What is a pre-20th century 'classic' novel which is easy to understand and is enjoyable?

Question

I need to read a 'classic' for my English assessment task. We were given a list with some suggestions. These include:

-Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott
-Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
-Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
-Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
-North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
-Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
-Middle March by George Eliott
-Room With A View by EM Foster
-Tess of the D'Urbervilles by D H Lawrence
-Washington Square by Henry James
-The Getting Of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson
-Anna Karenin by Leo Tolstoy

It needs to relate to the women in society at this time.

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

I loved Jane Eyre the best! Try it. It is quite
easy to understand. :)

Answer 2

If you are trying to relate to women in society at this time, Persuasion will help you see how people can be adversely influenced by their friends/family and unhappy until they take responsibility for their own decisions.
Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights are darker and have control and emotional abuse as themes. Tess too.
Anna Karenina would address the punishment by society and family of a woman who follows her heart. You don't state your age but if you're under 20 you may want to stay with something lighter. Wives and Daughters by E. Gaskell is delightful. You can also enjoy the BBC series after you read it. That one may relate more to the issues with extended families, stepmothers, stepsisters, etc. These are all great books!

Answer 3

Little Women: Tried reading it several times but found it very boring and never made it through the first couple chapters.

Sense and Senseability: Readable. It was good because I just finished reading Pride and Prejudice which I liked. It's just not as good. Lots of good stuff about women in society at the time if you have to write an essay about it later. Easy to understand. Haven't read the others but they are probably similar. Austen is mostly about girls trying to get a good marriage in society and why they have to be that way.

Jane Eyre: Didn't like it the first time I read it, liked it better the second time. It's a big long but it's worth it. If you don't read it for the class you should read it for yourself. Again, lots to write about for an essay. Pretty easy to read. This one is a classic that a lot of girls consider to be their favorite. I mean those who don't adore P&P. This one is about the tragically romantic life of a plain girl. But it has a good ending. Sort of.

Wuthering Heights-Room with a view: Didn't read.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles: It's by Thomas Hardy, not DH Lawrence. I enjoyed reading this book. I read this one after reading the Mayor of Castorbridge, which is a more lighthearted book to read, but this one is very good. But the ending is not what you expect.

Anna Karenin: This book is a great book to read. If you want women in society, this one is great because the structure surrounds 3 women in different places in society. It also deals with what happens to a girl if you break the rules and what happens if you follow them. It's a long book and some parts are very very slow, especially those talking about the farming. But it's worth reading.

In summary, because you have to write an essay, I would read Jane Eyre because you will have tons to write about and the book is easy to read. If you want a challege, I would go for Anna Karenin. If you want something short, read one of the Austen books.

Answer 4

I personally would go with Tess of the D'Urberviless or Sense and Sensibility. Little Women is excellent, but it's an "easier" read. I saw the movie version of Room with a View and it was really sad and dark. Wuthering Heights is really gothic and also rather sad, but not bad of a read. Anna Karenina is amazing, but a lot of people are turned off by Tolstoy because he's long and Russian. You might want to check out The Scarlet Letter, which is amazing.

Answer 5

I agree with AlpineAlli, out of the books you list I think Jane Austen offers the best "classic" reading ( aside from the story, the language is an example of the purest, yet simplest, early modern English. ) if I my make a suggestion, since your theme is 'women in society at this time' Emma would be a good choice. You can read the novel, and then watch the film Clueless http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clueless which was a "modern" adaptation of Emma. Also as you read the book, follow the film Emma http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116191/
which was a direct version of the novel. I think between all of these you will:
1) have a very good sense of the original novel, its language and theme
2) How this theme may be applied to women in contemporary society
3) Have fun time adding to your knowledge of literature
good reading and good luck

Answer 6

Based on this list, I would suggest "Little Women".

It moves, it has engaging characters, and the story is a good one. I warn you: my boyfriend had a list very much like this one and selected "Wuthering Heights". To this day, you have only to say, "Wuthering Heights" in a book store to make him cringe!! He says it's the most awful book he ever read. And he reads an awful lot of books ...

"Little Women" definitely relates to women in society at this time. How many times are the women the ones who hold the families together? Also: it is a popular movie and currently a play.

Good luck with your assignment :)

Answer 7

I'd say that LITTLE WOMEN is the easiest, but the Bronte sisters' books would stay with you for the rest of your life -- especially Wuthering Heights! Washington Square might be a little difficult, but stay with it as the story is very relevant. Why didn't your instructor recommend The Scarlet Letter? Hope I was at least a little helpful.

Answer 8

This is a very odd list. Rebecca isn't pre-20th Century and neither is Room with a View though either of them would be an enjoyable read.

If it were up to me, I'd read Jane Eyre if you haven't already - not only is it enjoyable but it's one of the classics and people refer to it often and it would be nice for you to know what they're talking about.

Answer 9

Anna Karenin by Leo Tolstoy

Answer 10

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Answer 11

Jane Ayre by Charlote Bronte