Classic literature can, at times, be intimidating to jump into as a reader. The language was so different in novels back then, making it, at times, hard for the modern reader to fully understand. If you give them a chance, however, what you'll find is that classics are classics for a reason.
Despite being written hundreds of years ago, they continue to resonate with readers today, bridging the gap between authors who are long gone and readers discovering them for the first time. It's a beautiful thing, really. For those of you who want to be well-read and know the classics, here is a good place to start.
The following is a list of books written before 1900 that are still compulsively readable, even by today's short attention span standards. Classics span all genres, so surely you'll find a book on this list that suits your reading whims. Ah yes, the story often credited as a foundational text of science fiction, written when Mary Shelley was 18 and first published in 1818.
When this book was published in its entirety in 1831/1832, it shocked readers from all walks of life. It's more than a monster story — it's a human one, about not being sure how to operate in a cruel world and hating the person who brought you into it. There's a reason why Frankenstein and his Creature have stuck around for so long, as it's a story that resonates, entrancing enough to keep you turning pages, even with the antiquated language.
The story of a handsome but conceited young man who has a portrait done of him that will age in his place so he stays young. Can you say looksmaxxing? This story continues to remain popular over a century after it was first published in full in 1891, about the price one has to pay for aesthetics and beauty, a topic that continues to be popular even in the modern era.
It's a novella, so it's relatively short, and honestly might even be a one-sitting book for some readers. A sweet story about a young woman who just wants to do right by her friends and family, with hilariously disastrous results. This is another classic that spawned famous adaptations, such as the 1995 teen comedy Clueless.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
