We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
There’s a clear crossover between our editorial team at Camille Styles and our community of readers: we all love a good book—and we’re always on the hunt for the next one. It’s no surprise, then, that our book lists are consistently among the most-read pieces on the site. (Just take a look at our Top Books of 2025 So Far and Fall Reading List for proof.) After all, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of being completely transported by a story.
But what makes a novel epic? Traditionally, epics were sweeping, multi-generational stories or heroic journeys told in verse. But for the purposes of this list, we’re defining epic novels as books that carry us away—whether through their length, their world-building, their historical scope, or simply the emotional journey they invite us into. Some are true literary doorstoppers, others are deceptively slim, but all share one thing: they stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Best Epic Novels to Read in Your Lifetime
Our editorial team has gathered both the classics that define the genre and the novels we return to again and again. This is a well-rounded list of epic novels that truly stand the test of time—books that will change the way you see the world, and in our opinion, deserve a place on every reader’s shelf.
Classic Literary Epics
These are the giants—long, sweeping, historically important works.
Editor Pick
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
I first read this classic in high school, and it was pivotal. As my first Hemingway, I was struck by his spare, powerful writing—every word carried weight. And the setting! At 16, I’d never been outside the US, and this story of 1920s Paris and Spain lit my travel bug. I recently reread it and loved it just as much from my adult vantage point.
Leo Tolstoy
A novel that redefined “epic,” Tolstoy’s masterpiece spans more than a thousand pages and dozens of characters, weaving love, politics, and battlefields into one unforgettable tapestry.
Victor Hugo
Redemption, revolution, and love—all told across decades in 19th-century France. The kind of book that leaves you seeing the world differently.
Homer
Top of mind with Christopher Nolan’s star-studded adaption coming to the big screen soon, the original epic journey is filled with gods, monsters, and the timeless pull of home.
Historical Epics
World-changing events told through unforgettable characters.
Editor Pick
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This is my all-time favorite book. It’s a historical fiction novel about the journeys of two sisters during World War II. It has all of the elements I love in a good romance, but what sets it apart is the raw and honest depiction of the different kinds of wars that women fought during this time. I’ve read this book twice now, and each time I find myself wishing I had Isabel’s strength, admiring Vianne’s dedication to her family, and praying that Gäetan is somewhere safe.
Editor Pick
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
If you want to read an epic novel, add Shantaram to your list. At 936 pages, it’s no meek tale—but from the first chapter I was hooked. Following Lin and his friend Prabaker through Bombay’s hidden society of beggars, gangsters, holy men, and exiles, this story (based on the author’s own life) will grip you until the very last page.
Ken Follett
A sweeping story of ambition, love, and betrayal set against the construction of a medieval cathedral. Historical fiction at its most immersive.
Larry McMurtry
It’s a Western classic with wit, grit, and just enough tenderness to keep you turning the pages.
Rohinton Mistry
Set in 1970s India, this heartbreaking yet beautiful tale follows four strangers thrown together during a time of political upheaval.
Margaret Mitchell
A controversial but undeniably epic love story set against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Epics
Immersive worlds and sweeping series that define the genre.
Editor Pick
I stumbled on Outlander just after college and was instantly hooked. It follows a WWII nurse who falls through time into 1700s Scotland—where love, murder, and adventure unfold. Not quite historical romance, not quite sci-fi, it’s a unique blend that’s entertaining, sexy, and smart.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Perhaps the most famous fantasy epic of all time, Tolkien’s trilogy is the gold standard for world-building and heroism.
Frank Herbert
A desert planet, political intrigue, prophecy, and power struggles—Herbert’s sci-fi classic is both thrilling and deeply philosophical.
James Islington
Ancient Rome meets dark academia—this one has political intrigue, secret societies, and a hero you can’t stop rooting for.
Modern Emotional Epics
Big books that feel all-consuming—whether in scope or emotional journey.
Editor Pick
I can’t stop thinking about this true story of a girl marooned on an island who survives two winters (and kills two polar bears). Epic in scope yet intimate in detail, Goodman captures youth, privilege, first love, and how one place can shape us forever. A quieter kind of epic, but one that lingers long after you close the book.
Editor Pick
I have gifted this book more than any other. It’s a short read but it’s packed with more nuggets of wisdom than you could possibly absorb in just one sitting. I’ve read it over and over again and every time I learn something different.
Madeline Miller
Reimagining Homer’s Iliad, this tender, tragic love story feels both timeless and epic in its emotional sweep.
Hanya Yanagihara
A devastating, unforgettable exploration of friendship, trauma, and love that spans decades in New York City.
Donna Tartt
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this sprawling novel follows one boy’s life after tragedy, blending art, crime, and survival.
Timeless Epics of the Heart
Not always long, but they expand our understanding of love, family, and humanity.
Editor Pick: Full Cast Audio
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I return to this book almost every year—it’s comforting, nostalgic, and proof of how groundbreaking Austen’s heroines were. Her work holds up beautifully, the film adaptations succeed because the source material is so rich, and new details jump out at me every time.
Toni Morrison
A haunting novel of memory, motherhood, and survival, Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize–winning work is epic in both history and emotion.
Gabriel García Márquez
Magical realism meets generational storytelling in this sweeping saga of the Buendía family.
Stories That Stay With Us
An epic novel isn’t just about length—it’s about impact. The books on this list span centuries, continents, and genres, but they all share the power to fully immerse you, to make you think, and to remind you of what it means to be human.
For our team, these are the stories that have shaped us: the comfort reads we revisit every year, the sagas that left us breathless, and the sweeping tales that sparked our curiosity about the wider world. We hope you’ll discover a new favorite here—or be inspired to pick up an old one again.
