Discover the Penguin books that shaped us

Puffin Classics

88 books in this series
Book cover of Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb

Tales from Shakespeare

Discover Shakespeare's best-loved plays

These tales are the perfect introduction to Shakespeare's greatest plays. Charles and Mary Lamb vividly bring to life the power of Hamlet and Othello, the fun of As You Like It and the drama of Pericles. They never lose the feel of his beautiful language and humanity and convey all of his wit and wisdom. These tales are classic literature in their own right.
Book cover of Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll

Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There

When Alice steps through the looking-glass, she enters a very strange world of chess pieces and nursery rhyme characters such as Humpty Dumpty, Tweedledee and Tweedledum and the angry Red Queen. Nothing is what it seems and, in fact, through the looking-glass, everything is distorted.
Book cover of The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, Tony Robinson

The Jungle Book

Hear the best stories ever written with Puffin Classics Audiobooks

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a classic story of friendship between man and beast. Fantastically told by the actor Tony Robinson.

Saved from the jaws of the evil tiger Shere Khan, young Mowgli is adopted by a wolf pack and taught the law of the jungle by lovable old Baloo the bear and Bhageera the panther. The adventures of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi the snake-fighting mongoose, little Toomai and the elephant's secret dance, and Kotick the white seal are all part of Mowgli's extraordinary journey with his animal friends.
Book cover of Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Green

Tales of the Greek Heroes

Hear the best stories ever written with Puffin Classics Audiobooks

Walk amongst the gods and men with this abridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Roger Lancelyn Green's Tales of the Greek Gods, read by Alex Jennings , Rula Lenska and David Rintoul.

The beautiful land of Greece is haunted by more than three thousand years of legend and history. In this gripping retelling of the Heroic Age, you'll meet the mighty POSEIDON, God of the Sea; ZEUS, the King of Heaven; HADES, Lord of the Dead; ARTEMIS the Huntress; APHRODITE, Immortal Lady of Beauty and Love; and many more mortals and gods. Their adventures are some of the oldest and most famous stories in the world.
Book cover of Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula

Jonathan Harker is travelling to Castle Dracula to see the Transylvanian noble, Count Dracula. He is begged by locals not to go there, because on the eve of St George's Day, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will come full sway. But business must be done, so Jonathan makes his way to the Castle - and then his nightmare begins. His beloved wife Meena and other lost souls have fallen under the Count's horrifying spell. Dracula must be destroyed . . .

With an exciting introduction by Holly Black, bestselling author of The Spiderwick Chronicles.
Book cover of Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green

Tales of the Greek Heroes

The mysterious and exciting legends of the gods and heroes in Ancient Greece, from the adventures of Perseus, the labours of Heracles, the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, to Odysseus and the Trojan wars.

Introduced with wit and humour by Rick Riordan, creator of the highly successful Percy Jackson series.
Book cover of Five Children and It by E Nesbit

Five Children and It

When Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane and their baby brother go digging in the gravel pit, the last thing they expect to find is a Psammead – an ancient Sand-fairy! Having a Sand-fairy for a pet means having one wish granted each day. But the children don't realize all the trouble wishes can cause . . .

A timeless classic with an introduction by Quentin Blake, award-winning illustrator and first-ever Children's Laureate (1999–2001).
Book cover of Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

An ancient book is opened by the eccentric Professor Lidenbrock and his life – and the life of his nephew Axel – is changed for ever. An old piece of paper has tumbled from the book, a priceless parchment that will lead them on a terrifying journey to find what lies at the centre of the Earth.

A timeless adventure, brilliantly introduced by Diana Wynne Jones, one of Britain's top fantasy and sci-fi writers for children.
Book cover of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

Rediscover the Puffin Classics collection and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this legendary edition of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table.

King Arthur is one of the most famous kings, and best-known legends, ever. From the magical moment when Arthur releases the sword in the stone to the quest for the Holy Grail and the final tragedy of the Last Battle, Roger Lancelyn Green brings the enchanting world of King Arthur stunningly to life.

One of the greatest legends of all time, now with an inspiring introduction by David Almond, award-winning author of Clay, Skellig, Kit's Wilderness and The Fire-Eaters.
Book cover of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

Peter Pan

A timeless classic story, J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan is brought to life by Vivian Heilbron and David Rintoul in this abridged, downloadable audiobook edition.

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland - the island where the lost boys play. Magic and mischief is in the air but if villainous Captain Hook has his way, before long someone will be swimming with the crocodiles . . .
Book cover of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden

Penguin presents the abridged audiobook edition of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, read by Helena Bonham Carter.

After losing her parents, young Mary Lennox is sent from India to live in her uncle's gloomy mansion on the wild English moors. She is lonely and has no one to play with, but one day she learns of a secret garden somewhere in the grounds that no one is allowed to enter. Then Mary uncovers an old key in a flowerbed - and a gust of magic leads her to the hidden door. Slowly she turns the key and enters a world she could never have imagined.
Book cover of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Rediscover the Puffin Classics collection and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this magical edition of Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland, complete with a bold new cover.

Follow Alice down . . .

down . . .

down . . .

The rabbit hole and into Wonderland, a world that grows curiouser and curiouser
by the minute . . . but don’t be late!

Lost in a strange world with even stranger characters, Alice meets a Cheshire Cat with a great big grin, a tea sipping and riddle-speaking Hatter, and a very clever Caterpillar. But things take a turn when she meets a short-tempered Queen . . .

Will Alice ever make it home in time?

Book cover of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Black Beauty

Rediscover the Puffin Classics collection and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this new resized edition of Black Beauty complete with a bold new cover.

'Do your best wherever it is, and keep up your good name.'

Black Beauty is a handsome, sweet-tempered colt with a strong spirit. As a young colt he is free to gallop in the fresh green meadows with his beloved mother, Duchess, and their kind master. But when his owners are forced to sell him, Black Beauty goes from a life of comfort and kindness to one of hard labour and cruelty. Bravely he works as hard as he can, suffering at the hands of men who treat animals badly. But Black Beauty has an unbreakable spirit and will, and is determined to survive. . .

Book cover of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

A Little Princess

Alone in a new country, wealthy Sara Crewe tries to make friends at boarding school and settle in.

But when she learns that she'll never see her beloved father again, her life is turned upside down. Transformed from princess to pauper, she must swap dancing lessons and luxury for drudgery and a room in the attic. Will she find that kindness and generosity are all the riches she truly needs?

With deeply poignant introduction written by bestselling author of Chinese Cinderella, A Little Princess is one of the twelve wonderful classic stories being relaunched in Puffin Classics in March 2008.
Book cover of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women

Rediscover the Puffin Classics collection and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this charming edition Little Women complete with a stunning new cover.

Christmas won't be the same this year in the March household, with Father at war and Mother struggling to make ends meet. But even though times are tough, the March sisters' spirits remain high! Together, through love, heartache, and a 'misplaced' manuscript, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy learn that growing up and into the 'little women' society expects them to be is going to be much harder than they thought...
Book cover of The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows

Rediscover the Puffin Classics collection and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this edition of The Wind in the Willows complete with a charming new cover.

Spring is in the air and Mole has found a wonderful new world. There's boating with Ratty, a feast with kindly Badger and rumbustious fun with that reckless ruffian, Mr Toad of Toad Hall. But deep in the Wild Wood the villainous weasels lurk, intent on causing trouble. . .