"The Leopard," Giuseppe di Lampedusa. The best picture I know of the changes that took place as the old noble families were displaced by members of the middle class.
Only partly fictionized- di Lampedusa belonged to the noble family with the leopard central in their coat of arms. It really is his story.

"Rubiyat." I once was able to quote many verses. Greatly impressed me in my teenage years, and still brings memories that have little to do with Omar's verses.

Most volumes of Joseph Conrad.

"Pillars of Wisdom," T. E. Lawrence.