Reading Classic Novels

I only read one or two classic novels a year, but the beauty lingers long after I’ve finished the book. Aside from the reflections, what stays with me is usually something subtle, like a turn of phrase or the delicacy of a particular description.

A classic book doesn’t read the same as a contemporary one. The plots and characters take time to develop. These books are not meant to be devoured in a single sitting. Classics need to be savoured slowly, with many pauses, ideally in a beautiful place, such as in a spacious armchair by a window or in a delightful garden where the long-winded descriptions in the book can feel close and real. They’re the kind of books you might need to put down, then pick up again after a few days, giving your mind time to absorb before reading on.

Classics transport us to another time and place. We see how other people lived during a time we can barely imagine. We learn about their customs, lifestyles and feel their emotions, hopes and dreams. The beautifully crafted sentences written when time moved less quickly, and the impeccable manners and exquisite references to clothing and decorum foster a relaxing reading experience.

Classic literature is very broad, spanning centuries and covering many regions of the globe. But if we consider classic woman authors of the English-speaking world, we can certainly view their work as a precursor to the engaging contemporary romantic fiction many of us adore. Books from Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Charlotte Brontë, Lucy Maud Montgomery or Edith Wharton all focus on the sentimental growth of strong female characters as do today’s romance bestsellers.

I love the language used in classic books and enjoy needing to look up the occasional word in the dictionary. These novels also prompt travel ideas. Literary tours, including visits to author childhood homes and the scenery that influenced their stories appeal to many readers. Most of all, it’s the courage, poise and elegance of these authors and their writing that I appreciate above all.

TEXT BY FATIMA RIZZO