Looking for exciting adventure stories to read? If you aren’t able to go on your own adventures at the moment and want to live vicariously through a book, or if you just really love reading about epic escapades and experiences, then here are 27 of the best adventure books of all time to help you get your action and adventure fix!
1. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy
When interested in reading books about adventures, The Scarlet Pimpernel is a fun historical fiction/action adventure that will sweep you off your feet!
During the French Revolution, a mysterious man known only as “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is helping French aristocrats escape the guillotine. Who is this man? And how does he always outwit those in pursuit of him—even when they’re specifically on the lookout for him to show up? Those are the questions all of England and France are asking, including the beautiful Frenchwoman Marguerite St Just. Marguerite soon finds herself tangled up between the English and the French, embroiled in the fight to save the innocent from the guillotine, and may just find out who The Scarlet Pimpernel really is…
This is a fun and somewhat mysterious adventure read that has since been adapted for film, stage, and TV…but it is still well worth reading in its original book form. So pick up a copy today!
Buy The Scarlett Pimpernel now!
2. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Looking for the best adventure novels? If so, The Three Musketeers is a book you will definitely want to read!
Set in France during the 1620s, this book is a swashbuckling historical tale filled with adventure, espionage, conspiracy, and scandal. With plot elements including stolen diamonds, purloined letters, masked balls, and of course plenty of swordplay, this is a tale that will keep you entertained from start to finish!
3. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Another of the best adventure books to read is Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, particularly if you’re especially interested in adventures on (or under) the sea!
When ships are damaged and scientists report mysterious sightings of a massive sea monster, French oceanographer Pierre Aronnax and his assistant Conseil join an expedition to hunt it down and destroy it. But instead of a sea monster, this exploration crew soon finds out it’s actually a ship—the most advanced submarine ever built! Captained by a man named Captain Nemo, this ship named the Nautilus will take Aronnax, Conseil, and Canadian harpooner Ned Land on an epic adventure through undersea forests, coral graveyards, deep trenches, and straight into the mysteries of Atlantis!
Buy Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea now!
4. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
For fans of adventure books, Treasure Island is another classic that you should be sure to pick up. Although this is technically one of the best children’s classics, adults are sure to love it as well!
The tale starts when an old sailor named Billy Bones visits the Admiral Benbow Inn in England, where a boy named Jim Hawkins lives. When trouble arrives in the form of a former shipmate, a blind beggar, and the death of Bones, Jim and his mother escape an attack on the inn with a little money and a mysterious packet from Bones’ sea chest…which contains a map of where the infamous pirate Captain Flint hid his treasure! This sets into motion an epic tale of buccaneers and buried gold…and a tale of good and evil. But in the end, will Jim be able to find the treasure? Or will he be kept from his goal by pirates along the way?
If “X” marks the spot for treasure, put an “X” over this book because it’s pure gold! When looking for adventure books for teens or children that adults will also love, this should most certainly be on your list.
5. Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Interested in nonfiction adventure books? If so, then the memoir Wind, Sand and Stars is a delightful read!
This book follows Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s experience with air adventure as a pioneering aviator (particularly recounting his years spent flying treacherous mail routes across the Sahara and the Andes). Yet the prose is lyrical and he approaches his experiences with the eye of a philosopher, discussing themes including friendship, death, heroism, and more. So if you’re looking for a nonfiction adventure to read that also deals with the idea of what makes life worth living, then this is the memoir for you!
6. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
When wanting to read a tale of true love and high adventure, The Princess Bride should be at the top of your list!
The beautiful Buttercup is engaged to the awful Prince Humperdinck…how will she escape being forced to marry against her will? This “just the good parts” tale is filled with fencing, fighting, true love, revenge, giants, escapes, death, miracles, and more, so you are sure to find it a fantastic read when you’re looking for adventure books for adults!
7. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Classic adventure books are always a great time, and Robinson Crusoe is one of the classic-est of classics so it is definitely a must-read!
