7 classic books you can read for free on your computer, tablet, phone, or kindle, right now!
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Have you heard of the term 'public domain'? Basically, when the copyright on a book, movie, or piece of music expires, it enters the public domain and becomes free for anyone to use however they want.
As Stanford puts it:
"The term “public domain” refers to creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws. The public owns these works, not an individual author or artist. Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, but no one can ever own it."
The rules around when something enters the public domain vary on a country by country basis, but generally speaking anything published before 1923 is fair game.
That means there are a ton of great works of literature out there that you can read for free, and I've compiled a list of 7 of the best ones below, as well as a link to download them. You can read them on your computer, your smartphone or tablet, your kindle (or other eBook reader) - or even print them out if you don't mind wasting the paper!
1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
One of the most popular characters in all of literature, Sherlock Holmes has been featured in countless books, movies, and TV shows over the years. But it all started with Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories, and you can read them all for free online.
Get it here.
Elementary, my dear Watson! Image Credit: Open AI (AI Generated)
2. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Jack London is one of the most popular authors of the early 20th century, and The Call of the Wild is arguably his most famous book. It tells the story of a dog who is taken from his home in California and sold into service as a sled dog in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush.
Get it here (scroll down to see the various download options).
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel about the Jazz Age is required reading in many high schools, and for good reason. It's a timeless story about love, greed, and the American Dream.
Get it here.
4. Dracula by Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of the most important works in the horror genre, and it's also one of the most influential books of all time. It's the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread his curse. According to Wikipedia, the book has been adapted for film over 30 times
Get it here.
5. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Another horror classic, Frankenstein is one of the most famous novels of all time, and it's also one of the most important works in the science fiction genre. It's the story of a scientist who creates a monster, and the monster's subsequent revenge. Some literary critics claim that Frankenstein, written in 1818, is the first science-fiction novel because its fantastic events occur not because of magic or miracle, but purely through science.
Get it here.
I can personally recommend Mary Shelley's Frankenstein! Image Credit: Open AI (AI Generated)
6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo is a classic tale of revenge, betrayal, and adventure. If you're a fan of historical fiction, this is a great one to check out. The story follows Edmond Dantès, a man who is wrongfully imprisoned and escapes to seek revenge on those who betrayed him.
Get it here.
7. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is a classic of gothic horror, and it's one of the author's most popular works. The story follows Dorian Gray, a man who remains young and handsome while a portrait of him ages in his place.
Get it here.
Already read all of these, or feel that none of them really tickle your fancy? You might have noticed that many of the links are to a website called ‘Project Gutenberg’. Project Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 free eBooks that are no longer under copyright. You don’t need to sign up, it’s completely free to use, and there are no special apps needed.
Take a look at the most popular Project Gutenberg free ebooks here.
As Stanford puts it:
"The term “public domain” refers to creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws. The public owns these works, not an individual author or artist. Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, but no one can ever own it."
The rules around when something enters the public domain vary on a country by country basis, but generally speaking anything published before 1923 is fair game.
That means there are a ton of great works of literature out there that you can read for free, and I've compiled a list of 7 of the best ones below, as well as a link to download them. You can read them on your computer, your smartphone or tablet, your kindle (or other eBook reader) - or even print them out if you don't mind wasting the paper!
1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
One of the most popular characters in all of literature, Sherlock Holmes has been featured in countless books, movies, and TV shows over the years. But it all started with Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories, and you can read them all for free online.
Get it here.
Elementary, my dear Watson! Image Credit: Open AI (AI Generated)
2. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Jack London is one of the most popular authors of the early 20th century, and The Call of the Wild is arguably his most famous book. It tells the story of a dog who is taken from his home in California and sold into service as a sled dog in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush.
Get it here (scroll down to see the various download options).
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel about the Jazz Age is required reading in many high schools, and for good reason. It's a timeless story about love, greed, and the American Dream.
Get it here.
4. Dracula by Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of the most important works in the horror genre, and it's also one of the most influential books of all time. It's the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread his curse. According to Wikipedia, the book has been adapted for film over 30 times
Get it here.
5. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Another horror classic, Frankenstein is one of the most famous novels of all time, and it's also one of the most important works in the science fiction genre. It's the story of a scientist who creates a monster, and the monster's subsequent revenge. Some literary critics claim that Frankenstein, written in 1818, is the first science-fiction novel because its fantastic events occur not because of magic or miracle, but purely through science.
Get it here.
I can personally recommend Mary Shelley's Frankenstein! Image Credit: Open AI (AI Generated)
6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo is a classic tale of revenge, betrayal, and adventure. If you're a fan of historical fiction, this is a great one to check out. The story follows Edmond Dantès, a man who is wrongfully imprisoned and escapes to seek revenge on those who betrayed him.
Get it here.
7. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is a classic of gothic horror, and it's one of the author's most popular works. The story follows Dorian Gray, a man who remains young and handsome while a portrait of him ages in his place.
Get it here.
Already read all of these, or feel that none of them really tickle your fancy? You might have noticed that many of the links are to a website called ‘Project Gutenberg’. Project Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 free eBooks that are no longer under copyright. You don’t need to sign up, it’s completely free to use, and there are no special apps needed.
Take a look at the most popular Project Gutenberg free ebooks here.
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