I have read a number of NYRB classics recently, and decided to compile this list, ranking my favourite and least favourite NYRB classics I have read so far from this series dedicated to publishing both fiction and non-fiction, unearthing forgotten or overlooked books and drawing attention to various gems of world literature. I put books into three star-rated categories, but their placements within each category are pretty much without any particular order. I excluded Russian titles, many of which I read in the original language, and such major works as Proust’s Swann’s Way and Dante’s The Divine Comedy (which are also available through this series).
π₯ 5 – 4Β½ stars
The Seven Madmen by Robert Arlt
The Stronghold by Dino Buzzati
Stoner by John Williams
Don’t Look Now & Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier
The Liar by Martin Hansen
Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum
The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares
The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig
Havoc by Tom Kristensen
The Gate by Natsume Soseki
The New York Stories by Edith Wharton
A Visit to Don Otavio by Sybille Bedford
Skylark by Dezso Kosztolanyi
The Other by Thomas Tryon
π₯ 4 – 3Β½ stars
The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington
The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell
Once and Forever by Kenji Miyazawa
The Moon & The Bonfire by Cesare Pavese
Zama by Antonio di Benedetto
Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker
Journey Into the Past by Stefan Zweig
Alien Hearts by Guy de MaupassantΒ
Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig
The Vet’s Daughter by Barbara Comyns
Fear by Gabriel Chevallier
Asleep in the Sun by Adolfo Bioy Casares
Lies & Sorcery by Elsa Morante
The Door by Magda Szabo
π₯ 3 – 2Β½ stars
A Time to Keep Silence by Patrick Leigh Fermor
The Rider on the White Horse by Theodor Storm
The Wine-Dark Sea by Leonardo Sciascia
The Day of the Owl by Leonardo Sciascia
The Singularity by Dino Buzzati
Slow Homecoming by Peter Handke
To Each His Own by Leonardo Sciscia
A Journey Round by Skull by Frigyes Karinthy
The Invisibility Cloak by Ge Fei
The Ten Thousand Things by Maria Dermout
The Kindness of Strangers by Salka Viertel
Malicroix by Henri Bosco
Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih
That Awful Mess on the Via Merulana by Carlo Emilio Gadda
Notes on the Cinematographer by Robert Bresson
Los Suicidas by Antonio di Benedetto
In my immediate TBR pile, there are also such books as Iris Origo’s The Merchant of Prato, Albert Cossery’s Proud Beggars, Manuel Mujica Lainez’s Bomarzo, and Louis Guilloux’s Blood Dark.
πDo you read NYRB classics, and if yes, what are your favourites?
Thoughts on Papyrus 
Be careful. While itβs nice their collection of Robert Aickmanβs stories, βCompulsory Games,β contains several unpublished or difficult to find stories of his, the stories are generally quite poor and do not reflect his peculiar genius. Sadly I seem to find this collection everywhere in bookstores (it has a 3.8 on Goodreads whereas his best Sub Rosa has a 4.8)
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Thanks, that’s good to know! It’s not a defence, but I guess part of their aim is to bring to the public those works that are overlooked. Perhaps, that’s because they are often not so good to begin with.
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I’ve read some of them, and have enjoyed the discovery of authors I did know, e.g. John Williams and Stoner, but often I find that I’ve already read them in another edition e.g. The Siege of KrishnapurΒ by J.G. Farrell so I’ve never subscribed.
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Yes, many of their titles I read in other editions too, but they also introduced me to many others I didn’t know and I guess they must be commended for being so devoted to bringing attention to certain authors and their lesser known works. Their favourites appear to be di Benedetto, Buzzati and Zweig.
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Iβve read a few! Tove Janssonβs books are some of the ones I most enjoyed. I also recommend their edition of The World I Live In by Helen Keller, an eloquent window into her rich sensory experience. And their Childrenβs Collection has some excellent titles.
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I am still to read any novels of Jansson, and am now intrigued, thanks! Any NYRB you particularly recommend? Sun City caught my eye, but the Fair Play synopsis also sounds good because I love reading about artistic lives. The World I Live In also sounds really good.
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I have read Fair Play, The True Deceiver, and The Woman Who Borrowed Memories (stories). Also The Summer Book, but I think not in the NYRB edition. I recommend them all! Sun City is one I have yet to read, I’m saving it for Women in Translation month.
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Great list! Thanks
I have read a bunch from these, also enjoyed a lot The Invention of Morel.
Wow, I don’t know many people who have read Skylark!
I have discovered Zweig fairly recently, so am going to check The Post Office Girl.
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Thanks! Skylark is my recent read, and I really liked it, the story, characters and the writing. It has this unassuming quality but still sustains a lot of interest and curiosity. However, given the story, I was looking for some “trauma punch” or the like surrounding Skylark near the very end and it did not quite materialise (like the novel said βaβ, but did not follow up with the expected βbβ), but I guess it is in the spirit of the novel to round off more realistically. I am not sure, what do you think?
Yes, The Post Office Girl is brilliant, even if probably unfinished. It is my favourite by Zweig.
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Skylark also left me a bit disappointed. I read it back in 2013, but did write a short review: https://wordsandpeace.com/2013/12/08/book-review-skylark/
Zweig: I have just read Confusion so far, but was very impressed: https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/04/02/book-review-confusion/
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