Outside of required reading for school, many of us may leave the classics behind. Here is your invitation to revisit or perhaps introduce yourself to the very best of literature. This selection covers romance, adventure, mystery, and more.
Persuasion
Jane Austen
Austen is at the height of her powers when she describes the pain of a past mistake haunting her heroine, Anne Elliot. Can she find happiness or is her life destined to be one of regret?
The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas
Possibly the greatest story of revenge of all time. Framed for a crime he did not commit, Edmond Dantes goes to prison for many years. After an impossible escape that almost kills him, Edmond hunts down those responsible one by one.
The Young Lions
Irwin Shaw
This story follows three soldiers during World War II. One American, one Jew, and one Austrian as they each experience their own war, changing them forever until they meet on the battlefield.
Rebecca
Daphne du Maurier
A young newlywed is haunted by the memory of her husband's deceased first wife and it threatens to destroy both her marriage and her sanity.
Did You Know?
Studies have actually shown that reading the classics can actually improve focus and increase your attention span. Apparently, MRIs done on subjects while reading classical literature showed increased blood flow to areas of the brain responsible for 'executive function'. In other words, it enhanced complex and critical thinking. Therefore, reading the classics is like a brain boost.