This book was riginally published under the (much longer) title “The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself. With An Account how he was at last as strangely deliver’d by Pyrates.” And that tells you just about everything you need to know about the book! The titular character is castaway who spends years on a remote tropical island, and encounters cannibals, captives, and more before finally being rescued. One thing’s for certain: there’s plenty of adventure here to satisfy even the most adventure-loving soul!
8. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Looking for the best adventure fiction that focuses on travels? Around the World in Eighty Days is a Jules Verne classic that will take you around the world from October to December in 1872!
Phileas Fogg lives in London and is a member of the Reform Club. One day, he gets involved in an argument with his fellow club members over an article in The Daily Telegraph that states with a new railway opening it is possible to travel around the world in 80 days. Fogg thinks it’s possible, his fellow club members do not. Thus, a wager is created: if he makes it around the world and back to London within 80 days, his fellow club members will pay him £20,000! So he sets off on a race against time…will he make it back in time to win the wager? And what adventures and mishaps will befall him along the way?
Buy Around the World in Eighty Days now!
9. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Great adventure books come in all sorts of genres, and The Call of The Wild is one book you won’t want to overlook. This classic adventure tale is one of the best wilderness adventure books out there!
This short adventure novel is set in Yukon, Canada during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, and revolves around a dog named Buck. While the tale itself is fictional, the book is deeply rooted in fact and in the firsthand experiences of Jack London during his time in the far north. Featuring themes of brutality, kindness, love, folly, and the struggle for existence, this book will pull you into the spirit of the Gold Rush days at the turn of the century!
10. Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
If you love adventure books related to seafaring and islands, then The Swiss Family Robinson is another book worth reading.
This children’s classic follows the adventures of a Swiss family of immigrants, who end up shipwrecked in the East Indies on a tropical island. Here, the Robinson children must learn to use their own abilities to overcome difficult challenges and make exciting discoveries! This is one of the original classics of the shipwreck and survival genre of adventure stories, so it’s sure to be a fantastic read!
Buy The Swiss Family Robinson now!
11. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is the book to turn to when you’re looking for a science fiction adventure to enjoy! This book has a bit of a cult following, and is perfect when you need a little comedy and sci-fi in your life.
Arthur Dent just found out his house is being demolished to make way for a freeway. You’d think that’s about as bad as it can get, but what about finding out that the entire Earth is being demolished to make way for a galactic freeway? Fortunately, Arthur is friends with a guy named Ford Prefect who just happens to be an alien and knows how to hitchhike through the galaxy. So don’t panic! Instead, just enjoy this book full of funny scenarios and all sorts of wacky and wonderful adventures.
Buy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy now!
12. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Of all the adventure books out there, one of the best fantasy adventure books is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It’s a classic for a reason, and is perfect to pick up when you’re looking for a short classic that is filled with fun and strange adventures!
When Alice notices a white rabbit taking a watch out of its waistcoat pocket, she decides to follow it to see what happens. And all of a sudden she finds herself falling down a rabbit hole into a strange and topsy-turvy world! Things are the same as her world…but not exactly…as she quickly discovers when she starts growing and shrinking by eating food and drinking from a glass bottle. Soon, she’s meeting strange characters and trying to navigate this new world she’s found herself in, and you never know what will happen next!
Buy Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland now!
13. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
Jules Verne writes so many good adventure books that all of them can really be included on this list! So another one you may be interested in is The Mysterious Island.
During the siege on Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War, five northern prisoners plan an escape…by hijacking a hot air balloon! After flying for several days through stormy weather, they crash-land their balloon on a desert island and the struggle for survival begins! But with some inexplicable occurrences happening, they soon begin to suspect there is a secret mystery to the island…
Buy The Mysterious Island now!
14. The Odyssey by Homer
Want to read one of the earliest adventure books recorded? If so, then grab a copy of The Odyssey now!
