Best Christian Fiction Classics (2026): 5 Picks Compared

A reader looking for a story that lasts knows the feeling of finishing a good novel and wanting another one just like it, and the best christian fiction classics are the titles that keep getting handed from one reader to the next. This list compares five such titles by fit, contents and reader.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Till We Have Faces by Lewis	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Glorious Appearing by LaHaye	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Essential Writings by McGinn	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	The City of Fire by Hill	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan

John Bunyan·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An allegorical journey of a pilgrim named Christian toward Heaven, for readers wanting a foundational classic.

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Pros

• Illustrated Penguin Classics edition, with introductions and notes
• Allegorical story praised in the listing for imaginative power
• Translated into more than one hundred languages

Cons

• Description includes death imagery, including the River of Death
• No reading age or grade level stated in the listing
• 384 pages is long for a reader new to allegory

2

Till We Have Faces by Lewis

C. S. Lewis·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A myth retold through Orual's eyes, a princess wrestling with love, envy and grief, for literary readers.

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Pros

• Retells a myth through Orual's eyes
• Explores love, envy, grief and conversion in literary prose
• Reissue edition from HarperOne, 368 pages

Cons

• Description includes death, grief and sacrifice themes a parent may want to preview
• No reading age or grade level stated in the listing
• Spec table lists the genre as Non-Fiction, while the description presents a novel

3

Glorious Appearing by LaHaye

Tim LaHaye·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Left Behind volume portraying the return of Christ at a final battle, for series readers.

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Pros

• 448 pages of apocalyptic suspense for series readers
• Reprint edition from Tyndale Fiction
• Covers the return of Christ after the tribulation

Cons

• Listing disagrees on series length: 12-book series versus Book 12 of 13
• Description includes war, death and apocalyptic battle themes
• Late-series volume, so new readers may need earlier books first

4

Essential Writings by McGinn

Bernard McGinn·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An anthology of nearly 100 Christian mystical writings, organized by subject, for readers exploring prayer.

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Pros

• Nearly 100 selections, third century to twentieth century
• Organized by subject, with headnotes and biographical sketches
• Modern Library edition, 592 pages

Cons

• An anthology of mystical writings, not a novel, so fiction readers may want a story instead
• No reading age or grade level stated in the listing
• 592 pages makes it a long reference-style volume

5

The City of Fire by Hill

Grace Livingston Hill·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A classic historical story about a minister's daughter and her former playmate, for gentle fiction readers.

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Pros

• Illustrated, original and unabridged edition, as the listing states
• Classic historical fiction, simple and character-driven
• 199 pages, a shorter read than the other picks

Cons

• No publisher stated in the listing data
• No reading age or grade level stated in the listing
• Short description gives little story detail

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More picks to compare

• The Shepherd of the Hills by WrightFor readers who like classic historical fiction in the hillsCheck on Amazon
• Chronicles of the Imagination by FieldsFor middle and high school readers who like Christian fantasyCheck on Amazon
• The Billionaire's Second ChanceFor readers who like contemporary Christian romanceCheck on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 25 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the five picks lists a reading age or grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best christian fiction classics

Match the book to the reader’s taste

The Pilgrim’s Progress suits a reader who wants a foundational allegory, while Till We Have Faces suits a literary retelling. Glorious Appearing suits a reader already following the Left Behind series. For more, browse these christian fiction novels.

Check the edition and the length

The Pilgrim’s Progress here is the illustrated Penguin Classics edition, and The City of Fire is illustrated, original and unabridged. Length varies from 199 pages to 592 pages. Readers who like historical settings may also enjoy this christian historical fiction list.

Before you buy

• Check the edition on the listing, such as the illustrated Penguin Classics edition.
• For a series book, check which volume comes first before buying a later one.
• Check the print length against the reader: the anthology runs to 592 pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a reader new to Christian classics start?

The Pilgrim’s Progress is a good starting point, a foundational allegory in the illustrated Penguin Classics edition. A reader who prefers a literary voice may start with Till We Have Faces instead.

Do I need to read the Left Behind series in order?

Glorious Appearing is Book 12 of the Left Behind series, so a new reader will follow it better after earlier volumes. Check the volume number on the listing before buying.

Which pick is not a novel?

The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism is an anthology of nearly 100 selections, organized by subject. It suits a reader exploring prayer and contemplation, not one looking for a story.

Still deciding? Our top pickPilgrim's Progress by Bunyan

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