The famous books from the 1950s we still celebrate today

Before video streaming and watching TV over dinner became the norm for many households across the country, sitting down with a simple book was one of the best ways to pass the time as kids.

Luckily, the 1950s had possibly one of the best selections of books in history. Titles written and published in the ’50s remain, to this day, timeless classics that will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come. Take a trip down memory lane to see some of the best old books that we still enjoy today:

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

This adventurous children’s novel was a favourite worldwide thanks to the loveable characters and easy writing. It is often considered one the most successful children’s books of all time although even adults can enjoy the dry humour in this classic story.

Charlotte’s Web is still celebrated today, as the story has been adapted into an animation, a live-action film, a stage production and even a video game!

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Lord of the Flies by William Golding

While the seemingly innocent premise about a group of young boys stranded on an island might seem like a simple children’s story, this one was definitely not what many expected it to be.

As the boys inevitably turn savage, how they govern themselves is a great take on society that can still be used today.

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The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

This was probably one of the first books written for teens that truly encompassed the feelings of angst and alienation that so many were feeling at the time. Readers could relate to the famous protagonist Holden Caulfield, who will forever be known as one of the first poster kids for teenage rebellion.

This book is also a great way to dip back into the classic lingo of the ’50s with no shortage of terms like “phony” and “chewing the fat” being used throughout.

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The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

The unique rhymes of Dr. Seuss will never get old, with children from every generation continuously falling in love with the energetic poems. Possibly Seuss’s most famous book, the story was every kid’s dream – wrecking their house while their parents are out and getting away with it scot-free. The entertaining cat instigated more than enough messy situations that, as a kid may have seemed fun, but as an adult now just seem like a big clean up.

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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

This was the book that introduced the world to the magic land of Narnia. With talking lions and a half-man half-horse figure walking around, this fantasy book was one of the best of its kind. The first of seven books from The Chronicles of Narnia series, it’s safe to say after this one hit the shelves, children everywhere were crawling into their cupboards hoping to see the wintery world for themselves.

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What was your favourite book of the decade? Do you still read these classic books?