This epic tale follows the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his extremely long journey home after the Trojan War. Meanwhile, back at home in Ithaca, he is believed dead and suitors are competing for the queen’s hand in marriage. Can his wife Penelope and her son hold off the suitors? Will Odysseus arrive back home in time to claim his place again?
This story is filled to the brim with crazy adventures, and it has also had a very long-lasting impact on the Western world. So if you’re looking to read an adventure novel that is also one of the oldest surviving works of Western literature, then this is the tale to pick up!
15. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Another of the best action adventure books you might like is Don Quixote, which also has plenty of comedic elements to keep you entertained!
Don Quixote has read so many tales of chivalry that he wakes up one day and believes himself to be a knight as well. And so begins the adventures of Don Quixote de la Mancha and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, as they travel through 16th century Spain. Follow along as Quixote’s fancy leads them into all sorts of crazy exploits—more mad than sane, but always diverting!
16. Watership Down by Richard Adams
If you’re interested in books with adventures that have animal protagonists, then Watership Down might be the perfect book to pick up!
Fiver, a young rabbit, sees a frightening vision of his warren’s destruction. But the rest of the warren and the chief rabbit don’t believe Fiver’s vision will come true, so they ignore his warning. But Fiver knows something bad is about to happen, so he and his brother Hazel set out to find a new place to live along with nine other rabbits who choose to go with them. Will this band of rabbits be able to find the land Fiver has seen in his vision will be safe for them? Or will they fall to the threats of dogs, cars, and humans along their journey?
The world of Watership Down is richly imagined and well-developed, with a rabbit language all its own, rabbit stories and myths, as well as various castes of rabbits organized by their jobs and physical abilities. With exciting deeds, close escapes, and more, this book will capture your imagination and keep you enthralled all the way through!
17. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Another tale of skulduggery and high adventure that you are sure to love is Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson!
17-year-old David Balfour’s parents died unexpectedly, and so he is sent to live with his uncle Ebenezer at the family’s estate. But when David finds evidence that he might be the rightful heir to the family fortune instead of Ebenezer, he’s soon tricked by his uncle and kidnapped and bound for America! Or, at least, that’s where he was supposed to be sent until the ship runs into trouble and David is rescued by a fugitive Jacobite. A friendship is born, and the adventures begin!
18. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Want to read one of the most widely-recognized American classics that is filled with adventure? If so, you’ll love The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!
This classic tale follows the boyhood adventures of Huckleberry Finn as he travels down the Mississippi River with a runaway slave. It’s a fascinating tale that explores themes including the dignity of human beings and the evils of slavery, as well as simply providing a snapshot of life along the Mississippi during the 19th century. And with the title itself telling you there are “Adventures,” you know it’s going to be a fun time!
Buy The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn now!
19. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Howl’s Moving Castle is another book with fantasy adventures, and it is sure to capture your interest and capture your heart as it’s one of the most addicting books to read!
In a world filled with magic and where fairy tale rules are part of every day life, young Sophie lives and works at her family’s hat shop. But when she accidentally angers the Witch of the Waste, she is cursed and turned into an old lady! So Sophie sets out to see the world and soon finds herself at an enchanted castle that moves across the hills. This is, of course, Howl’s moving castle. But who is Howl? Does he really eat the hearts of beautiful young girls as Sophie has been told? And most importantly, can he help defeat the Witch of the Waste…or will Sophie remain an old lady forever?
20. Dracula by Bram Stoker
If you’re into Gothic tales or classic horror books, then Dracula is the perfect book to read when you’re looking for a tale filled with adventures as well.
Telling the story of Dracula’s attempt to move from Transylvania to England to spread the curse of the undead, this book introduces us to Dracula as well as Van Helsing and his small group of helpers who attempt to stop Dracula from taking over England! There are all sorts of adventures and dangers along the way…but will Dracula succeed? Or can Van Helsing’s band stop him before it’s too late?
21. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Looking for one of the best fantasy adventure novels ever written? The Hobbit is the book you’re looking for!
This tale features a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, who loves his comfortable and unambitious life in the Shire. But when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day, he’s whisked into an adventure where he’ll encounter trolls, goblins, dwarves, elves, and even the dangerous dragon Smaug the Magnificent! And along the way, he’ll also encounter a very powerful and dangerous ring…
22. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Another of the best adventure classics to read is The Count of Monte Cristo, so when looking for epic escapades and a tale of revenge this should definitely top your list!
Edmond Dantes was falsely accused of treason on the day of his wedding, and then imprisoned without trial in a notorious island prison off the coast of Marseilles. But now, six years later, he’s made a daring escape and has come into great wealth. Now it’s time to exact revenge on those who falsely imprisoned him! So, enter the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo…
Buy The Count of Monte Cristo now!
23. The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois
Want a charming adventure read that is aimed toward the middle grade/early YA audience? If so, The Twenty-One Balloons is a quick and delightful read!
Retired schoolteacher William Waterman Sherman intends to spend a year drifting alone in a hot air balloon circumnavigating the globe. But only a few weeks into his journey, an unfortunate accident involving a seagull leads to him crash landing on a volcanic island called Krakatoa! But the island isn’t deserted like he thought it was…
If you love whimsical tales filled with hot air balloons, volcanoes, secrets, and diamonds, then this is one book you won’t want to miss!
Buy The Twenty-One Balloons now!
24. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
Another adventure fiction classic you’ll want to read is Moby-Dick. This story is considered a great American novel, and is perhaps most famous for its iconic opening line “Call me Ishmael.”
Sometimes called a strange story and other times considered one of the greatest books of the sea, this tale is narrated by Ishmael and follows the quest of Ahab (captain of the whaler Pequod) on his quest for revenge against the whale Moby Dick who destroyed Ahab’s ship and severed his leg on a previous voyage. So if you’re looking for a nautical classic to read, consider picking up this epic story next!
25. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Looking for classic children’s books with adventure elements? The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is an excellent choice!
When Lucy stumbles through the back of a wardrobe and into the strange, snow-covered world of Narnia, she has no idea that she’s about to set off on the adventure of a lifetime! There’s an evil enchantment over the land of Narnia leaving the world always frozen in Winter, but when Lucy and her three siblings stumble into this world together will they be able to free it from this evil spell? Filled with magic, talking animals, and epic battles, The Chronicles of Narnia series is sure to delight and entertain children and adults of all ages!
Buy The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe now!
26. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
If you’re interested in adventure books with deeper meanings, then Gulliver’s Travels is the perfect choice for your next read.
Lemuel Gulliver is a ship’s surgeon, and on his travels he encounters various strange peoples and lands that he could never have imagined! For instance, when he’s shipwrecked on the high seas, he finds himself washed up onto the island of Lilliput—a land inhabited by miniature people that he towers over! However, in Brobdingnag, he learns he is the tiny one and the inhabitants are giants. In his travels, he also comes across a flying island called Laputa and the land of the Houyhnhnms where horses are the intelligent creatures.
But while his travels and adventures are absorbing, this is not merely an adventure tale but rather a satire on the politics and morals of the 18th century. So if you’re looking for an adventure book with some interesting history and substance, pick up a copy of this book today!
27. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Another option for a fantastic adventure story is Journey to the Center of the Earth, which is an especially great read if you love science fiction!
German professor Otto Lidenbrock believes there are volcanic tubes going toward the center of the Earth. So when he chances upon a manuscript from a 16th-century explorer who claims to have found a route to the Earth’s core, Lidenbrock can’t resist investigating! With his nephew Axel and their guide Hans, Lidenbrock descends into the Icelandic volcano Snæfellsjökull…where they will encounter all sorts of strange adventures and natural hazards as they try to find their way to the center of the Earth!
Buy Journey to the Center of the Earth now!
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