The New Statesman’s ultimate beach reads

This work, written in AD 121, is a comprehensive biographical account of the Roman emperors from Julius Caesar to Domitian. Suetonius provides detailed narratives of their lives, including their personal habits, political actions, and the moral lessons that can be drawn from their reigns. The book is notable for its candid and often unflattering portrayal of these powerful men, highlighting the corrupting influence of absolute power and the moral decadence that accompanied the decline of the Roman Empire.

Originally published in 1926, 'The Sun Also Rises' is Ernest Hemingway’s first novel and a classic example of his spare but powerful writing style. The novel follows a group of young American and British expatriates as they wander through Europe in the mid-1920s, capturing the moods, feelings, and attitudes of the cynical and disillusioned Lost Generation. The story centers around Jake Barnes, a World War I veteran and journalist, and Lady Brett Ashley, as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain. The novel portrays an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions, reflecting the existential disillusionment characteristic of the Lost Generation.

Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence" is a novel set in New York City during the Gilded Age. It tells the story of Newland Archer, a lawyer entangled in a complex love triangle. The novel explores themes of social constraints, morality, and the clash between tradition and personal desires. Wharton masterfully portrays the rigid social structures of the time and the stifling expectations placed upon women. The novel's intricate plot and insightful character development make it a classic of American literature.