30 Best Opening Lines Of Classic Books

Provided you're not the type to judge a book by the cover or flip to the last page and get straight to whodunit, the opening line of a novel is understandably important. Sometimes a line becomes iconic in its own right, almost detaching itself from the rest of the book - I dare anyone to quote me the line that follows "Call me Ishmael" - and sometimes the reverse happens: the book is memorable, compelling, and destined for multiple film adaptations€but the first sentence is utterly forgettable. In selecting the best opening lines from classic books (i.e. books that people have actually heard of and read - sorry Auntie Frida) we could lay down plenty of criteria regarding originality, cultural and social impact, relevance at the time of publication vs. relevance today, commentary on the larger work and other works by that author and other authors at the time, etc. etc. etc. These things, however, force what's actually important into the back seat: Does the line make you want to keep reading? Granted, those criteria aren't to be disregarded. But a sentence that captures your attention, compels you forward, instantly affirms or changes a way of thinking - that kind of a sentence is the enduring kind, the kind that makes a reader tell their friends about it, and all of the other considerations are secondary. So, if you come across a line that you like and find you haven't read the book it begins, my advice is simple: read it! Surely you have time to sit down and read a book in between clicking refresh on your browser and your seventh viewing of that Planet of the Apes prequel. And be sure to comment with your favorite lines and let us know which ones have been forgotten. Enjoy!