10 Classics You Need to Read

 

Books are your best and dearest friends. They can be with you no matter where you go. Whether in paperback form or ebook, they make the best companions when you are utterly bored.

While there are several books in the market to choose from today, there was a time when publishing wasn't an easy market to have access to, and several women had to write under male pen names.

Those times may have gone, but the treasures that are the beautiful, original stories remain.

Here are 10 classics you need to check out. If you have already read them, you may just want to re-read them.

1) The Mill on the Floss: If you like love triangles, forbidden love, and tumultuous relationships, this is your book.

The Mill on the Floss was written by Mary Ann Evans, who wrote under the pen name George Eliot.

The story centres around siblings Tom and Maggie, who face plenty of drama while growing up. Maggie faces a moment when she gets jealous of her cousin Lucy, who is considered to be beautiful.

When they all grow up, Maggie ends up developing feelings for a man the family is supposed to hate.

Worse, when she is separated from him, she and her cousin Lucy's fiance get into an affair.

All this creates a rift between her and Tom.

But in the end, they do make-up. However, they lose their lives in a flood.

2) The Hound of Baskervilles is a Sherlock Holmes case written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

When a case of a supernatural Hound haunting the moors is brought to the famed detective, he initially dismisses it but when then gains an interest when his client is followed.

The mystery gains momentum with the introduction of new characters and suspects. There is a twist, Andrew it turns out one of the suspects is not who they are claiming to be.

This is one of Sherlock Holmes' finest cases that doesn't have a single dull moment.

3) Pride and Prejudice  is not just the most adapted romantic movie. It was a novel written by Jane Austen.

Of course, one of the reasons the  novel was so popular was because of the character of Mr. Darcy. He quickly became the type of man, every romantic began to search for, you know, the strong, silent kind of man who was willing to relinquish his ego for the woman he loved.

It is one of the most beloved classics and one that every romantic needs to read.

4) David Copperfield is one of those books that can make you cry and then cry again, but this time with tears of happiness.

The novel follows the story of David Copperfield and his troubled childhood and the loss of family.

When he grows up, he falls in love with a woman, only for her to die within months of their marriage.

The novel does end at a happy note, with David finally finding love and the family he always wanted.

It is drama at its best.

5) Journey to the Centre of the Earth is one of Jules Verne's popular science fiction books that has been made into movies and adapted for animated episodes in shows as well.

Have you ever wondered what is at the centre of the earth? Well, then prepare for an extraordinary and dangerous expedition into a world that will change your perception.

The way to the centre of the earth is a volcano. The characters encounter dinosaurs, get lost, and almost die.

This is one science fiction adventure you don't want to miss.

6) Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is one of the most thrilling books written by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Meet a kind, gentlemanly man, Dr Jekyll, who has been conducting experiments... on himself.

Unknown to his peers, there are sightings of a ghastly man called Mr Hyde who has been committing violent crimes.

It is only towards the end that it is revealed that Dr Jekyll has been transforming into Mr Hyde.

The experiment was to separate the evil self from the good self within himself. But the evil self triumphed over him in the end.

7) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most loved classics written by Mark Twain.

We meet Huckleberry Finn, who spends time having adventures with his friend Tom Sawyer. Eventually, all fun and games take a turn when Huckleberry escapes his stern father and befriends a man called Jim.

In trying to help Jim, Huckleberry and Tom come with innovative ways.

It is an interesting adventure story that can be enjoyed by all ages.

8) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a coming of age story about four sisters, Jo, Beth, Amy, and Meg.

The four sisters have a lovely bond, but they also have their own personalities that make them unique.

Meg is the eldest and initially a snob, but marriage changes her. Jo is strong and wilful. Amy is the youngest, and so is bratty. Towards the end, she embraces her artistic side and tones down her temper.

Beth is sweet and kind, but sometime in the book, she succumbs to her illness and dies.

The book is a must-read for its incredible storytelling and heartwarming bond between the characters.

9) The Railway Children, written by Edith Nesbit, is a sweet tale about three children, Roberta (Bobbie), Peter, and Phyllis, who move to a small house near the railways. The kids make the best of a bad situation by occupying themselves with the trains that pass by. The story has plenty of exciting moments like the children saving a train from an accident, helping strangers, befriending an old man who eventually helps the kids reunite with their father, who unbeknownst to them, was falsely imprisoned.

As readers, we know that something terrible has befallen the family, but the kids are protected from it all.

It's a tale of bravery and learning to  accept changes in your life. A definite mustread for all.

10) The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy is a fantastic historical thriller. There are secret societies, disguises, romance, and a riveting climax.

The book is a great addition to your library if you like characters who engage in daring exploits.