Classic Literature | FAVOURITES | January 2021

Classic novels can be a bit hit and miss for a lot of people, the language can be confusing and opaque. It can be overwhelming, but choosing the right one to start with is even harder. I've got a selection that are my personal favourites, and that can be the perfect starter for someone wanting to get in to classic literature. 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

First of all, the Bronte sisters' works are always going to be on a classic literature list. My personal favourite is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I love the gothic themes, the awkwardness of Victorian romance, and the heroine of Jane Eyre and her orphaned upbringing. Jane is brought up by a distant aunt, but she is emotionally and physically abused. She goes on to be educated at a school where she makes friends. Her first appointment after school is as a Governess at Mr Rochester's house. The emotionally distant persona of Mr Rochester makes you feel suspicious about him already...but Jane and Rochester become emotionally invested with each other even after she leaves and attempts to find another life for herself. The subject of the 'Madwoman in the Attic', and the colonial aspect of Victorian England, along with the female position in the household and in the Victorian era. 

Dubliners by James Joyce

Joyce is a Modernist writer, similar in style to Virginia Woolf's work. He focuses on the 'stream of consciousness' in writing, focusing on the psyche and the literal thought of characters in the story. 'Dubliners' is a collection of short stories focusing on the depiction of middle class life in Ireland. The stories focus on the character's epiphany and self-realisation. I find that the interest in the psyche and the internal thoughts of the character is realistic to the way that we view ourselves; it shows the truth of the internal voice. I've find Irish literature extremely thought provoking as it focuses on issues such as Irish nationalism, Great Famine of the 18th century, and the immigration of Irish citizens to other parts of the world (majority of them migrated to America). I've always thought that Irish literature invokes community, with the elements of religion and the dreamy notion of Celtic folklore. I think this collection is a perfect starter point for Irish literature, and the Modernist structure of literature that Joyce presents in his writing. 

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 

This is a staple in classic American Literature. This novel centres around Hester Prynne, a woman who is presented with an illegitimate child. However, it is presented that her husband is in fact a doctor that arrives in the local area after being 'lost' with Native Americans. She is marginalised away from the community, and the only thing that creates a purpose is her love for her daughter, Pearl and her talent for sewing. She falls in love with the priest, who promises they will leave together but at the last second he bails in the plan and becomes hysterical with the manipulation of Hester's doctor husband. The novel is set in New England, were in the 17th and 18th century the superstition of female witches and the criminalisation of women is profound. The novel focuses primarily on the treatment of women and sin in 17th century America, and how she overcome this to become an independent woman, devoting herself to motherhood. The authority of this community shows the deep patriarchal doctrines that subordinate women in to marriage and the inequality of society of that time. 

Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier 

I think this piece of work is Du Maurier's less known works. The novel is set in Cornwall, in a fisherman town. Jamaica Inn itself is a smuggling inn. The protagonist, Mary Yellan moves away from her idealised rural farm life due to her parents death. She moves in with her Aunt and Uncle, Patience and Joss. Joss is abusive and misogynistic. Joss owns the Jamaica Inn, but it never has any customers, which she assumes is because of his drunkenness and his ability to bully anyone that comes in to his peripheral vision. She isn't able to leave as she has nowhere else to go. However, the handsome but thief of Joss's younger brother Jem comes in to her sight. Jem acts as a catalyst for Mary's welfare, and is her way out of the depressing life at Jamaica Inn. The illegal and shady duties that become apparent at Jamaica Inn shows the oppressive life that Mary is subject to...she has always been part of a legitimate and honest family. Whereas, the other side of her family is abusive, manipulative and illegitimate. 

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

There has recently been a Netflix film starring Lily James and Armie Hammer, which was interesting but took a certain twist away from the narrative of the film (as most films do these days). This novel focuses on an unnamed woman who originally is presented as an companion to a quite horrible old woman. The unnamed woman becomes the love interest to widowed bachelor, Max De Winter. Eventually they get married, and the unnamed woman is carried away to a upper class life in England. However, when arriving at her new home of Mandeville, it is apparent that the place is haunted mentally by the spirit of his dead wife, Rebecca. The ghostly spirit that is inhabited within the servants there, Rebecca's cousin and the rest of the De Winter family overwhelms the new wife of Mr De Winter. She finds herself using his dead wife's things that are still scattered around the house, and he too is haunted by his last marriage. She thinks its because he's heartbroken because he was totally devoted to her, but at the end you soon get to know the real reason why he is so full of gloom...

I really enjoyed the gothic feel of the book, and the identity of the unnamed woman was so clever in its thematic ideas. We don't ever come to identify the new Mrs De Winter, but she is overshadowed by Rebecca De Winter; the original bride and you always get the feeling that no one will ever replace her. 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This novel is very much classified as a children's book, but who says adults can't read children's books? It is by far one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. It is centred around the March family, where there are Mrs March (her husband for the most part being away in the American Civil War), and their four daughters: Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg. I love the sense of family and goodness that shines out of the characters, and the love triangles that comes out of their rich neighbour's grandson Laurie. I think that every reader can relate to at least one character in the novel; mine being Jo March. If you want a really festive and cosy read, the unique characters of the daughters and the good-will that encapsulates their up-bringing is so entertaining and represents the middle and upper class lives of American citizens. The novel actively follows the story of Jo, and her venture to become a successful writer. She writes plays for her sisters to perform, and stays up to all times of the night writing, making her hand go numb from the work. I think this book is even more enjoyable as you relate to the characters and their ventures to either becomes writers, artists, musicians or actresses. The focus on the success of the arts is important also, as it goes to show how Alcott has put the importance on striving for what you want, even if you don't make it; try. 

Look how beautiful this edition is!

Hope you pick up one of these books soon! You won't regret it! 

Happy Reading! 

Rose x