Well, 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes is often considered one of the most influential. It was one of the first modern novels and has influenced storytelling ever since. 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley is also a very important one. It was one of the first works of science fiction and explored themes like creation, ethics, and the role of the creator. 'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy is a behemoth of a novel that has influenced our understanding of history, war, and human nature.
The top 10 most influential fiction books are likely to include 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Its themes of the American Dream, wealth, and love are still relevant today. 'Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien is also very influential. It created a whole new world of fantasy that has inspired countless other works in the genre. 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, with its complex exploration of obsession and the human struggle against nature, is another influential work.
Some of the top influential Christian fiction books include 'In His Steps' by Charles M. Sheldon. This book challenges readers to ask 'What would Jesus do?' in every situation. 'A Lineage of Grace' by Francine Rivers is also important. It retells the stories of five women in the lineage of Jesus in a fictional yet biblically - based way. And 'The Mark of the Lion' series by Francine Rivers is well - regarded for its historical setting and exploration of Christian values in the early Christian era.
The books that are most influential in the top 100 classic fiction list include 'The Divine Comedy' by Dante Alighieri. This work is a cornerstone of Italian literature and has had a profound impact on religious and philosophical thought. 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens is also highly influential. It vividly depicts the social unrest of the French Revolution and has themes of sacrifice and redemption. Moreover, 'Crime and Punishment' by Fyodor Dostoevsky, with its deep exploration of guilt, morality, and the human soul, has influenced many writers and thinkers.
Well, 'The Great Gatsby' is among the most influential fiction books. F. Scott Fitzgerald's work explores themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream. 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding is very influential too. It shows how quickly civilization can break down when people are left to their own devices. And don't forget 'Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling. It has not only been a global phenomenon but also influenced a whole generation's view on magic, friendship, and good vs. evil.
Well, 'The Wealth of Nations' by Adam Smith has been extremely influential in the field of economics. It laid the foundation for many economic theories. 'On the Origin of Species' by Charles Darwin is also very important. It changed our understanding of life on Earth forever. And 'The Communist Manifesto' by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels had a profound impact on political and social thought around the world.
I think 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley is quite influential in historical fiction. It predicted many aspects of modern society based on the trends of its time. 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker is also important. It tells the story of African - American women in the early 20th century, shining a light on their struggles. And 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel García Márquez, while set in a fictional town, reflects on the history of Latin America in many ways.
I think 'The Well of Loneliness' by Radclyffe Hall is quite influential. It was one of the first major works to deal with lesbianism. 'Howl' by Allen Ginsberg also had an impact as it was part of the Beat Generation and had LGBTQ undertones. 'Angels in America' by Tony Kushner is a very important play with LGBTQ themes that has had a big influence on the representation of the community in theater.
I think 'The Second Sex' by Simone de Beauvoir is very influential. Although it's more of a philosophical exploration, it has had a huge impact on feminist thought and inspired a lot of fiction works. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is also a key one. It shows the psychological oppression of women in a patriarchal society in a very vivid way. And 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf is influential as it portrays the inner thoughts and experiences of a woman in a complex social setting.
'Leaving Las Vegas' by John O'Brien. It's a powerful and tragic story of a man who has given up on life and uses alcohol as his way to numb the pain. It was so impactful that it was made into a movie as well.
Well, 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells is really important. It was one of the first to depict an alien invasion, which has influenced countless science fiction works since. 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov is also a big one. His ideas about psychohistory and the long - term development of civilizations are very thought - provoking. And then there's 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card, which looks at military strategy and the nature of leadership in a sci - fi context.
I think 'Red Clocks' was quite influential. Its portrayal of a world with limited reproductive rights for women sparked a lot of discussions. It made people think about how easily women's rights could be eroded and the importance of fighting for them.