The problem with classic literature – aside from a large proportion of it provoking unwelcome memories of deathly boring lessons at school – is that many of the books are depressing. The canon is full to the brim with tortured characters and doomed fates, which can be somewhat off-putting unless you are very much in the mood for it.
The good news is that there as some classic novels which do the opposite. From laugh-out-loud literature to feel-good tales, here is our pick of the 14 best…
Persuasion by Jane Austen; Little Women by Louisa May Alcott; A Room with a View by E. M. ForsterPersuasion by Jane Austen
Years after being persuaded to break off her engagement to the poor naval captain Frederick Wentworth, Anne Elliot crosses paths with him once again. Austen’s final completed novel is a gorgeous, grown-up love story and a deeply satisfying tale of second chances.
Penguin Classics, £8.99
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
In 1800s New England, four sisters journey from girlhood to adulthood, shaped by their adventures in love and ambition. Parts of the novel may make you cry, but spending time with the March girls always feels a little like a warm embrace.
Collins Classics, £6.99
A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
A young woman breaks free from convention while travelling in Italy, discovering both herself and the power of love. Sunlit and subversive, it is near impossible not to get swept up in this enduring social comedy.
Penguin Classics, £9.99
The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens; Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell; The Pursuit of Love by Nancy MitfordThe Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
With a whole oeuvre exploring the hardships of Victorian England, Dickens isn’t typically associated with ‘feel-good’ – and yet his debut is an episodic romp of comic misadventures, following the well-meaning Mr Pickwick and his companions.
Penguin Classics, £10.99
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
Set in a small town in 19th century England, this gentle novel finds drama in everyday provincial life. Its charm lies in its affectionate portrait of community, while the resilient women at the heart of the novel make unforgettable characters.
Oxford World’s Classics, £7.99
The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford
Told with sparkling wit, Mitford’s beloved classic follows Linda Radlett’s headlong rush through a series of passionate, ill-fated relationships – as narrated by her cousin, Fanny. It remains one of the best takes on love and growing up put to print.
Penguin, £9.99
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome; I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith; The Hobbit by J. R. R. TolkienThree Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
What begins as a simple Thames boating holiday for three friends (and a dog) spirals into comic mishaps, exaggerated ailments and endless digressions. Light, acutely satirical and consistently funny, it is a reminder not to take life too seriously.
Penguin Classics, £9.99
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Seventeen-year-old Cassandra chronicles life in a crumbling castle, capturing first love and shifting family fortunes. Acutely observant and oh-so hopeful, this a coming-of-age story with a narrator you could sit with forever.
Vintage, £7.99
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Homebody hobbit Bilbo Baggins is swept into an unexpected adventure, discovering courage he didn’t know he had. A quest tale with humour and heart, it remains one of the most comforting, escapist journeys in fiction.
Hodder Children’s, £8.99
Middlemarch by George Eliot; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis; Anne of Green Gables by L. M. MontgomeryMiddlemarch by George Eliot
In a fictional provincial town in the early 1800s, idealistic Dorothea Brooke searches for purpose, Dr Lydgate dreams of changing medicine forever, and other intersecting lives unfold. This is a rich, rewarding tapestry of a book.
Oxford World’s Classics, £7.99
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Four siblings step into a magical world locked in winter, where their courage and loyalty are tested. Though written for younger readers, its moral clarity will resonate with adults (while its sense of wonder will no doubt charm them).
HarperCollins Children’s, £8.99
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
An orphan mistakenly sent to live in a farming household who expected a boy, Anne Shirley quickly wins over her new community with her unique imagination and unerring optimism. Buoyant and heartfelt, you can’t help but read this with a smile on your face.
Puffin Classics, £9.99
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
The eminently practical Flora Poste descends on her chaotic rural relatives and resolves to “tidy” their lives, from the doomed romances to the brooding secrets. Skewering melodramatic country fiction, Gibbons’ 1932 work is brisk, clever and laugh-out-loud funny.
Penguin Modern Classics, £10.99
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
After falling down a rabbit hole, Alice encounters a series of increasingly absurd characters — from the Mad Hatter to the Queen of Hearts. Episodic and dreamlike, its playful logic and linguistic inventiveness remain endlessly entertaining.
Collins Classics, £7.99
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