The Greatest British "Plays, Humanities" Books of All Time

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Genres

Plays

Plays are a category of literature that consists of written works intended for performance on stage. They typically feature dialogue between characters and are structured into acts and scenes. Plays can be comedic, tragic, or a combination of both, and often explore themes such as love, power, and morality. They are meant to be performed by actors in front of an audience, and can be enjoyed both as written works and as live performances.

Humanities

The category of "Humanities" in books encompasses a wide range of subjects that explore the human experience and expression. This includes literature, philosophy, history, art, music, religion, and language. These books aim to deepen our understanding of the world and ourselves, and to explore the complexities of human culture and society. Through the study of humanities, readers can gain insight into the past, present, and future of humanity, and develop a greater appreciation for the diversity of human thought and expression.

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  1. 1. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw

    "Pygmalion" is a play that explores the transformative power of education and the nature of language and communication. It follows the story of a cockney flower girl named Eliza Doolittle who is taught to speak and behave like a duchess by a pompous phonetics professor, Henry Higgins. Throughout the process, Eliza develops self-respect and personal dignity, challenging the Victorian society's rigid class system. The play also questions the idea of 'making' someone and the moral responsibility that comes with it.

    The 876th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. Twelfth Night: Or, What You Will by William Shakespeare

    Twelfth Night: Or, What You Will is a comedic play that revolves around mistaken identities and love triangles. The story follows the adventures of Viola, who, after being shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother Sebastian, disguises herself as a man named Cesario. As Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino and falls in love with him, even as he sends her to woo the Countess Olivia on his behalf. However, Olivia falls in love with Cesario, not knowing he is actually Viola in disguise. Further confusion ensues when Viola's presumed-dead brother Sebastian arrives, leading to mistaken identities, hilarious mix-ups, and ultimately, happy resolutions.

    The 1191st Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith

    "She Stoops to Conquer" is a comedic play that revolves around the story of a wealthy countryman, Mr. Hardcastle, who arranges for his daughter, Kate, to meet Charles Marlow, the son of a wealthy Londoner, hoping the pair will marry. However, Marlow is nervous around upper-class women, yet gets along fine with lower-class women. Kate learns of this and pretends to be 'common' to get to know him. The play concludes with Kate revealing her true identity, and Marlow, who is in love by this point, is relieved she's actually of the upper class. The play explores themes of class, courtship, and the deceptive nature of appearances.

    The 1591st Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 4. Volpone by Ben Jonson

    "Volpone" is a satirical comedy set in 17th century Venice, where the cunning protagonist, Volpone, and his servant, Mosca, swindle the city's wealthy elite by pretending Volpone is on his deathbed and in need of a worthy heir. This prompts a series of greedy contenders who offer extravagant gifts in hope of being named the heir. Despite their successful deceit, their scheme is eventually exposed, leading to their downfall. The story serves as a critique of greed and corruption, highlighting the destructive power of unchecked ambition.

    The 3369th Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download