Classic book retellings and books inspired by classic literature prove that the best stories are timeless. These retellings sometimes modernize a classic, set a familiar story in a new location, give the narrative a new point of focus or retell it from a different point of view. Circe by Madeline Miller is my all time favorite, but there’s plenty of great ones.
This is a list of the Best Retellings of Classic Books, divided into General Adult and Young Adult titles. It focuses on General Adult titles, but I’ve included a handful of notable YA novels as well. It includes adaptations of Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Homer and other classic literary stories.
General Fiction Retellings
Young Adult Retellings
P.S. For more, see a list of the Best Jane Austen-Inspired Books and Retellings.
General Fiction Retellings
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
(retelling of Hamlet)
What It's About: Publication Date: January 1, 1973
(retelling of Hamlet)
What It's About: Publication Date: January 1, 1973
The Wrath and the Dawn
(retelling of One Thousand and One Nights)
What It's About: Publication Date: May 12, 2015
(retelling of One Thousand and One Nights)
What It's About: Publication Date: May 12, 2015
The Other Bennet Sister
(retelling of Pride and Prejudice)
What It's About: Publication Date: March 31, 2020
(retelling of Pride and Prejudice)
What It's About: Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Frankissstein: A Love Story
(retelling of Frankenstein)
What It's About: Publication Date: October 1, 2019
(retelling of Frankenstein)
What It's About: Publication Date: October 1, 2019
The Silence of the Girls
(retelling of The Iliad)
What It's About: Publication Date: September 4, 2018
(retelling of The Iliad)
What It's About: Publication Date: September 4, 2018
The Ballad of Black Tom
(retelling of The Horror of Red Hook)
What It's About: Publication Date: February 16, 2016
(retelling of The Horror of Red Hook)
What It's About: Publication Date: February 16, 2016
Young Adult Retellings
Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook
(retelling of Peter Pan)
What It's About: Publication Date: July 4, 2017
(retelling of Peter Pan)
What It's About: Publication Date: July 4, 2017
The Afterlife of Holly Chase
(retelling of A Christmas Carol)
What It's About: Publication Date: October 24, 2017
(retelling of A Christmas Carol)
What It's About: Publication Date: October 24, 2017
Grendel's Guide to Love and War
(retelling of Beowulf)
What It's About: Publication Date: April 18, 2017
(retelling of Beowulf)
What It's About: Publication Date: April 18, 2017
Her Dark Curiosity
(retelling of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)
What It's About: Publication Date: February 18, 2024
(retelling of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)
What It's About: Publication Date: February 18, 2024
The Madman’s Daughter
(retelling of The Island of Dr. Moreau)
What It's About: Publication Date: February 18, 2024
(retelling of The Island of Dr. Moreau)
What It's About: Publication Date: February 18, 2024
The Last True Poets of the Sea
(retelling of Twelfth-Night)
What It's About: Publication Date: October 4, 2019
(retelling of Twelfth-Night)
What It's About: Publication Date: October 4, 2019
If I'm Being Honest
(retelling of The Taming of the Shrew)
What It's About: Publication Date: April 23, 2019
(retelling of The Taming of the Shrew)
What It's About: Publication Date: April 23, 2019
Caroline: Little House, Revisited
(retelling of Little House on the Prairie)
What It's About: Publication Date: September 19, 2017
(retelling of Little House on the Prairie)
What It's About: Publication Date: September 19, 2017
Outstanding list! Very well done. Rebecca’s Tale sounds very intriguing. I’ve read several of these titles-March is especially good.
This is such an amazing and elaborate list. Glad I discovered it through Pinterest.