Which stories have left their mark on human history and shaped the way we see the world? To answer this, BBC Culture surveyed experts from across the globe, inviting each to nominate works that have influenced cultures and mindsets through the ages. The results are fascinating: topping the list of 100 monumental stories is Homer’s Odyssey, an ancient epic that has survived centuries of retellings and continues to captivate readers with its timeless themes of adventure and resilience.

At the Chisholm Library, you’ll find 50 of these groundbreaking titles, a carefully curated collection excluding a few translated works and those less suited for a Catholic high school setting. The library staff can also point students in the directions of online versions of many of the texts. So, if you have ever wondered why Les Misérables were so unhappy; why characters in romances who hate each other on first sight always fall in love and when to give up chasing whales, just ask a teacher librarian. Catch up with Hamlet; go to Wonderland with Alice and sail the seas in the Odyssey. Dive in and explore the stories that have shaped who we are!

Library staff