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What exactly is classic literature? "A classic--something that everybody wants to have read an nobody wants to read." --Mark Twain
I had a chuckle as I came across Twain's definition because I researched the definition just having finished reading H.G. Wells and wondering about the timelessness of his works. That said, there are several classics that are as relevant and interesting today as when they were first published.
| Alcott, Louisa May |
Little Women
This episodic novel tells the story of the March family, the "little women" being the four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. When the story opens, Mr. March is serving as chaplain in the Civil War and Mrs. March and his "little women" are making do. This novel, written in 1868 is a realistic and endearing portraitl of a family making do - without much money and with their beloved father away - but finding joy in each other and in helping others. |
| Austen, Jane |
Emma
Originally published in 1814. Emma is 21, rich, beautiful and convinced in her ability as a matchmaker. Though she herself has no intention of ever marrying, she sets her sights to matching her friend, Harriet to Mr. Elton with disasterous results. Undeterred by that failure and a dressing down by her sister's brother-in-law, Mr. Knightley, she soon meddles again. Often laugh-out-loud funny, Austen mirrors and parodies the vageries and caprices of class and romance in England in the 1800's. She is a master of description and dialogue. |
| Burnett, Frances Hodgson |
The Secret Garden
Published in 1909, this is the story of Mary Lennox, orphaned while living in India when her distant mother and father die in a cholera epidemic. She is shipped to England to live on the Yorkshire Moor in Misthlethwaite Manor, the home of her Uncle, Archiebald Craven. He is distant as well, as he sends his housekeeper to fetch Mary and a month goes by before he meets with her. Mary, herself, is rather sour and distant and it seems that the book will be rather a dour read but Mary gets outdoors because there's nothing to do and begins to uncover some intriguing secrets. |
| Dickens, Charles |
A Christmas Carol
I have recently reread A Christmas Carol for about the fifth or sixth time and find that I have not tired of it. It possesses one of the best opening lines of a novel past or present, "Marley was dead to begin with," and some of the best descriptive language ever. Nothing and everything has changed in the 160+ years since A Christmas Carol was first published and Scrooge first "bah humbugged" his way into our hearts and minds. |
| McCaugrean, Geraldine |
Cyrano
This is a novel length retelling of a play by Edmond Rostand of the same name. Cyrano is brilliant, witty, romantic, athletic and brutally honest. He earned the admiration of the troop of Gascons he leads as their captain but he has also earned the wrath of some powerful people. Despite his flair and self-confidence, he feels that he can never be loved by a woman because of his overly large nose. He is also hopelessly in love with Roxanne although she has fallen for Christian, a member of his guard who though handsome, is rather dull witted. Ever honorable, Cyrano takes Christian under his wing and writes beautiful words of love and devotion to Roxanne in Christian's name. So who is Roxanne falling in love with? |
| Wells, H.G. |
The Time Machine
This was Wells' first novel, published in 1984 and tells the story of the Time Traveler, who invents a time machine and travels hundreds of thousands of years into the future. In the year 802,700 the earth appears to evolved into a Eutopia in which there is no toil, no pain, no need to eat meat and very little difference between the sexes. The Time Traveler appears content to stay among these people and study them until he discovers that his time machine has been stolen. It turns out that two distinct races of humans dwell on Earth, the surface-swelling, peaceful and beautiful Eloi and the Morlocks, who dwell beneath the surface and prey upon the Eloi in the dark of night. |
| Wells, H.G. |
War of the Worlds |
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