Lazy Sunday: Top Four Classic British Novels

To celebrate ‘Read a Book Day’ we wanted to share with you our top four classic English novels from arguably some of the countries most talented, engaging and inspiring authors. Put your feet up on our Berkeley armchair this Sunday and delve into the pages of these totally captivating reads.

Emma by Jane Austen
First published in 1815, Emma is a classic novel about a youthful woman and the perils of misconstrued romance. Austen explores the difficulties genteel women living in the Georgian Regency faced; she also creates comedic characters and a lively plot throughout.

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
The Hobbit follows the quest of home-loving Bilbo Baggins to win a share of treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug. Tolkien takes us on an epic adventure of action, introducing us to the characters and creatures of Middle-earth. This is the perfect glimpse into Tolkien’s fantasy world, a great starter for Lord of The Rings trilogy.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again’- quite easily one of the most iconic opening lines in the history of English literature. The story follows a young woman who marries the rich and handsome Max de Winter and is whisked to the ominous Manderley house. Difficulty in the marriage arises with the haunting memory of Rebecca, Max’s dead wife, creeping into their relationship.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Brontë’s first and only novel, Wuthering Heights, was considered highly controversial due to its depiction of mental and physical cruelty, which was at the time, unusually stark. The story follows the turbulent and intense love story between Cathy and Heathcliff, a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on the Yorkshire Moors.