Classic literature is considered classic for a reason: these texts have stood the test of time, finding new readers with every generation. The classics are also undoubtedly experiencing a huge surge in popularity, likely attributed to several recent high-profile screen adaptations, as well as the influence of online readers and social media trends. Some of the most frequently referenced classics are those written by authors from the West, but there is an entire world of classic literature that has existed for decades, if not centuries, and whose contribution to the literary canon and influence on contemporary literature is undeniable.

There is much debate around definitions of the Western world, and with people in constant motion and ideas slipping so easily past man-made borders, defining Western versus non-Western classics isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. However, I think it is fair to say that many of the most widely-read classics are those that belong, even very broadly speaking, to the Western literary tradition, whereas the books below are written by authors whose nationalities sit squarely outside of the West or who are less Eurocentric in their ideas. Regardless of any inevitable overlap, the themes they contain are universal and timeless, and their preoccupations remain relevant to this day.

Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali

Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali (1907-1948) was first published in 1943 and is the author’s most widely read and best-loved work. Its English translation by Maureen Freely and Alexander Dawe was first published in 2016, and the novel became one of only two Turkish books to be included on the Penguin Classics roster, receiving the iconic black-and-white cover back in 2021. 

Set in the 1920s, the novel tells the story of Raif, a young Turkish man who is struggling to strike a balance between tradition and familial obligation and the freedom he thinks he desires. As a young man, Raif moves to Berlin, where he finds himself inexplicably drawn to a painting and subsequently falls in love with the artist, a love affair that will ultimately torment him for the rest of his life. While it does read as a little melodramatic at times, it is a novel for the melancholy romantics who recognise and appreciate love’s ability to alter the course of our lives.

The Conference of the Birds by Farid Attar

This Persian poem, which was written in 1177 by Iranian poet Farid ud-Din Attar (1145-1221), is an allegory for the Sufi path to God. It describes the conference of all the birds of the world who decide to go in search of the bird they believe to be their ideal king- the Simorgh bird. When they realise how arduous the journey will be, they express their concerns to their leader – the hoopoe – who allays their fears through a series of parables, guiding them in their search for the ultimate spiritual truth. Considered one of the most significant works of Persian literature, there are a few different editions to choose from, but the Penguin Classics edition translated into English by Arkham Darbandi and Dick Davis is generally considered to be the most accessible and widely read.

So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ

First published in French in 1979, So Long a Letter was the first of only two novels written by Senegalese author Mariama Bâ (1929-1981). It is a short, semi-autobiographical epistolary novel written as a series of letters from a woman named Ramatoulaye Fall to her dearest friend, Aissatou. As Ramatoulaye grapples with the death of her late husband, her grief is complicated by the existence of his second wife, and it is only to her friend that she can express the depth of her sorrow and the complicated nature of her feelings. 

It is a short but beautifully impactful novel about the relationships we nurture and the enduring nature of true friendship. So Long a Letter and Mariama Bâ’s second novel, Scarlet Song, have been recently reissued by publishing imprint Apollo Africa alongside several other African classics well worth discovering.

Return to My Native Land by Aimé Césaire

Return to My Native Land is an autobiographical poem written by Martinican poet and writer, Aimé Césaire (1913-2008). Césaire was a founder of the Négritude movement, established in the 1930s by Francophone Black intellectuals who rejected the notion of French cultural assimilation and Eurocentrism and in recognition and celebration of their African heritage. First published in 1939, it follows a man’s return from Europe to the Caribbean island of Martinique, at which point he reckons with the trauma of slavery and colonial exploitation. 

I’d recommend the recently reissued 2024 Penguin Modern Classics edition, which includes a very useful and insightful introduction to the text by Jamaican poet Jason Allen-Paissant.

Phoenix Fled by Attia Hosain

First published in 1953, Phoenix Fled is a collection of stories written by Indian author Attia Hosain (1913-1998), which was republished by Virago Press in 2021. 

