's most stimulating and popular dramas. Renaissance records

of Shakespeare's plays in performance are scarce, but a detailed account of an original

production of Macbethhas survived, thanks toDr. Simon Forman.

Othello(1604-1605)

Othello, a valiant Moorish general in the service of Venice, falls prey to the devious schemes

of his false friend, Iago.

Romeo and Juliet(1594-1595)

Celebrated for the radiance of its lyric poetry, Romeo and Julietwas tremendously popular

from its first performance. The sweet whispers shared by young Tudor lovers throughout the

realm were often referred to as "naught but pure Romeo and Juliet."

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Histories

Henry IV, Part I(1597-1598)

One of Shakespeare's most popular plays, featuring the opportunistic miscreant, Sir John

Falstaff.

Henry IV, Part II(1597-1598)This is the third play in the second tetralogy of history plays, along with Richard II, Henry IV,

Part 1, and Henry V.

Henry V(1598-1599)

Henry Vis the last in the second tetralogy sequence. King Henry is considered Shakespeare's

ideal monarch.

Henry VI, Part I(1591-1592)

The first in Shakespeare's trilogy about the War of the Roses between the houses of

Lancaster and York.

Henry VI, Part II(1590-1591)

Part two of Shakespeare's chronicle play. Based on Hall's work, the play contains some

historical inaccuracies.

Henry VI, Part III(1590-1591)

Part three begins in medias res, with the duke of Suffolk dead and the duke of York being

named Henry VI's heir.

Henry VIII(1612-1613)Many believe Henry VIIIto be Shakespeare's last play, but others firmly believe that he had

little, if anything, to do with its creation.

King John(1596-1597)

In the shadow of Shakespeares second tetralogy of history plays lies the neglected

masterpiece, King John. Although seldom read or performed today, King Johnwas once one

of Shakespeare's most popular histories, praised for its poetic brilliance.

Richard II(1595-1596)

More so than Shakespeare's earlier history plays, Richard IIis notable for its well-roundedcharacters.

Richard III(1592-1593)

The devious machinations of the deformed villain, Richard, duke of Gloucester, made this

play an Elizabethan favorite.

Comedies

All's Well That Ends Well(1602-1603)

Modern scholars contend that this is aproblemplay, due primarily to the character Helena

and her ambiguous nature. Is she a virtuous lady or a crafty temptress?

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As You Like It(1599-1600)

As You Like Itis considered by many to be one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, and the

heroine, Rosalind, is praised as one of his most inspiring characters.

The Comedy of Errors(1592-1593)

This is Shakespeare's shortest play, which he based on Menaechmiby Plautus.

Love's Labours Lost(1594-1595)

Love's Labours Lost fell out of favour for many years, criticized by scholars as muddled and

confusing. But the play is making a comeback, and Kenneth Branagh's version has helped it

along.

The Merry Wives of Windsor(1600-1601)The Merry Wivesis unique amongst Shakespeare's plays because it is set in Shakespeare's

England. It features the Bard's beloved character, Falstaff.

The Merchant of Venice(1596-1597)

The character of Shylock has raised a debate over whether the play should be condemned as

anti-Semitic, and this controversy has overshadowed many other aspects of the play.

A Midsummer Night's Dream(1595-1596)

A magical exploration of the mysteries of love, and one of Shakespeare's best-known

comedies.

Much Ado About Nothing(1598-1599)

The story of two very different sets of lovers, Beatrice and Benedick and Claudio and Hero.

The witty banter between Beatrice and Benedick is the highlight of the play.

The Taming of the Shrew(1593-1594)

The Taming of the Shrewrevolves around the troubled relationship between Katharina and

her suitor, Petruchio, who is determined to mold Katharina into a suitable wife.

The Tempest(1611-1612)Hailed as a stunning climax to the career of Englands favorite dramatist, The Tempestis a

play praising the glories of reconciliation and forgiveness. Some believe that Prosperos final

speeches signify Shakespeares personal adieu from the stage.

Twelfth Night(1599-1600)

Shakespeare loved to use the device of mistaken identity, and nowhere does he use this

convention more skillfully than in Twelfth Night.

Two Gentlemen of Verona(1594-1595)

The tale of two friends who travel to Milan and learn about the chaotic world of courting.

