Adventure has been a popular genre not only among children and teens but also adults. Who does not love to read fascinating and enchanting adventure tales, and transmogrify into the world of imagination? We’re sure it is admired by all kinds of readers.

In this article, we are going to feature the best adventure novels of all time written by the greatest authors who gained their world recognition for these enticing and engaging adventure tales. Most of these novels later have also been adapted as popular films that have successfully brought fictional tales and characters to life. The top-10 adventure novels on our list are easily available on amazon.com.

1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The first adventure novel on our list is regarded as the most successful book ever written in American Literature and has a record of selling an uncountable number of copies throughout the world. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a coming-of-age novel meaning, that features the overgrowth of the main adolescent protagonist Huck Finn, through his almost unbelievable adventure down the river Mississippi on a raft.

Huck meets the negro slave Jim after escaping to Jackson Island, and together they embark on an unimaginable journey toward the land of the free. Will Huck be able to free the negro slave Jim and help him meet his family? It is a question that is left for the readers to discover by reading the text. This masterpiece by Twain is surely going to leave an everlasting impression on readers of all age groups.

2. The Odyssey by Homer

The most celebrated classic of all time, The Odyssey by Homer is one of the finest texts that features life lessons and an engaging tale at the same time. The novel features the journey of Odysseus, the historic Trojan War, and his return to home after 10 years of extreme struggle.

Call it a tale of adventure or a heart-touching classic, The Odyssey is undoubtedly going to be the best book you have read so far.

3. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Number 3 on our list is another novel that gained recognition worldwide for its enticing adventure tale, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is one of those novels where you feel imagination has come into reality. For readers who are fascinated with the tales of voyages, pirates, and discovering islands, this novel is indeed a treasure to them.

Jim Hawkins goes on a perilous journey to discover the treasure on an unknown island that was buried by an evil, Captain Flint. Since books are known to carry readers to a different world, experience the journey of Jim discovering the treasure after overcoming extreme struggles on his way.

4. Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Moby Dick also known as “The Whale”, is one of those novels by Herman Melville that made him a popular figure in the genre of adventure.

Narrated by the sailor Ishmael who sets his journey on Pequod, a whaling vessel, to seek revenge on the white sperm whale that had previously encountered with Ahab, the captain of the ship. Ahab is a dear friend of Ishmael who is still recovering from his injuries. But Ishmael’s quest to seek revenge takes a different turn when he encounters Moby Dick, the gigantic white whale.

5. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

A novel later turned into a film for its extreme success worldwide, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne features a kind of adventure tale that will leave an everlasting impression on readers.

This fantasy novel is about a French marine biologist Pierre Aronnax who joins hands with an American mission to hunt down a sea monster who has been creating utter destruction under the sea. A plot that seems too unrealistic to believe, but as soon as the readers begin with it, they are going to forget everything about reality and fantasy, and experience a unique nail-biting adventure “, 20,000 leagues, under the sea”.

6. King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard

The novel features the attractive character of Allan Quartermain who is a popular adventurer and a big game hunter. Allan is summoned for help by Sir Henry and his friend Captain Good, on finding Sir Henry’s brother. Sir Henry’s brother has headed to the north of Africa in search of the mines of King Solomon and has never returned. Together this trio set on an exciting quest to find the lost brother whom they believe can be found near King Solomon’s mines. Be a part of this enticing adventure tale to discover whether Allan proves his worth and is able to find the lost person.

7. The Call of the Wild by Jack London

The Call of the Wild by Jack London is also among those celebrated work of adventure that has been adapted as a movie starring Harrison Ford.

The plot revolves around the life of Buck, a beloved pet dog of Judge Miller, who is stolen by Miller’s gardener and sold to traders at a high profit. Soon Buck is shipped to North where he sees himself as a part of the sled dogs who are dangerous. Will Buck survive and adapt to the rules of the wild? This novel will take readers into a heart-warming adventure of a pet dog who listens to “the call of the wild” and tries to survive.  

8. Kidnapped by R.L Stevenson

Another masterpiece by Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped has a plot revolving around David Balfour, who has recently been orphaned and discovers that his poor father was related to an elite family. David arrives at the house of Shaws that is almost in ruins and is inhabited by David’s Uncle who makes his living on simple things which is a result of his thriftiness.

But David’s arrival into the house leads to incongruous circumstances and he finds himself bound and threatened to be sold into slavery in the Carolinas. Will David be able to save himself from the kidnappers? Is the biggest question and the main adventure of the novel.

9. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Another masterpiece by Jules Verne, who has received world recognition for his unimaginable adventure tales, Around the World in Eighty Days is the story of an impossible, enthralling adventure.

Mr. Phileas Fogg a rich man from London, is also the protagonist of the novel. Fogg on discovering that a train route from India can lead to a journey around the world in just 80 days, agrees on a bet with the other elite members of the Reform Club amounting to 20,000 pounds. And sets on an impossible journey since a huge amount was at stake. An adventure tale like no other, this novel by Jules Verne will keep the readers glued to it until its end.

10. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

The last book on our list is an adventure tale like no other. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels features a unique tale of adventure experienced by Lemuel Gulliver on his voyage while serving as a ship’s surgeon. A sudden mishap makes the ship sink and Gulliver wakes up to find himself on an unknown island where its inhabitants including people and animals are usually small. Discover the unbelievable adventure of Gulliver that will make confusion between your imagination and reality and find out the other adventures that follow.

These 10 novels on our list have been regarded as the best adventure books of all time. These adventure plots are not only intriguing to read but also make it impossible to acknowledge that these are a part of the author’s imagination and not reality. Get your hands on these popular adventure books and explore these engaging tales that will leave an everlasting impression.