Novels have been an intricate part of every reader's life. They have entertained us, educated us and some books have even inspired us. In this post, we take a look at 12 novels that are considered the greatest books ever written.

1. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Don Quixote is considered to be one of the most important works of Spanish literature. It was published in two parts in 1605 and 1615. This novel, which tells the story of a man who is delusional, has inspired countless adaptations, interpretations and even the word "quixotic."

2. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

War and Peace is a novel that first appeared in 1869. It tells the story of the French invasion of Russia in 1812 and the impact it had on people's lives. The novel is also renowned for its realistic depiction of battle scenes.

3. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Moby-Dick, which was published in 1851, tells the story of a whaling ship's captain who becomes obsessed with killing a white whale. The novel has been studied and dissected extensively and is often regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

4. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens, which was published in 1861. It tells the story of an orphan named Pip who rises to become a gentleman. Great Expectations is often regarded as Dickens' finest work.

5. Ulysses by James Joyce

Ulysses is a novel by James Joyce, which was first serialized in parts between 1918 and 1920. It tells the story of a man named Leopold Bloom and his experiences while walking around Dublin on June 16, 1904. Ulysses is renowned for its use of language and stream-of-consciousness writing style.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee, which was published in 1960. The novel explores the issues of racism and prejudice in the South during the Great Depression. It is often regarded as one of the greatest works of American literature.

7. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

One Hundred Years of Solitude is a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, which was first published in 1967. The novel tells the story of seven generations of the Buendia family in the fictional Colombian town of Macondo. One Hundred Years of Solitude is often regarded as the greatest work of magic realism.

8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which was first published in 1925. The novel is set on Long Island during the summer of 1922 and tells the story of Jay Gatsby and his unrequited love for a woman named Daisy Buchanan. The Great Gatsby is often regarded as Fitzgerald's finest work.

9. Middlemarch by George Eliot

Middlemarch is a novel by George Eliot, which was first published in 1871. The novel explores the lives of the inhabitants of a fictional town in England called Middlemarch. Middlemarch is often regarded as Eliot's finest work.

10. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Crime and Punishment is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which was first published in 1866. The novel tells the story of a man named Rodion Raskolnikov who commits a murder and the psychological impact it has on him. Crime and Punishment is seen as one of the greatest psychological novels ever written.

11. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, which was first published in 1813. The novel tells the story of the Bennet family and their attempts to marry off their daughters. Pride and Prejudice is often regarded as one of the greatest works of romantic fiction.

12. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina is a novel by Leo Tolstoy, which was first published in 1878. The novel tells the story of an illicit affair between Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky. It is often regarded as one of the greatest works of Russian literature.

These are some of the greatest novels ever written. They have entertained us, educated us, and inspired us. They will continue to do so for generations to come.