Although I read lots of varied books last year I realise that I didn’t really read many of the classics. With the likes of Dickens and Tolstoy on TV at the moment I’m feeling the urge to add some more classics to my ‘already read’ list. The slightly off-putting thing about the classics is that they are often such weighty tomes and require some serious dedication to get through them. However after some deliberation and reading through The Guardians list of ‘The 100 Greatest Novels of all time’ and the ‘Telegraphs 100 Novels everyone should read’ I have decided on 5 works of classic literature from the 1800’s, two by authors I already enjoy and three by authors who are perhaps embarrassingly new to me.
- David Copperfield By Charles Dickens (1849-50). I loved Great Expectations, and have read A Christmas Carol a number of times and also Oliver Twist but that’s as far as my reading of Dickens goes. I have settled on David Copperfield because it was Dickens own personal favourites of all his novels.
- Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (1857). This novel always features on best novels lists and Its time to give it a go.
- Persuasion by Jane Austen (1816)I love Austen and in particular Pride and Prejudice which I first read as a teenager and have read many times since. Persuasion is the only Austen I haven’t read so its time to give it a go.
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde(1890) I’ve seen the Matthew Bourne ballet, its time to read the book!
- Middle March by George Eliot(1874) I’m looking forward to getting to know Dorothea Brooke and her disastrous marriage.
So without further ado, I’m off to the library…..
Hope your weekend is beautifully classic.
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Quite a challenge but an enjoyable one x
Author
I hope so. I’ve chosen novels which all appeal to me for the story rather than because they are ‘classics’ and I feel I should have read them xx
What a great idea. I may choose 5 too. Just checked out the list (Guardian 100) and to my shame I have only read 10!!! I have a big pile of ‘to read’ books at the mo but fortunately one of those is Mrs Dalloway (no. 50), birthday present, so I’ll start with that one. Thanks for the idea, Angie xx
Author
I have read Mrs Dalloway, although I admit to struggling with it a bit. Look forward to hearing what you think of it and also what your other 4 might be….x
Hello Angela I hope you are well! Love the blog look and theme although I must admit to failing completely with the first two lol Copperfield I liked initially but as with so many Dickens I ran out of steam half way through, Madame Bovary didn´t get past the second chapter, Persuasion and Middle March I have not tried…but I DID like Dorian Gray lots 🙂
Will look forward to hearing your verdict!
Author
Hi John, Wow, great to hear from you. How did you find me – if you don’t mind me asking? Good to hear what you thought of the chosen novels! I’m looking forward to Madame Bovary but have heard that different translations give different reading experiences. I always enjoyed talking books with you. What are you reading now, and where are you? A x