There is something about fall that makes me want to read a classic. Maybe it is the cooler weather, the changing leaves, or having a little more time to settle down with a good book and a cup of coffee.
If you are looking for a few classics to add to your fall reading, here are some that come to mind.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Published in 1938, the book is known to have one of the greatest opening lines in all of fiction. The book has the atmosphere I look for when I want a book that pulls me in on a cool fall night. The old house, Manderley, harbors secrets, uncertainty, and a woman trying to find her place. You can view Autumn Whispers and the Shadows of Manderley: A Season with Rebecca here
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Published in 1911. A garden, children, friendship, and change. When Mary Lennox discovers the neglected garden at Misselthwaite Manor, she begins bringing it back to life. I love the tie to nature.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery was published in 1908. Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables, and you get to witness this little chatterbox growing up. While you're at it, you may want to check out The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables Catherine Reid. It's not a classic, but there are some images of fall. Anne's imagination, friendships, family, and the changing seasons make this a lovely book to pick up when you want something warm and comforting.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Published in 1959, a New England boarding school and a look at friendship,
growing up, jealousy, and the complicated feelings that can come with
being young.
Published in 1925. Set during the summer of 1922, the story follows Nick Carraway as he becomes drawn into the world of the mysterious Jay Gatsby. The relationship with Daisy speaks to longing and obsession with an idealized version. I have included an image of my copy along with a few other classics. The movie Midnight in Paris pulls in some beloved classic authors and artists, including Fitzgerald.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Published in 1868,family, sisters, friendship, growing up, and the simple comforts of home. I loved how they sang around the piano. My stand-out memory of this read was the challenges they faced and the severity of illness they encountered. Read here
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, published in 1847, is a Gothic classic with a mysterious house, secrets, and a heroine determined to live life on her own terms. Jane’s journey is about love, independence, dignity, and finding where she belongs. Brontë originally published the novel under the name Currer Bell, at a time when women writers often faced prejudice. At the link, you can find an image of my 1943 copy,
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
Sometimes I just want a good mystery. Published in 1902. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson travel to the eerie, misty moors of Devon to investigate a mysterious death and an old family legend involving a supernatural hound.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. The story, published in 1820. Irving drew from European tales of headless riders but placed his story in the very real Sleepy Hollow area of New York’s Hudson Valley, and Ichabod Crane’s name came from a real U.S. Army officer. Irving leaves us wondering - was Ichabod really chased by the Headless Horseman, or was Brom Bones behind the whole thing?
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Published in 1850. This is one I think about beyond the story itself. I have hardbound, paperback, and graphic novel copies of the story. Set in Puritan New England, Hester Prynne is forced to wear the scarlet letter “A” as punishment for adultery. It leaves one to think: who is really flawed?
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
If you
like your fall reading a little mysterious and unsettling, this Gothic novella, published in 1898, follows a young governess who is hired to care for two children at an isolated English estate. She becomes convinced that the children are being visited by ghosts—but James never gives us a completely certain answer about what is really happening.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Published in 1959, Jackson creates an unsettling feeling that the house itself may be watching, influencing, and slowly taking hold of its occupants. Another good choice when you want atmosphere and a little uneasiness without a traditional horror story.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
If you are looking
for something a little darker, this is an obvious choice. Published in 1897, the novel is told through diaries, letters, newspaper clippings, and other documents, which makes the story feel almost like you're piecing together a mystery yourself.
