Today, I want to share a list of ‘Best English Author You Must Read’ as we have less than two months left in 2023. A lot of bookworms are already gearing up for 2024 reading challenges and planning to buy/gift books during the festive season. What better time than now to bring to your attention a list of brilliant authors from across the world who weave magic with their words?

“I am so impressed by the life giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young.” ~ Maya Angelou

{What do you think of the book banning culture? Here’s a list of 10 Books Banned in India.}

Literature, like everything else, is ever- evolving. Content, presentation and voices in literature change with time. But some voices resonate through the ages. There are tons of books that are simply timeless and no matter which era they are read in or what stage of life you read them in – you will find home in them. Let me be frank, I am going to share a list of must read authors today, instead of a list of timeless books, because I that list is almost never-ending… 

“I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.” ~ Emma Thompson

I truly believe there is a right time for every book in each readers life. So, if you have tried reading one of these author’s before and did not enjoy as much back then, I would urge you to try again when you are in a different stage of your life. Delve into this list with an open and curious mind.

{Here is a list of places where you can find Desi Stories to Read for Free.}

10 Best English Authors You Must Read

1. Jane Austen

Reading at least one Jane Austen book in your lifetime is a must. Her observations of the societal norm of her time is something that is widely admired. Her commentary on the same through her writing with a bit of wit thrown in is what makes the stories so interesting. Her take on the class, love, friendship, morals, and social expectations transcends time.  Whether you are looking to escape into an imaginary world of regency romance or whether you are looking to for deeper understanding of human behaviour/relationship – Jane Austen’s novels remain relevant till date. Her characters come to life even today as we visit those stories either through pages or through the screen.

Some of her popular works are:

• Sense and Sensibility 
• Pride and Prejudice
• Mansfield Park 
• Emma 
• Northanger Abbey 
• Persuasion 

My recommendations – Mansfield Park & Sense and Sensibility

2. George Orwell

Dystopian novels are all in rage these days. But looking back, reading George Orwell’s dystopian world helped me look at our society differently at an early age. The social critique presented by the author in his books are, to me, unparalleled till this day. He talked about manipulation of truth, mass surveillance, totalitarianism and the dangers of them long back. When you pick up his books in this day and age, you will find them to be just as relevant. The compelling storytelling techniques of the author only adds to the charm of the books.

Some of his popular works are:

• Burmese Days 
• A Clergyman’s Daughter 
• Keep the Aspidistra Flying 
• Coming Up for Air 
• Animal Farm 
• Nineteen Eighty-Four

My recommendations – Animal Farm & Nineteen Eighty-Four

3. Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is a master of weaving intricate narratives that is beyond age and genres. Her books can captivate readers with deep insights into human nature and power dynamics in our society. She is well known for writing speculative fiction and her exploration of feminist themes make her a trailblazer of our times. Her stories have the capability of keeping a strong grip on the readers while gently nudging them to wonder about people and our society; Her dystopian worlds serves as a mirror to our real world.

Some of her popular works are:

• The Edible Woman 
• The Handmaid’s Tale 
• Cat’s Eye
• Alias Grace
• The Blind Assassin
• The Testaments
• Dancing Girls
• Murder in the Dark 
• Good Bones and Simple Murders
• Moral Disorder

My recommendations – The Handmaid’s Tale (even if you have watched the HULU show), The Blind Assassin & Moral Disorder

{Check out our list of 19 Young Authors of India – The Voice of Tomorrow}

4. Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman, is literally a literary magician. He has numerous fiction, non-fiction, short-stories, poetry and graphic novels under his name. He has also written for the screen. No matter what form of storytelling you prefer, or what the age of the reader is – there is something for you to find by Neil Gaiman. Even with so many feathers in his cap, he remains a mater of creating fantasies where myth, fantasy and reality come together to enchant his readers. His narrative style enraptures the readers and his storytelling brings his readers somewhere just in between reality and speculation – a place that could be fantasy, but could also easily be our reality. 

Some of his popular works are:

• The Ocean at the End of the Lane
• Good Omens
• The Graveyard Book
• Anansi Boys
• Coraline
• American Gods
• Norse Mythology
• Neverwhere
• Sandman
• M is for Magic

My recommendations – Coraline, The Graveyard Book and Good Omens

5. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is often claimed as the voice in contemporary literature whose narratives capture the many identities of modern people in a globalized world. Through the ages, she has captured the complexities of love, race, and cultural displacement with a grace that makes people stop and take note. She is fearless in her advocacy for feminism and as such her works challenge the conventional narratives in our society. Adichie has a very distinct voice that makes her stand out from many of her contemporaries.

