At this point the Tale of Genji leads the poll, this is the only one that I have negative interest in, I voted for Tolstoy, but could be satisfied with any outcome that is not Genji.
I don’t like the options listed in the poll - the Seneca Letters, Last of the Mohicans, and Moby Dick as suggested by other commenters all sound more interesting to me
These are all fantastic choices. I will throw out the suggestions of Don Quixote and anything by Robert Louis Stevenson but I do like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I googled to see if they're public domain but apologies if that's inaccurate.
Anna Karenina is my mother’s favorite book, in particular the Constance Garnett translation. If CL publishes this book in leather, I’ll buy a second one as a gift for her.
Winnie the Pooh is public domain now, and would be a strong contender.
In the above poll I voted Genji. However, I agree with the Seneca work listed below. Or any of the stoic works of similar quality
Heck yeah! Bring on The Hardy Boys!
These all look good, except Gatsby. Please don’t do Gatsby!
Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, the original Oz books, the many G.A. Henty books...there are more than enough to do a long running subscription for youth lit.
The early Tom Swifts would be good, too.
What about some Germans?
Faust
Siddhartha
Agree with interest in
Seneca
Huck Finn
Sherlock Holmes
Don Quixote
Moby Dick
I voted Genji for the above choices, and would be happy with that
At this point the Tale of Genji leads the poll, this is the only one that I have negative interest in, I voted for Tolstoy, but could be satisfied with any outcome that is not Genji.
Some other classics to consider in future:
Great Expectations
King Arthur
Treasure Island
Robinson Crusoe
Gulliver's Travels
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Sherlock Holmes
Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn
Little Women / Little Men
Oliver Twist
Secret Garden
Sherlock Holmes
Anne of Green Gables (only the first 2 books)
The Worm Ouroboros
I don’t like the options listed in the poll - the Seneca Letters, Last of the Mohicans, and Moby Dick as suggested by other commenters all sound more interesting to me
Seneca, Letters from a Stoic — translated by Richard M. Gummere. I believe it was published about 1916.
I voted Genji, but only because I consider it the most attractive of a not-so attractive list.
My preference would go to Moby Dick or The Worm Ouroboros. Any of the lists by Connor Morris or Matt would be fine also.
In the USA, anything published before 1930 should be public domain, as of 2025.
If it's on Project Gutenberg, that's a good sign it's P.D.
IF I could still afford it, I would buy the HardyBoys omnibus.
These are all fantastic choices. I will throw out the suggestions of Don Quixote and anything by Robert Louis Stevenson but I do like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I googled to see if they're public domain but apologies if that's inaccurate.
Anna Karenina is my mother’s favorite book, in particular the Constance Garnett translation. If CL publishes this book in leather, I’ll buy a second one as a gift for her.