Where to start with classic books
Start with the kind of story you enjoy.
Choose the kind of company you want
Try Pride and Prejudice for social observation, Frankenstein for an uneasy question to think about, or A Christmas Carol for a shorter read.
Read the premises below. If none appeals, browse the shelves.
- Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
- Frankenstein Mary Shelley
- A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens
Give the opening a fair chance
Read a chapter before deciding whether to continue.
If an unfamiliar name or reference interrupts you, mark it and look it up at a natural pause. Avoid full plot summaries.
Use help that stays at your place
Set the companion to the last chapter you’ve read. Character notes and context stay within that chapter.
If the labels differ from your edition, choose an earlier chapter until you find a matching boundary.
Let the first book lead to the next
Choose the next book for something you enjoyed in this one: its voice, atmosphere or characters.
For a change of pace, try a painting from the Long Gallery.