When thinking of classic literature, one’s mind might direct them to an assigned reading from high school that generates inevitable hatred towards literature written before the 20th century. I’m here to tell you that it’s not all that bad. Yes, reading a 500-page book dated to the early 1800s might not be so great, but there are more than tolerable classics with storylines you might even recognize in modern media.
1. Emma by Jane Austen
Honestly anything by Jane Austen is worthwhile. If you are into Bridgerton, she’s just your vibe. I would call her the OG of romance novelists. You may recognize her most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice, either from English class or from the 2005 movie adaptation starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden. My personal favorite of Austen’s romances is Emma, which I might go as far as calling my favorite book ever. The storyline consists of a young woman, Emma, who proclaims herself town matchmaker. While she makes pairings for the rest of her little town, she doesn’t realize she might just be finding one for herself. In the 19th century, Emma was a little different from the women of her time. She is witty and independent, setting a different standard for the ladies of the town. This book has a truly beautiful plot with entertaining characters and a great romance. Most people don’t know that the 1999 movie Clueless was based on the plot of Emma. Give this novel a read and the movie a watch.
2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
As I discussed once, I am not a fan of #Booktok (the popular book platform on TikTok). It usually provides pretty controversial takes on books and discourages readers from reading certain texts. Something that Booktok did provide me was Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar at the ripe age of 15. Warning, this book is not for everyone, and I should have waited until college to read as it deals with pretty heavy themes, such as depression and suicide. While this book was published in 1963, it is considered a modern classic. The haunting novel takes place in the mid-20th century as young Esther Greenwood navigates her life in New York City and attempts to find happiness. This is an entry way into the literary world of modern classics written by sad women. Yet I want to reiterate, this novel is not for everyone and please read the content summary before deciding to read. If you enjoyed The Bell Jar, Plath’s journals were published where you can get a glimpse into her own life and challenge whether she “is” Esther.
3. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
If you are a Gossip Girl fan, like me, Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence is the perfect classic for you. I picked this book up in my senior year of high school and was immediately captured by the glitz and glamor of Wharton’s depiction of New York City in the 1870s. Wealthy Newland Archer is about to marry sweet May Welland, but an introduction of May’s mysterious cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, may shake up their plans. Wharton really highlights the beauty and allure of the people of this inner society while paying respect to the duties that each character has to carry out in order to be socially accepted. I read this senior year, and I also devoted my entire senior lit thesis to this novel. This means I spent nine months annotating and analyzing Wharton’s prose, so it is safe to say I love this story. Character Ellen Olenska challenges societal rules while May Welland conforms to them all creating an elegant depiction of the challenges of being a woman in the time. This is a must-read and a favorite of mine among Wharton’s pieces.
4. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
I admit, I did just read this book this semester. It was an assigned reading for one of my classes, and I had no prior engagement with the text in high school. When people think of Hawthorne’s novel, their minds connect it to their high school English class. Reading this in college, I realized this story has so much more to it. Themes of society and feminism contribute to the novel’s overall objection to modernity and expectations of the time. Protagonist Hester Prynne is ordered to wear a red “A” on her chest, standing for adulterer, to punish her for a child born out of wedlock. Society views Hester as a complete outcast while she tries to navigate her world with this label, as well as having a new child. The novel spans seven years, and each chapter is just as engaging as the last. For movie watchers, the movie Easy A pays much reference to this novel, as well as loosely basing its plot on it.
5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
A book turned into a movie once again, Little Women might be the most classic of the five books selected. Most people are able to recognize at least the title of this comforting and bittersweet story. Louisa May Alcott wrote this novel in respect to her own life with her sisters. The novel follows the lives of four sisters in their childhood and teenhood, with flashes to their adulthood. Warning, this book will make some people (me) cry. The relationship between all the sisters is so complex with ups and downs creating a beautiful tale of growing up and the hardships that come with it. I think that every girl can find themselves in one or all of these sisters. Whether that is mature and traditional Meg, independent and bold Jo, witty and artistic Amy or kindhearted and shy Beth, these sisters represent different parts of everyone. I find myself to resonate with each sister, while finding myself most in Jo and Amy. This story was a way for my mom and I to bond, which is why it holds such a special place in my heart.
While classics may be daunting (there are so many that are), these books hold so much value to my life are perfect introductions into literature before the present modern era as they are popular for a reason. Happy reading.
