The “classics” can be intimidating. The language barrier (because who writes like that anymore?) is one thing, of course, but then there’s also the cultural expectations: “You should like this,” “This is Art and Culture,” “Reading this will improve your mind,” etc. You hear these things as a child and as an adult, and they mess with your brain. They make reading older books work, when reading should be pleasurable and never obligatory (that said, do your assigned reading, kids, and keep up those grades). When we talk about the classics of the Western canon, we too often forget that many of these were actually the popular literature of their times. They’re fun and have excitement and humor. But all that cultural weight and unfamiliar language hides that from view. So, today, I’m sharing four books for folks who aren’t used to reading the canon for fun… but want to give it a shot.
Before I do, however, I want to impress something: all that expectation? all those things people say to make you feel bad if you don’t enjoy a particular text? Bull. Shit. Like I said, reading should be fun! It should be something you want to do. And it is perfectly valid to say, “I didn’t enjoy this,” and even, “I just don’t want to read it.” If you don’t want to read Great Expectations or War and Peace? Big whoop. There are other books you do want to read, and you’re better off with the ones that actually interest you. So, don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad if turns out older books just aren’t your thing. There’s nothing wrong with that. I, on the other hand, love my dusty old books! And just in case you are interested in dipping your toe in? Here are my recommendations.
First up, I’m a firm believer that mysteries and adventure novels have universal appeal, regardless of the time period, and Wilkie Collins is a master of both – also, one of the earliest writers of the mystery novel as we know it today! (Collins is also my token white male author for this list.) I highly recommend his book, The Woman in White, which has mystery, adventure, and gripping suspense. I don’t go in much for thrills and chills, but this one had me on the edge of my seat, and I loved every minute of it. And Marian Holcombe is one of my favorite females characters of classic lit. For bravery, wit, and loyalty, you cannot beat this gal! If you come for the people she loves, you’ll have to get through her first.
Next, love stories are also good for pulling people in, and for that, I recommend North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, which is a magnificent blend of romance and social/political commentary, following a sheltered young woman from Southern England as she finds her way in the harsher environment of the industrial North. There, she encounters personal hardship on top of culture shock, and the romance she finds there with a stern factory owner is as much one of the mind as it is of the heart. If you think old books from women authors are all tea and parlor talk, this novel, with its passionate arguments about workers unions and what it means to be a good employer will change your mind.
On the other hand, if you think classic lit is always Serious, let me direct you to Lady Susan, an early novella from Jane Austen that packs no punches with it’s biting humor. I hesitated to include Austen on this list because, wow, talk about authors with cultural weight and expectations, but she really is so much fun! So, I compromised by going for one of her lesser-known works, which is a little less subtle with its comedy (a good thing, if you’re trying to acclimate to the antiquated language) and is also less in the cultural zeitgeist. Everyone thinks they know Pride and Prejudice. Lady Susan, however, is a revelation.
Finally, this last might surprise you because, good grief, it’s a million pages long. Or 1,243. You get my meaning. But hear me out because it’s worth it. The Count of Monte Cristo is full of intrigue, revenge, high drama, love, action, and some truly impressive writing to top it all off. Alexandre Dumas is one of the kings of the long-form novel because he spins an epically long tale without dropping a single thread. You’re reading along, and you kind of feel like you’re in a video game, getting pulled away from the main plot into side quests and asking, “Why do I care about this random shepherd?” But then, a dozen chapters later, he pulls the thread back to the front again and you see how it completes the tapestry. So yes, I recommend The Count to people who want to get into older fiction – not only because it’s a well-crafted book but because it’s also just a ripping good tale! I dare to say that you can get along without Dickens (though I do enjoy him), but you cannot miss Dumas.
And there you have it! My personal recommendations for beginning your classical explorations! It may not be the list everyone would put together, but these titles are ones I found particularly fun and satisfying and that I think could jolt your expectations a bit. But what about you? What books would you recommend to someone starting out in the classics? And do you agree or disagree with my selections? Let me know what you think!
–b
Book It With Becca 