The twelve stories consider various social divides with a particular focus on religion, culture, gender and social status. In one story, a marriage is arranged between a young servant girl and a middle-aged cook with a very obvious opium habit; in another, a new wife sees her husband in a whole new light when she is introduced to his so-called emancipated friends; and in another story, a young man attempts to adjust to married life following his return from England. The stories in this collection are told from the perspectives of men, women and children at various levels of society, presenting a vivid and entertaining picture of life in pre-partition India.

Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian Stories by Ghassan Kanafani 

This Palestinian classic is a collection of stories written by activist, writer, educator and journalist Ghassan Kanafani (1936-1972). The collection, which was first published in English in 1999 and reissued by Verso Books in 2025, contains seven stories: The Land of Sad Oranges (1958), If You Were a Horse (1961), A Hand in the Grave (1962), The Falcon (1961), Letter from Gaza (1956), an excerpt from the novel Umm Saad (1969) and Men in the Sun (1963). 

The stories consider Palestinian existence from various angles, laying bare the harsh realities of life under occupation for Palestinians living in Palestine and beyond its borders. The titular story, which is about the attempt by three displaced Palestinian men to cross the border from Iraq to Kuwait in search of work, is one of the most heart-wrenching and memorable stories I have ever read, and although it was written over sixty years ago, sadly it remains as relevant as ever.

A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid

Written by Antiguan author Jamaica Kincaid and first published in 1988, A Small Place is the youngest classic on the list. Reissued in 2018 by Daunt Books Publishing with a new preface by the author, the book-length essay is a searing indictment of colonialism and offers an astute critique of the tourism industry. 

While the essay focuses on the author’s home island of Antigua, her observations can no doubt be applied to many other countries whose economies rely on the tourism industry and whose colonial histories paved the way for exploitation at the expense of their native populations. I’m not sure if A Small Place’s classic status is as widely recognised as it should be; however, its continued relevance is undeniable.

An Apprenticeship or The Book of Pleasures by Clarice Lispector

Written by Brazilian author Clarice Lispector (1920-1977), An Apprenticeship or The Book of Pleasures was first published in Portuguese in 1969, with the most recent English-language edition published by Penguin Modern Classics in 2021. The short novel centres on the teacher, Lóri and her relationship with Ulisses, a philosophy professor; it is a story about self-discovery, being brave enough to attempt to experience the full depth and breadth of human experience, and the vulnerability required to love and be loved.

Lispector’s writing is at times inexplicably moving, but it is also notoriously abstract and hard to grasp, so much so that her writing might be the most polarising of all the authors on this list. Readers are likely to read and respond to this novel in vastly different ways, but that, alongside Lispector’s unique voice, is what makes it so interesting.

Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz

Published in 1956, Palace Walk is the first novel in the Cairo Trilogy by the Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author, Naguib Mahfouz. The story centres on the family of shop owner Ahmad Al-Jawad, who live on Palace Walk in Cairo. The family – his timid wife, two daughters and three sons – are ruled by the domineering patriarch who expects them to follow his rules, including that of complete seclusion for his wife and daughters, while he himself spends the nights occupying himself with various forms of debauchery. Presenting himself as a model of piety, his hypocrisy is quite lost on the majority of his household as they live in fear of incurring his wrath. 

Set in 1920s Egypt, the novel paints an intimate picture of family life set against a backdrop of such great social and political upheaval that even with all of his rules, Ahmad Al-Jawad finds himself powerless in the face of it and unable to prevent it from permeating the walls of his closely guarded home.

The Makioka Sisters by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki

Written in 1956 and set in Japan in the mid-to-late 1930s, The Makioka Sisters by Japanese author Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (1886-1965) is a book about four sisters navigating life during a time of great change, when the customs and traditions they’ve abided by for centuries are rapidly losing their relevance. 

Much like real life, The Makioka Sisters is a story where nothing and everything happens, as Tanizaki depicts everything from the most mundane aspects of daily life to the most life-altering. The rather lengthy novel doesn’t offer much by way of action and excitement; however, the domestic drama is subtly present and hard to look away from, and even while it depicts a way of life that no longer exists, the interpersonal dynamics will be familiar and relatable even to the modern reader.

When it comes to non-Western classics, to say that this list is only the very tip of the iceberg would be an understatement, but if you’re looking to expand your reading of classic literature, I hope it will serve as inspiration.