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Hindi literature has a shelf of novels that every reader should meet at least once. They are stories of villages and cities, of love that society will not allow, of poverty, pride, greed and courage. They were written many decades ago, yet the people in them feel like people we know. If you want to start reading Hindi novels, or to return to them after school textbooks put you off, this guide gives you twelve books to begin with and tells you which one to pick first.

The list includes novels written in Hindi and a few Bengali classics that generations of readers have loved in Hindi translation.

Where to start if you are new to Hindi novels

• Want a short, gripping story? Start with Nirmala or Devdas.
• Want the one book everyone talks about? Read Godan.
• Want adventure and mystery? Pick up Chandrakanta.
• Short on time? Begin with Premchand's short stories and move to the novels later.

Munshi Premchand: the first name in Hindi fiction

Munshi Premchand (1880 to 1936) wrote about ordinary Indians with a honesty that had not been seen before in Hindi fiction. His farmers, clerks, widows and moneylenders are neither heroes nor villains. They are people pushed and pulled by need, custom and conscience. He is the natural starting point.

1. Godan

Godan, published in 1936, is Premchand's last completed novel and is widely regarded as his greatest. It follows Hori, a poor farmer whose one wish is to own a cow, and his wife Dhania, who is braver and sharper than he is. Around them Premchand builds the whole world of a north Indian village, with its landlords, moneylenders and priests, and sets it beside the comfortable life of the city. It is a long book, and it rewards patience.

Read it for: the most complete picture of rural India in Hindi fiction, and for Dhania, one of the strongest women in Indian literature.

2. Nirmala

Nirmala is the story of a young girl married to a much older widower because her family cannot afford a dowry. Suspicion, silence and misunderstanding slowly destroy the household. It is short, fast moving and heartbreaking, and it is often the first Premchand novel people read.

Read it for: a powerful story about dowry and mismatched marriage that can be finished in a few sittings.

3. Gaban

In Gaban, a young clerk named Ramanath wants to give his wife Jalpa the jewellery she longs for. He borrows, then lies, then takes money that is not his. The word gaban means embezzlement, and the novel traces how the wish to look richer than you are can pull a decent man into ruin. Jalpa's growth through the book is one of its pleasures.

Read it for: a very modern story about showing off, debt and middle class pressure.

4. Karmabhoomi

Karmabhoomi is set during the freedom movement. Amarkant, the son of a wealthy trader, turns away from his father's business and throws himself into work for the poor and the so called untouchables. The novel asks what a meaningful life looks like and what it costs a family.

Read it for: the spirit of the Gandhian years and a hero who is idealistic and flawed in equal measure.

5. Rangbhoomi

The hero of Rangbhoomi is Surdas, a blind beggar who refuses to sell his small piece of land to an industrialist who wants to build a factory on it. It is one of the earliest Indian novels about land, industry and the dignity of the poor, and Surdas is among Premchand's most loved characters.

6. Sevasadan

Sevasadan was Premchand's first major Hindi novel. It tells the story of Suman, a spirited woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, and looks squarely at how society treats women who step outside its rules. It made Premchand famous.

7. Premchand's short stories

Premchand wrote around three hundred short stories, and many readers love them even more than the novels. Stories such as Idgah, Kafan, Poos Ki Raat, Bade Ghar Ki Beti and Namak Ka Daroga can be read in twenty minutes and remembered for life. A good selection is Premchand Ki Shreshth Kahaniyan. If you want them all, the stories are collected in the volumes of Mansarovar, starting with Mansarovar Part 1.

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay: stories of the heart

Sarat Chandra (1876 to 1938) wrote in Bengali, but his novels have been read in Hindi for so long that they feel like part of Hindi literature. Nobody wrote about love, sacrifice and the inner lives of women quite as he did.

8. Devdas

Devdas is the famous story of a man who cannot marry his childhood love Paro because of family pride, and destroys himself with drink while the dancer Chandramukhi loves him without hope. It is a short novel, far quieter and sadder than the films made from it.

9. Parineeta

Parineeta is a gentler book. Lalita, an orphan raised in her uncle's house, and Shekhar, the rich neighbour's son, have grown up together. Money, class and a misunderstanding come between them. It is a tender, hopeful story and a good choice for a first Sarat Chandra novel.

10. Charitraheen

For readers who want something deeper, Charitraheen follows four women and questions what society calls good character. It was considered bold when it appeared and is still thought provoking.

More classics you should not miss

11. Chandrakanta by Devakinandan Khatri

Chandrakanta, first published in 1888, is a romantic fantasy full of princes, secret tunnels, magical mazes called tilism and clever spies called aiyars. It was so popular that people are said to have learned Hindi just to read it. The story continues in the Chandrakanta Santati series, beginning with Chandrakanta Santati 1.

Read it for: pure entertainment. This is the page turner of classic Hindi fiction.

12. Anandamath and Gora

Two great Bengali novels in Hindi translation complete the list. Anandamath by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay is set during the Sannyasi rebellion of the late eighteenth century and is the novel in which the song Vande Mataram first appeared. Gora by Rabindranath Tagore is a large, thoughtful novel about identity, religion and nationalism, seen through a fiercely orthodox young man who must question everything he believes.

Readers who enjoy Tagore can go on to Chokher Bali, and those who like sharp, unsparing short stories should read Manto Ke Afsaane by Saadat Hasan Manto.

Tips for enjoying classic Hindi novels

• Do not worry about a few unknown words. Older Hindi uses some words we no longer hear every day. Keep reading and the meaning usually becomes clear from the sentence.
• Start short. A short novel or a book of stories builds the habit. Save Godan for when you are comfortable.
• Read a little every day. Fifteen minutes before bed is enough to finish a novel in two to three weeks.
• Read with someone. These books are wonderful to discuss with parents and grandparents, many of whom read them in their own youth.
• Pick a readable edition. Clear print and good paper make a real difference with long novels. Hardbound editions are a good choice for books you will keep.

Common questions

Which is the best Hindi novel for beginners? Nirmala by Premchand is a good first choice because it is short and the story moves quickly. Parineeta and Devdas are also easy to begin with.

Which is Premchand's best novel? Most readers and critics name Godan. Gaban and Nirmala are close behind and are easier to read.

Are these books suitable for students? Yes. Many of them are part of school and college reading, and reading the full novel is far more enjoyable than reading a summary.

Where to go next

You will find these and many more classics in the Fiction section on Booksfactory. Choose one book from this list, keep it by your bed and give it fifteen minutes tonight.