It might be the day after Valentine’s, but love is still in the air and on the shelves of our grocery stores. So, I thought I would do a post on my favorite classic romances. Not that there’s anything wrong with the plethora of romance novels written today. I just like the classic love stories that don’t involve the ripping of bodices and billionaires deflowering their virgin brides better. It’s so much more romantic when you fall in love with someone whom you’ve barely even touched for the sake of propriety. So, without further ado: My Top 5 Classic Romances.
5. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
I fell in love with this story after watching the mini series and just had to read the book. Margaret Hale, a former minister’s daughter, is forced to leave her home in southern England to move to a factory town in the north, Milton. Margaret hates Milton and industrialization. She also hates Mr. John Thornton, a mill owner. As the novel progresses though, Margaret’s views slowly start to change and she comes to see both Milton and Mr. Thornton in a different light. I love this story for so many reasons. In part because Richard Armitage makes a very dashing Mr. Thornton in the BBC miniseries which I highly recommend. But I also love it for the realistic trials Margaret and Mr. Thornton must go through before they can finally be together. It makes the end all the more satisfying.
4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The classic story of Cathy and Heathcliff is so tragic it’s impossible not to love. They have everything they want within their grasps and a misunderstanding drives Heathcliff away to seek his fortune. When he returns, both of their prides prevent them from admitting their mistakes and finally getting to be together. Instead they absolutely torment each other until Cathy dies after giving birth to a baby girl. The ending of the story is not your typical happy one, but the tragedy of it all is what makes it so incredible. You have a love/hate relationship with all of the characters as they all have love/hate relationships with each other
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
No list of classic romances would be complete without a mention of Mr. Darcy. Jane Austen is my all time favorite author and P&P is probably one of the most well-known love stories of all time. It’s your classic “boy says something stupid and potentially ruins his chances with girl forever but eventually she falls in love with him” story and is still super popular almost 200 years after it was originally published. Jane Austen probably had no idea that she was setting the bar for men everywhere when she created one of the most beloved literary heroes of all time, but girls (including me) are still swooning over him to this day.
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre is probably the most romantic story of all time. Everyone loves a story where the poor and plain working class girl meets someone decidedly above her station in life and he falls madly in love with her anyway. It’s pretty much every girl’s dream. Jane loves Mr. Rochester so much she can hear his soul crying out for her at the end. I cry every time. They overcome so many obstacles to be together, including an insane wife and a persistent suitor, but true love conquers all in the end, and poor Jane finally gets all of the happiness she’s always deserved.
1. Persuasion by Jane Austen
Persuasion is my all time favorite book ever. It’s one of Jane Austen’s shortest novels, but for me it’s the most poignant and realistic. Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth met and fell in love when they were both very young, and Anne was persuaded by her friends and family that it would be better for her to let him go and make a name for himself. They part broken-hearted and are reunited years later. They try to act like there was nothing between them, but slowly they are drawn together again proving that true love has no time limit. I completely freaked out the first time I read it when Captain Wentworth gave Anne the letter that said that he still loved her. To me, the story is the epitome of true love. It’s loving long past all hope of ever being together.
So, that’s my top 5 favorite classic romances. Does anyone else have a favorite that I missed?
Confessions of a Publishing Intern 