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20thcentury

24.The Secret Garden (1911)Frances Hodgson Burnett

25.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1960)Harper Lee (American)26.1984 (1949)George Orwell

27.Animal Farm (1945)George Orwell

28.Catcher in the Rye (1951)J.D. Salinger

29.

The Great Gatsby (1925)F. Scott Fitzgerald

30.The Grapes of Wrath (1939)John Steinbeck (American)

31.Of Mice and Men (1937)John Steinbeck (American)

32.

The Pearl (1947)John Steinbeck (American)

33.The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)CS Lewis

34.

A Kiss Before Dying (1953)Ira Levin (American)

35.

The Boys from Brazil (1976)Ira Levin (American)36.Memoirs of a Geisha (1997)Arthur Golden (American)

37.A Prayer for Owen Meaney (1989)John Irving (American)

38.

The Cider House Rules (1985)John Irving (American)

39.The Handmaids Tale (1985)Margaret Atwood (Canadian)

40.Lord of the Flies (1954)William Golding

41.

Brave New World (1931)Aldous Huxley

42.The Secret History (1992)Donna Tartt (American)

43.On the Road (1951)Jack Kerouac (American)

44.

Breakfast at Tiffanys (1958) Truman Capote (American)

45.

Bridget Joness Diary (1996)Helen Fielding

46.Empire of the Sun (1984)JG Ballard

47.

Beloved (1987)Toni Morrison (American)

48.The Bluest Eye (1970)Toni Morrison (American)

49.Ordinary People (1976)Judith Guest (American)

50.The Stepford Wives (1972)Ira Levin (American)

51.

The Cement Garden (1978)Ian McEwan

52.The Joy Luck Club (1989)Amy Tan (American)

53.Brideshead Revisited (1945)Evelyn Waugh

54.

Charlottes Web (1952) EB White (American)55.The Remains of the Day (1989)- Kazuo Ishiguro

56.The Color Purple (1982)Alice Walker (American)

57.

The Woman in Black (1983)Susan Hill

58.The Queen and I (1992)Sue Townsend

59.Walk two Moons (1994)Sharon Creech

60.

Mr Vertigo (1994)Paul Auster (American)

61.The Old man and the Sea (1951)Ernest Hemingway (American)

62.The Woman who Walked into Doors (1996)Roddy Doyle (Irish)

63.

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (1993)Roddy Doyle (Irish)

64.

His Dark Materials (comprisingNorthern Lights(1995, published as The Golden Compassin

North America),The Subtle Knife(1997), andThe Amber Spyglass(2000).Philip Pullman

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65.One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest (1962) Ken Kesey (American)

66.Angelas Ashes (1996) Frank McCourt (Irish-American)

67.About a Boy (1998)Nick Hornby

68.Fever Pitch (1992)Nick Hornby

69.

Secret History (1992)Donna Tartt (American)

70.

Across the Barricades (1972)Joan Lingard (Scottish)

71.Postcards from No-Mans Land (1999)Aidan Chambers

72.

The Chosen (1967)Chaim Potok (American Jewish writer)

73.

The Collector (1963)John Fowles

21stcentury

74.

Atonement (2001)Ian McEwan

75.

Life of Pi (2001)Yann Martel (Canadian)76.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (2003)Mark Haddon

77.

Queen Camilla (2006)Sue Townsend

78.

Number 10 (2002)Sue Townsend

79.Gentlemen & Players (2005)Joanne Harris

80.One Day (2009)David Nicholls

81.

Starter for Ten (2003)David Nicholls

82.Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2005) - Jonathan Safran Foer (American)

83.Everything is Illuminated (2002)Jonathan Safran Foer (American)

84.

Notes on a Scandal (2005)Zoe Heller

85.

Black Swan Green (2006)David Mitchell86.Slam (2007) - Nick Hornby

87.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007)Mohsin Hamid (American/Pakistani)

88.The Help (2009)Kathryn Stockett (American)

89.Rivers of London/Midnight Riot (US title) (2011) - Ben Aaronovitch

90.

Moon over SoHo (2011) - Ben Aaronovitch

91.Pigeon English (2011)- Stephen Kelman

92.Private Peaceful (2003)Michael Morpurgo

93.Room (2010)Emma Donoghue (Irish)