Beginner's guide to British classics (by 2 Literature students)

In which we recommend British lit classics and discuss classic shaming (plus reading British classics when English is your second language)

Rosianna.

▶︎ B O O K S

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte
(My edition is from Anthropologie, but I can't find it anywhere online).

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

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[maddiem]

I just finished Jane Eyre and I have to say, I completely agree with what you guys said. I was so worried when I picked it up because it was like 500 pages of classic literature, but it flowed so well, was easy to read, and was incredibly compelling – so much that I read it in one week, while going to school every day, doing homework, working out, etc - I'm a busy person, so it's very rare that I read a 500 page book in one week. Just goes to show that I couldn't put it down. I even secretly read it in some of my classes, lol. Would absolutely recommend to anyone, especially teenage girls. I'm 18 and I've never related more to a character, even though our lives are so different. Agh. I'm in love.

[pingy]

With regards to book shaming, just remember that all classics started off as popular fiction first, so don't let anyone make you feel bad for preferring "low brow" stuff to the canon.

Also, totally agree with what you guys said about adaptations. I recently wrote an essay for uni about how the BBC mini series of Pride and Prejudice can be seen as a way of accessing Austen's world. It really helps if you're struggling with the texts.

Loved the video x

[AllTheGoldfish]

I read Gone with the Wind when I was about thirteen, and let me tell you, the sense of accomplishment from finishing that book is extraordinary. Great story too

[lyadmilo]

My advice for getting into Shakespeare in particular, is to read the sonnets first. It gives you a feel for the language, and they are so beautiful, but also short!

[numnumcherry]

I was so glad to see The Picture of Dorian Grey as your first classic of choice. It is absolutely my favourite classic, and, to me, it embodies everything a book should be: dark, funny and stimulating.

[Einzelkinddas]

I really needed some good recommendations. Firstly thank you of that. Secondly about Jane Eyre: I learned english as my 2nd language and we have read Jane Eyre in school after 6 years of learning. It was a really short version like 70 pages or so. And I have to admit I loved it. My english was terrible at that time but I was fine with the story and it was way easier than I expected it to be. However three years later I wanted to read the full version to see if I get on with it. And I did. My english got a thousand times better and I had no problems to read Jane Eyre in a week.

I would recommend it to everyone who is starting with classics. Jane Eyre is easy to read and good to enjoy AND something you sound really intelligent with when you say that you've read it.

[mckenziekate]

you seriously have the BEST videos on youtube... I love your channel so much, watching your videos always helps me through tough days. talking about books and reading books is really the only outlet I have with tough family matters and i am so grateful to you and to have had your videos to watch through the especially rough times. thank you!

[thosenkidds]

I remember trying to read Wuthering Heights when I was about 15, and i just couldn't get past the language and I just started reading it again after 4 years and I'm so glad that I can finally get through it! It was so comforting hearing Sanne say that it is a struggle because I remember when I was 15 I felt like I was pathetic for not being able to understand the language in Wuthering Heights so knowing that it it isn't just me who thinks it is difficult to grasp at times made me feel a lot better.

[sahibamann]

This video actually encouraged me to walk into the world of classics. My friend is a lit student and she reads a lot of classics as well & tried to suggest some but I think this helped more.

[NicAlba]

Another good Jane Austen book I recommend is "Northanger Abbey" because it is  light-hearted, quirky, and it explores a young girl stepping out in society and trying to figure things out and falling in love. It's quite relatable because the main character is a teen, who is struggling with awkwardness and messes up while trying to do the right thing and deals with peer pressure. It's really sweet and fun and easy to read.

[crazycatmum]

Jane Eyre is my all-time favorite book. Absolutely obsessed. I also have most of the movie/tv adaptations.

[Alina-crkd]

just listening to you and Rosianna talking about literature gets me so excited! as a fellow literature student I experience a lot of classic shaming at uni and it frustrates me so much that people feel the need to do that.
Jane Eyre is seriously one of my favourite books ever and I'm also a big fan of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, although I needed to read Brave New World a second time, because I didn't get the ending at all.

[whatevers]

So glad you decided to discuss this topic! I'm a recent subscriber and I love your topics in general but this is highly relevant to what's happening in the "book world". People being elitist and stories belonging to a few people. I've done my share of being a snob in the past but now I keep telling people that books are for absolutely everyone and you can enjoy the classics and YA and everything in between. There is no hobby more accesible than reading! (well, except for the time thing but every passion requires time). Nice list of favorites! I've read them all and can wholeheartedly say that they helped me appreciate the classics. Recommendation: Persuasion, my absolute favorite Austen (and her best heroine in my opinion).

[Melinea]

I think 1984 is a great one to start with.

[jessicaelizabethdelaney]

This is the first video of yours I've watched and it took me 20 seconds to hit the subscribe button. You are both so engaging, I can't imagine anyone not being excited to at least start to read a book after watching this- classic or otherwise

[theessenceofbeautyg]

Probably my favourite video in the history of booktube. I love you two together!

[missrosepip]

These are all really great recommendations! I know it gets more difficult the older the text, but I've also noticed that a lot of readers never venture beyond the 1800s. For the more seasoned classics readers who have enjoyed the classic 19th-century novel I would definitely recommend giving some of the earlier novels a try - Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's Travels, Pamela, The Mysteries of Udolpho, etc. And for non-Brit Lit, I think everyone should read Don Quixote, which is really such a fun read. Some people get nervous thinking that classics are Serious Literature and don't realise that popular novels were still sold on entertainment value back in the day.

[booksandpieces]

Yay, so many lovely choices. Frankenstein remains one of my favourite texts - read it so many times! And Austen was the writer that showed me that classics didn't mean hard and boring when I was young and intimidated by all those scary dead writer books!

[katemorrishia]

This video is so great! Needs to be more content like this on YouTube.

I was so skeptical about Frankenstein when I approached in at A Level and found it extremely difficult, but a year late I re read it for enjoyment and absolutely adored the story and the format.

My favourite classic is by far Wuthering Heights as it is just a masterpiece. I have read it three times now and every time it gets better.

[Zeroshoofly]

Lit major here - No matter how hard I try I still can't catch the Jane Austen train. I've gone halfway through Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility. One of these days...

I prefer Elizabeth Gaskell's writing. Her syntax is so charming. North and South was a joy to read (the BBC drama is also excellent), and I'm almost done with Wives and Daughters.