Some of her popular works are:

• Purple Hibiscus
• Half of a Yellow Sun
• The Thing Around Your Neck
• Americanah
• We Should All Be Feminists
• Notes on Grief

My recommendations – We Should All Be Feminists & Notes on Grief

6. Ian McEwan

The first word that comes to mind when I hear the name Ian McEwan is consequences. Ian McEwan is a maestro in crafting narratives that explore the intricacies of the human psyche. His stories have a strong themes of morality, relationships and redemption. The blend of psychological depth with gripping storytelling is the USP of his novels. His storytelling style is both elegant and evocative resulting in drawing in the readers into his world and making them think about the theme of the stories that he tells. Whether it is through fiction novel or short stories or through screenplays – the author has enchanted readers through the ages.

Some of his popular works are:

• The Cement Garden 
• The Comfort of Strangers
• The Innocent
• Enduring Love 
• Atonement 
• Sweet Tooth 
• The Children Act 
• The Cockroach 
• First Love, Last Rites 
• In Between the Sheets 

My recommendations – Atonement, The Comfort of Strangers & First Love, Last Rites

7. Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith, a novelist and essayist, stands at the forefront with a remarkable ability to explore the complexities of human identity, modern day multiculturalism, and the constant societal shifts. Her writing style brings together the different perspectives seamlessly with a dash of wit and humour. She offers her readers an immersive journey through her cultural commentaries with focus on the nuances of modern relationships. Her genius is portraying universal themes through very distinct individual voices

Some of her popular works are:

• White Teeth 
• The Autograph Man 
• On Beauty 
• NW 
• Swing Time 
• The Fraud 

My recommendations – White Teeth & The Autograph Man 

{Here’s a list of Best Biographies in India that you should definitely check out.}

8. R.K. Narayan

There are very few Indian readers who do not know R.K. Narayan. He is a much revered figure in Indian literature. Whether it’s through ‘Malgudi Days’ on Doordarshan or through his books. R.K.Narayan had the knack for timeless narratives set in the fictional town of Malgudi. He is a master of capturing the nuances of ordinary life and delivering them in extraordinary ways. The dynamics of various relationships, the quirks of our society depicted with a dash of nostalgia is what the author’s works are all about. The simplicity in his language and narrative is what is so elegant about his storytelling. Go on a journey with Swami and his friends and you will never regret it.

Some of his popular works are:

• Swami and Friends 
• The Bachelor of Arts 
• The Dark Room 
• The English Teacher 
• Mr. Sampath
• The Financial Expert 
• Waiting for the Mahatma 
• The Guide 
• Talkative Man 
• Grandmother’s Tale 

My recommendations – Swami and Friends & The English Teacher 

9. Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf was a pioneer in literature that navigates brought together unparalleled insight and poetic prose. Her writing style invited the readers to get deep into the psyche of her characters resulting in almost an immersive experience for the readers. Sometimes beautiful and sometimes haunting, Virginia Woolf’s stories stay with their readers for a long time after turning the last page.

Some of her popular works are:

• The Voyage Out 
• Night and Day 
• Jacob’s Room 
• Mrs Dalloway 
• To the Lighthouse 
• The Waves 
• Between the Acts

My recommendations – Mrs Dalloway & Between the Acts

10. Charles Dickens

Reading Charles Dickens is like transporting to Victorian England and seeing the society through his lenses. He used vivid descriptions and characters to often portray human struggles and social injustices. His books have remained favourites of many readers because they portray human resilience and compassion – something that has remained constant through time and space. His ability to blend humor with social criticism remains unmatched till date.

Some of his popular works are:

• Oliver Twist
• Nicholas Nickleby
• Barnaby Rudge
• A Christmas Carol
• The Cricket on the Hearth
• The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain
• David Copperfield
• The Mystery of Edwin Wood
• A Tale of Two Cities
• Great Expectations

My recommendations – A Christmas Carol & David Copperfield

“As you read a book word by word and page by page, you participate in its creation, just as a cellist playing a Bach suite participates, note by note, in the creation, the coming-to-be, the existence, of the music. And, as you read and re-read, the book of course participates in the creation of you, your thoughts and feelings, the size and temper of your soul.” ~ Ursula K. Le Guin

Each author on this list, from the classical stalwarts like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens to the contemporary visionaries such as Zadie Smith and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, contributes to an unique reading experience for the readers. The only commonality between them all is that their stories and their voices remain relevant through the ages.  

I am sure you have come across authors who have changed your way of thinking or even your life… Who are some of the authors you think everyone should read at least once?