Introduction
From the streets of Paris to the canals of Venice, Europe is a continent full of rich history, culture and tradition. We’ve picked out some of our favorite works that best reflect that European inspiration.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later developed into a “trilogy” of five books that sold over 15 million copies in his lifetime; a television adaptation of these novels debuted in 1981, while further adaptations followed over the next three decades. The series follows the adventures of an Englishman named Arthur Dent after Earth is destroyed to make way for an interstellar bypass and he finds himself aboard a stolen spaceship powered by an infinite improbability drive.
The first four books were adapted into episodes of Radio 4’s long-running comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy between March and July 1992; they were later re-recorded for broadcast on BBC 7 from 2004 onwards (with Stephen Moore replacing Peter Jones as narrator).
The Metamorphosis
The Metamorphosis is a short story by Franz Kafka about a man who wakes up one morning and finds that he has turned into a bug. The story was published in 1915 and is considered one of his most famous works, though it wasn’t well received at first because people thought it was too dark and depressing.
It’s been adapted into films, plays, operas and TV shows many times over the last century–but if you’re looking for something new to read or watch this year (or any year), here are some recommendations:
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is a classic tale set in the 1920s. It tells the story of a man living in New York who is obsessed with a girl he can’t have, and his journey to win her back once she returns from Europe.
The book has been made into several movies, including one starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway (the narrator). It has also been translated into many languages including French, German and Chinese.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Book Thief is a 2003 novel by Australian author Markus Zusak. It was published in the United States by Penguin Books in 2005 and has sold over 1 million copies. The story is set during World War II with Death as one of the main characters, narrated by him as he guides us through his own life and into that of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl who steals books and becomes an unlikely hero.
1984 by George Orwell
In 1984, Orwell presents a dystopian novel set in a fictional totalitarian state. The book was written in 1948 and set in 1984. It describes life under the rule of a political party that has total control over the people, who are constantly observed by telescreens (devices that monitor their activities). The story follows Winston Smith as he works for the Ministry of Truth and struggles with his inner thoughts about how things should be different from what they actually are.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Crime and Punishment is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Published in 1866, it is the second of his four major novels (the others being Poor Folk, The Idiot and The Possessed). Crime and Punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in Saint Petersburg who formulates and executes a plan to murder an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her cash; he also commits a double murder out of jealousy.
The book explores themes including crime, punishment, repentance, atonement and redemption as well as existentialism regarding the nature of free will versus determinism.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Lolita is a 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov. The story of a middle-aged man who becomes obsessed with a 12-year-old girl, it was controversial because of its subject matter and has been banned in Boston and France.
Nabokov wrote Lolita while living in France after fleeing from Russia following the Bolshevik Revolution. He began writing it on an index card while on vacation at Lake Como, Italy, then finished it upon returning home to Montreux where he lived until his death in 1977 at age 78.
Anne Frank, the Diary of a Young Girl
- The Diary of a Young Girl is a diary written by Anne Frank during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
- It was originally published in 1947, after being found in an attic where she had hidden it with her family during their time in hiding.
- The book provides insight into how life was for Jewish people living under Nazi rule, as well as what happened to them during this time period.
In the Shadow of Truth by John Darnton, Bernard D’Mello, and Alex Perry
This book is about the Mumbai terrorist attacks of 2008. It’s also about the aftermath of those attacks, as well as the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for them. And finally, it takes a look at how it affected all of us–not just those who were directly involved but also others around the world who watched as events unfolded on their TVs and computer screens.
The first part of In The Shadow Of Truth is an account by John Darnton (a former New York Times reporter) describing his experience being trapped inside one hotel during those four days when nearly 200 people lost their lives at five different locations throughout Mumbai–including two hospitals where doctors were treating patients injured in other areas; five star hotels; train stations; buses; markets etcetera…
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a classic American novel written in 1960. It tells the story of Scout, Atticus and Jem Finch during the Great Depression era in Alabama.
The main themes of this book are racism, morality and justice. The story revolves around a black man who has been accused of raping a white woman during that time period and how it affects his family members who live in Maycomb County. This novel was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch which won 3 Academy Awards including Best Actor (Gregory Peck).
Learn about European culture from these must-read books, movies and essays.
Reading books, watching movies and reading essays are great ways to learn about European culture. Books can be a great source of information about European culture. You can find out what people do in their free time, what they eat for dinner or even how they dress. Movies are another good way of learning about European culture because they show you the way people live in different countries and what kind of things happen there. If you want to know more about a particular country’s history or traditions then an essay might be just right for you!
Conclusion
European culture is just as rich and diverse as the continent itself. From books to movies, there’s something for everyone. The best part about these stories? They’re all available in English! So whether you’re looking for something new or just want to brush up on some classics, we hope this list will help guide you through some of the most influential works from across Europe
