Books

Some literary villains are terrifying because they are monstrous. Others are frightening because they are charming, persuasive, or disturbingly human. From Shakespearean manipulation to Gothic horror, obsessive revenge and criminal genius, these seven characters have earned their place among literature’s most compelling antagonists. But villainy is rarely straightforward. Is Heathcliff a villain, a victim, or both? Does Frankenstein’s creature deserve the label when his creator abandons him? And is Long John Silver more dangerous because he is so easy to like? Seven authors, seven unforgettable characters, and plenty to argue about. Would you rank them differently?

Roald Dahl made childhood stranger, funnier and a little more dangerous. His books are full of impossible inventions, gloriously wicked villains, extraordinary children and adults who deserve to have their authority questioned. From the chocolate-fuelled imagination of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Matilda’s quiet defiance and the unsettling world of The Witches, these stories have travelled across generations and borders. They entertain through absurdity, surprise and dark humour, but they also return to enduring themes: courage, kindness, independence and the importance of standing up to cruelty. This is our ranking of seven Roald Dahl books whose characters, worlds and ideas have proved particularly memorable. Which one deserves the top spot—and which would you rank differently?

Seven independent Edinburgh bookshops, from carefully curated new releases and radical ideas to second-hand discoveries and rare editions. Each offers a different reason to explore the city, with Google Maps links to help you plan a visit. Which deserves the top spot?

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

Poblacion is better known for its nightlife than its reading corners, but arrive at the right café at the right time and you can find a different side of the neighbourhood. From a converted-house coffee studio with a dedicated reading lounge to tucked-away cafés built for slowing down, these seven spots offer different ways to spend an hour with a book. They are cafés, not silent libraries: for the calmest experience, aim for daytime and check current hours before visiting.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

Islington has been home to novelists, playwrights, poets and some of the most distinctive literary characters in British writing. Richard Adams imagined a world of rabbits here; Douglas Adams borrowed a local name for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; and Joe Orton turned a tiny bedsit into the setting for one of the strangest stories in modern literary history. These seven places reveal the writers, works and real-life events that have left their mark on the borough.

Islington has been home to writers who changed how we think about race, gender, class, childhood, politics and the theatre. Some grew up on its streets; others created important work while living in the borough. Their stories stretch from eighteenth-century feminist philosophy to contemporary memoir, from Victorian illustration to some of the most influential novels and plays of the twentieth century. This selection brings together seven writers with genuine Islington connections. It includes four women and two non-white authors, reflecting a literary history considerably richer and more varied than the usual collection of famous male novelists. Each entry celebrates both the writer and the work that makes them worth reading.

RANKD Team Islington edition.

RANKD Team Islington edition.

RANKD Team Islington edition.

A RANKD Team starter ranking.

A RANKD Team starter ranking.

A RANKD Team starter ranking.

A RANKD Team starter ranking.

A RANKD Team starter ranking.

A community remix of another RANKD.

A community remix of another RANKD.

A new community RANKD.