Famous Literary Works that changed the Course of History

There is an old adage that says the pen is mightier than the sword. It is especially true when you take into consideration the famous literary works that have changed the course of history. Literature has the potential to change human minds. Some changes are so profound that they lead to the birth of new ideologies, governments and even new empires. 

In this article, we will list some of the famous literary works that had a profound impact on the history of the UPSC Mains Exam.

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List of Influential Literature

1. 1984 by George Orwell: 1984 is classic literature that defined the subgenre of dystopian settings. This subgenre is where authors imagine what a country with a totalitarian government would look like. It spawned other novels and movies such as Fahrenheit 451 and Clockwork Orange, respectively. Certain terms like “Big Brother”. “Thoughtcrime” is still in use today. The book plays a crucial role in reminding us that freedom of speech is worth any cost in society

2. Aesop’s Fables by Aesop: Aesop’s Fables is a collection of fables and tales, written or collected by a slave of that name in Ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BC. The most famous of these tales is that of the Tortoise and the Hare and the Ant and the Grasshopper. Using animal characteristics in funny if not outright satirical situations, the fables teach moral lessons to many generations of children with life lessons such as “slow and steady wins the race. And most likely will continue to do so.
3. The Analects of Confucius by Confucius: The Anelects is the collection of thoughts and ideas of the Chinese Philosopher, Confucius. Though thought of as a difficult philosopher to understand, Confucius’s philosophy was instrumental in shaping Chinese culture, certain aspects of it such as ancestor worship, family loyalty and respecting elders were beliefs propagated by him. It’s also considered to be one of the most influential works on Chinese and general East Asian philosophy, values, and thinking in all history with its influence remaining in effect today.

4. The Art of War by Sun Tzu:  The Art of War is a military treatise written by the Chinese general and strategist Sun Tzu. It is highly influential in the business world as it contains advice on how to negotiate in the highly competitive capitalist business world. Chief teachings of the treatise is about how warfare can be avoided to the maximum extent with efficient planning and diplomacy. It also gives advice on how to gain the upper hand in arguments and negotiations in the world of business.
5. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Mark and Friedrich Engels: Now communism does not exactly have a good rep in the world due in part to its history and how certain communist dictatorships have employed it in their respective companies. But that has not always been the case. The Communist Manifesto published in 1848 spanked a revolution that was often misinterpreted by the very people seeking to recreate its ideal. It sought to redistribute wealth among the have-nots on an equitable rather than equal footing. But when put into practice it did backfire. Regardless, the book is one of the most influential works in political theory ever written.
6. On the Origin of Species:  By Means of Natural Selection of the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, by Charles Darwin: In many societies of the world Evolution is a controversial and a touchy topic. Many believe in it and many do not. Whatever the case may be, it was a groundbreaking discovery of inherited traits and natural selection by Charles Darwing in this book. By observing the various generations of plants and animals, Drawing figured out how creatures evolve and adapt to the natural environment in a princess that results in the “survival of the fittest ”. At the very least it was a book that changes or at least questioned on how living species came to be
7. 7.The Rights of Man: For the Benefit of All Mankind by Thomas Paine: Thomas Paine, one of America’s founding fathers, argues in this slim political manifesto that citizens have the right to rebel against the government when the government isn’t serving the natural rights of its people. 

 The book was written in defense of the French Revolution, as Paine had been in the country at that time and observed the upheaval. The Rights of Man spurred the American Revolution and is considered one of the founding texts of democracy.

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