4 classic reads, newly available on Google Books
Every new year, books that have been digitized by Google Books enter the public domain, which means you can read them in their entirety, free of charge. From translations to adaptations and everything in between, 2025’s offerings have something for every reader.
“A Farewell to Arms,” Ernest Hemingway
This World War I novel tells the story of a romance between an American ambulance driver and a British nurse.
“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Erich Maria Remarque, A. W. Wheen (translator)
Another World War I novel, this time from the perspective of a German soldier. “All Quiet on the Western Front” speaks to the toll of war on the people who fight, and the lasting effects of battle on the human psyche.
“Gods' Man: A Novel in Woodcuts,” Lynd Ward
“God’s Man” tells the story of an artist who makes a bargain with a mysterious stranger for a magic paintbrush. Ward’s woodblock prints convey the story without words, making this book one of the first modern graphic novels.
“Toad of Toad Hall,” Alan Alexander Milne
On a lighter note, this play is an adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s novel, “The Wind in the Willows” (also available to read on Google Books). The play features the adventures of Mr. Toad as related by a 12 year old girl named Marigold spinning stories on a lazy afternoon.
As far as the team at Google Books is concerned, there’s no better resolution than to read more — so why not give these a try in 2025?
