Readable British Classics

A young woman is persuaded by her godmother to turn down an offer of marriage from a man she desperately loves because he has no fortune. The action begins when the two meet again several years later. This is a Comedy of Manners which satirizes the upper classes' preoccupations with wealth and status.

This story is dark and dramatic and is equal parts revenge and love story. It examines the dark side of human nature. Occasionally you'll want to shake these character and say "No! Don't do that," or "What did you think was going to happen?"

Jane Eyre, a young orphan, obtains a postion as a governess. Unfortunately, she falls in love with Mr. Rochester, the man who employs her. This is a tale of secrets and forbidden love, and Jane is more than a little naive.

This novel coined the phrase "Big Brother is watching." This is the grand-daddy of today's dystopian novels, and is probably Orwell's best piece of writing.

This book is often read and enjoyed by younger readers, sort of like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe minus the magic. It's a realistic tale of a young girl who is orphaned and whose circumstances change as drastically as her disposition. She rescues a young boy and rescues herself in the process.

An orphaned girl goes from the lap of luxury to being a lowly servant to those girls she used to rule over. Through it all, she perseveres, and eventually succeeds beyond her wildest dreams. This novel is emotional--the reader can't help but root for the main character.

Great example of sci-fi so important it helped define the rest of the genre and is still influencing it today. The events in this book cast eerie parallels with our own modern society--you can't help but notice them as you read. You will recognize figures and issues that are prevalent today.

Pirates, mayhem, danger and adventure; easy to read. 'Nuff said.

This is the story of a shipwreck survivor, told in such a way that you'd swear it was all true. In Castaway, Tom Hanks' character talks to a volleyball. In Robinson Crusoe, he talks to a parrot. There are a lot of similarities in the stories, and both are easy to get interested in. What makes life worth living and how to survive in an alien environment with almost nothing.

Set around 1066, this novel tells the story of Ivanhoe, who returns from the Crusades. There's a love interest and lots of intrigue. I think to like this book, you have to enjoy historical fiction, as the setting and time period are really important. If you don't like history, the Middle Ages, and knights in shining armor, steer clear of this title.

Imagine a world turned upside down where firemen create the fires instead of putting them out. And what is the fuel for the fire? Books. 451 degrees, the temperature at which paper begins to burn. This story chronicles the misadventure of a man who thinks he has the world all figured out, and then finds out nothing is the way it seems.

David, young and orphaned is kidnapped and made to become a cabin boy on a ship. He is a good person who is constantly being plunged into new and dangerous situations and he must think on his feet. This story can be enjoyed by readers of almost any age, and the emphasis is clearly on action.

Cassandra, the protagonist in this book is talented and headstrong. She lives in a picturesque, but somewhat crumbling castle with her eccentric family. This book is entertaining and character-driven.

This is a modern classic, set in a small town in England. The main character, Christopher, who has Aspergers, discovers his neighbor's dog, which has been brutally killed. Christopher investigates the crime and finds out more than he bargained for.

This story is told in flashback form. The heroine of the story is the young wife of a wealthy man named Maxim De Winter. However, most of the story centers around the mysterious life (and death) of Maxim's previous wife, Rebecca. Dark and mysterious, this story comes together like a puzzle. Recommended for those who like mysteries. (But this is not the Scooby-doo-Detective -I-solved- it sort of mystery. It unwraps more gradually. Jamaica Inn by this author is also a good read.

In this book, Elizabeth Bennet is second-oldest in a family of all daughters. There's not enough money for dowries and her only hope of maintaining a decent level of status is to marry well. However, Lizzie refuses to marry unless she can love and respect the man. The sisters in this family are all memorable, some of the suitors are ridiculous and Lizzie's mother is slightly crazy. So all in all, it's a totally normal family. It's also a Comedy of manners, so the jokes are witty, sarcastic and subtle. Not an easy read, but a good one for a strong reader.

Oscar Wilde is known for being unconventional. This book is packed with one-liners and is macabre. In it, Dorian Gray is good-looking and privileged. He's drawn in into a wild lifestyle and his reputation suffers. He literally becomes something hideous....

Half-animal, half human beings discovered by accident on a remote island. How could this be boring? Definitely sci-fi.

Tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, an unlikely hero who takes on an even more unlikely quest. Shows that sometimes the most unextraodinary people are capable of completely extrordinary things.

Arthur Dent is rescued from Earth just seconds before it is detroyed. Together with his friend, Ford Prefect, he journeys through the galaxy meeting colorful and often hilarious characters. This novel has a very dry sense of humor. It's Monty Python meets space travel.

The monster begins to show up about the same time Conor finds out that his mother has been diagnosed with Cancer. He is the Green Man and as the tale unfolds, the reader begins to understand the reason for this visits.

This book is like a cross between Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series. Both magic and mythical realities converge on the two twins, Sophie and Josh Newman, who are the main characters. How would you react if you suddenlty found that the sorcerer's stone, Nicholas Flamel, and the Elixir of Life were all real?

Okay-- I'm bending the rules a bit here. Technically, this author is Australian, but Australia was a British colony for a looooong time, so there are plenty of British influences. This is the poignant story of a young girl who endures the loss of her brother, abandonment by her mother and countless horrors during WW II, but she survives. This book shows how life, despite its hardships is eminently worth living. It's sad, but uplifting. It's also told from the perspective of Death, who narrates the story.

Katsa is born into a world where particular people are endowed with graces, or special powers or skills. At first, it is believed that Katsa's special Grace is killing, and she is used an assassin. As the story progresses Katsa and the reader begin to realize that her true Grace is something else entirely--something more positive and more powerful. This is a fully imagined world with interesting characters and lots of detail. There's also a fair bit of action. This novel will appeal to those who like fantasy and enjoy reading about a strong female protagonist. If Graceling isn't available, consider reading the companion book, Fire. You can read these out of order and they still make sense.

You must like traditional "Whodunit" style mysteries in order to like the archetypal mystery stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The eccentric but brilliant Sherlock Holmes might make the reader feel sort of stupid, but the reader can always out-think Watson, who grasps things quite slowly. They're very British and they'll make you exert every vocab muscle you own. If you're a patient reader and you love mysteries, give one a try. You'll know right away if these stories are for you.