Free tool
Citation generator for classic books
How to cite a classic: author, title in italics, the edition you read and where to find it. Search our editions below and copy a ready citation in MLA 9, APA 7 or Chicago 17.
Free, no sign-up. Pick a book from the list to see its citations.
MLA 9
APA 7
Chicago 17 bibliography
BibTeX for reference managers
Cite a page of our site
Quoting a study guide, a summary or an author page? Paste its address and get the citation of the web page. MLA and Chicago add today's date as the access date; APA 7 does not need one.
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How to cite a book in MLA, APA and Chicago
Each style asks for the same four facts in a different order: who wrote it, what it is called, which edition you read, and where it can be found. Always cite the edition in your hands, not the year the book first came out; APA adds that first year at the end. Our online editions have no fixed page numbers, so point to a chapter, book or line instead (ch. 3; bk. 9, line 105). The official guides: MLA Style Center, APA Style, Chicago Manual of Style.
MLA 9
Author, last name first. Title in italics. Publisher, year of the edition, and the address without https://. In your text: (Austen, ch. 3), with the chapter or line you quote.
Example: Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/pride-and-prejudice.
APA 7
Author, last name and initials. (Year of the edition). Title in italics, only the first word and names capitalised. Publisher. Address. Then (Original work published year). In your text: (Austen, 1813/2026).
Example: Austen, J. (2026). Pride and prejudice. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/pride-and-prejudice (Original work published 1813)
Chicago 17 (bibliography)
Author, last name first. Title in italics. Publisher, year of the edition. Address. A first footnote puts the first name first and adds the chapter: Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Library of Alexandria, 2026), ch. 3.
Example: Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/pride-and-prejudice.
Questions about citing classic books
Which edition am I citing?
The Library of Alexandria edition you read: our name as the publisher, 2026 as the year of the edition, and the book's address on our site. APA also asks for the year the work first came out, which the generator adds for you.
Do I need the original publication date?
In APA 7, yes: end the reference with (Original work published 1813) and write (Austen, 1813/2026) in your text. MLA 9 and Chicago 17 do not require it; you may add it after the title if your teacher asks for it.
How do I cite a book with no known author?
Start with the title. Beowulf, for example, begins with Beowulf in italics, followed by the publisher, year and address. The generator does this for every book without a named author.
Can I cite a page of this website, such as a summary or study guide?
Yes. Paste the page's address under Cite a page of our site. You get the web page in all three styles; MLA and Chicago add today's date as the access date.
Is the citation generator free?
Yes. It is free for everyone, with no sign-up and no limit. Copy as many citations as you need.