Which Classic Novel?

[drmorgans]

I normally read contemporary fiction (my last two novels were Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes and The Drowning Lesson by Jane Shemilt) but like to read the odd "classic". I was thinking about The Call of the Wild by Jack London or A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe. I prefer books that are readable and not too long (say 300-400 pages). Any suggestions?

[Eve]

For me, it'd be a toss up for favourite between Pride and Prejudice or Wuthering Heights. As you're read the latter, I'll go with the former. After I read it I went out and bought the BBC adaptation and watched the whole thing back to back.

[Maydup]

Silas Marner by George Elliot

Silas Marner is the weaver in the English countryside village of Raveloe in the early nineteenth century. Like many weavers of his time, he is an outsider—the object of suspicion because of his special skills and the fact that he has come to Raveloe from elsewhere.

Free to read here ....

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/silas/full-text/

[drmorgans]

I enjoyed Silas Marner and thought about one of George Eliot's other novels but both The Mill On the Floss and Middlemarch are such tomes.

[sunny-dave]

Anthony Trollope - the Barchester novels - some of the greatest descriptive writing in the English language.

Start with The Warden - a delightful (and relatively short) introduction to all the main characters - then read the wonderful Barchester Towers.

[Barmaid]

Glad you enjoyed Wuthering Heights. It's my all time favourite. V dark tho.

I'd endorse Hellywelly's suggestion of Fremchmans creek. I think it starts with "it was a cold grey day in late November".

Jamaica inn is another du maurier classic. But I really liked "the Flight of The Falcon".

I also enjoyed "Touch Not the Cat" and "Nine Coaches Waiting" by mary Stewart. (Although not really classics)

[rockyracoon]

I don’t read a lot of classics, but 2 that I have read and thought were great are Dracula - Bram Stocker, and Great Expectations - Charles Dickens.

[Caran]

I too enjoyed "The Moons a Balloon" by David Niven.
Sad thing is I can't read books now. I have lost concentration and can't remember what I read a minute ago. I'm ok with newspapers and still do loads of crosswords each day though.

[zebo]

Having read Rebecca many times I also enjoyed the prequal by Sally Beauman, Rebecca's Tale.
I've also recently read Longbourn by Jo Baker, it's Pride and Prejudice as told by the servants, very good.

[naomi24]

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
1984 by George Orwell
Animal Farm by George Orwell

[drmorgans]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I had read a few of them already and rarely re-read books. I have just started with The Warden by Trollope on my tablet. Never read any Trollope before, only two chapters in, but so far, so good. Next, probably Casino Royale Dr No by Ian Fleming (generally regarded as the best Bond), then The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.