I thought you were going to say that people are divided into P&P vs. Jane Eyre fans! Not JE vs WH. In my experience the division is usually Brontes vs Austen, and I am indeed impressed that you list both P&P and JE as your top faves!

I have a similar criteria for what constitutes a "classic". For me, the cut-off point is 1914, and the beginning of WWI. Anything after 1914 is modern, in my way of thinking. This is based mostly on the types of philosophy that I find in modern books vs. classics, which are so different after that time period of WWI. Jane Eyre is one of my top favorite classics too! Love your list!

And Maurice has been sitting on my shelf for ages. Must get to it ASAP. Your description was suitably gushing.

Claudia your videos are becoming soooo polished. I recently listed to Pride and Prejudice narrated by Rosamund Pike it was wonderful. Such a wonderful way to experience the brilliance of Miss Austen. The wit really shines through. Such an articulate video all round. Loved it.

I'm currently reading the picture of Dorian gray, nice to see it's on your list

Yes, I always feel I’m a walking cliche having Pride and Prejudice as my favorite book. And yes to St Clare’s and Mallory Towers, I loved those as a child and my younger sister begged my mum to send her to boarding school so many times because of those books. And finally, yes to Maurice, I want to do a reread of the three Forster novels I’ve read as I read them over twenty years ago and think it’s time, A Room with a View would probably top Maurice but I don’t know if that’s because it’s also one of my favorite films.

Loved how your "gushing" is way more eloquent than most people's critical analysis :D Pride and Prejudice is definitely on my favorite classics list and I want to re-read soon! OH! Pünktchen und Anton! What sweet memories :D!

Oh! Oh! I have so much to say *cracking all fingers at once and wiggling them preparing to type* [spoilers ahead if anyone actually plans on reading this] Okay, so Pride and Prejudice is obviously an old favourite. I'm a huge fan of old Mr. Bennet and his snarky comments. I just love him so so much. The sisterly love and everything about this novel is so lovely. That first proposal was brutal Jane Eyre was one of the first classics I ever read and I remember falling in love with Jane so fast. I do have some issues with Rochester, but it's hard not to follow the plot in the context of the times and all the societal things. I think I read Jane Eyre four times to date and once in the context of my only gender studies course I ended up taking in fourth year. Seeing things from Bertha's point of view as well, and the duality throughout not just with the younger girls in school, but later in life, the need to give Jane a fortune and bring her up to Rochester's level and the subtleties of building character strength like refusing St.John's proposal....were just such great storytelling skills but what shocks me is that Charlotte did this whole thing in four months. How? What sorcery is this?! I'm a big fan of the flirting and the exchanges between Jane and Rochester throughout, whether it's on late nights by the fire or at the very end. Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray was one of the first classics I read in one day. I remember it being the day right before the holidays ended and I was in grade 12 and I felt so guilty for not having read anything, so the day before I just sat down with Dorian Gray and the comments Basil makes on aesthetics got me hooked. I really liked the dark atmosphere as well, though I think you're right, the beginning and those Basil exchanges are glorious. You learned English from Oscar Wilde??! No wonder you're so witty and well-spoken (I learned my English watching Legally Blonde and Finding Nemo way too many times). If you haven't already I HIGHLY recommend Wilde's Fairy Tales (particularly The Happy Prince, and the nightingale and the rose...those two will break you). As for Sherlock Holmes...oh boy! LOVE LOVE LOVE. I started reading the entire series around grade 10 and I remember devouring the hound of baskerville. I think my favourite sherlock moment is when Watson tries to figure sherlock out at the very beginning by studying him and jotting down what he's good at and what he says, and of course in Baskerville how he's constantly in disguise and ...ah ...so good! LOVE him so much Unfortunately I have not read Erich Kastner, or Enid Blyton, though I think I'd really love to read the Enid Blyton series, it sounds wonderful. Of course one of the first books I want to reach for right now from your list is Maurice. I have not read this text or any Forster. From your description, you might also enjoy the more recently published The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne. I read it back in February and absolutely fell in love with the story. I'd totally re-read it in the future if you ever feel like another buddy read. (Though let's face it, I'd buddy read anything with you at this point!) This is a lovely list of favourite classics. I think what I love about these lists is finding out how one person is..."personally" attached to these, and what was their unique reading experience, so do not apologize for not having hidden gems (though I would say your second half has a lot of hidden gems for me)

Even though Blyton books are rather old fashioned by today's standards, I felt I missed out having never come across them growing up - as they seemed like the type of stories I'd have really liked from 8 to 12.

I do love your choices, even if I would have put Jane Eyre first (team Jaaaaane !). It's funny, because when you showed the Erich Kastner book, I remembered reading "Der 35. Mai oder Konrad reitet in die Südsee " as a child (of course, I'm French, it was a different title) and remembered loving - fond memories.

I really want to read The Picture of Dorian Gray. Your upcoming Wilde and Holmes videos sound amazing. PS I love your hair colour!

I love how very organized you are! I've read & agree completely about the first four classics, all so enjoyable to read & favorites of mine. Haven't read the children's books, but you make them sound irresistible (I don't think Ms. Blyton made a large impact in the States). Maurice is sitting patiently on my shelf -- must move it up on my tbr. Great list! Now I'm off, holding my breath, to see what you didn't like ...

Just bought Maurice from a charity shop before I saw this video! very excited to read it now

1) Pride & Prejudice: "OUCH!" Indeed! 🙂 2) In my opinion the _concept_ of The Picture of Dorian Gray (not necessarily the writing) is the masterpiece quality of the novel. I like your takes. And you do have some off-beat selections here.

I haven't read a single one of these. 🙀 Though Wilde has a solid spot on my TBR. Your new series sounds pretty cool! Have a great rest of your week! 💕

Ooh I'm so excited to pick up The Picture of Dorian Grey! I've heard so many people say they absolutely love it. And I can appreciate some beautiful writing, even if the surrounding story isn't as great.

I'm currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray and enjoying it so much :) I need to pick up Maurice, it sounds amazing! Great video

Nothing wrong with a little gushing over books that are worth it. It’d always interesting to learn about other readers’ favorites. I haven’t read all of your choices, but of those I have: I love Pride and Prejudice, but of all the Austens, Emma will always be my favorite. As you say, it makes me happy when I read it, and I wish I’d come to Austen much earlier in my reading life. Jane Eyre is a beautiful book, a favorite from childhood to today. I’ve only one quibble with it, but it’s just a personal thing. Overall I love it. I need to re-read Dorian Gray; I remember the plot, but not the inner workings of the book. Hound of the Baskervilles is a true classic of the genre, which is my favorite relaxation genre. It’s amazing how well done it is. And you’re right: it’s just as much fun on the tenth read as on the very first. Maurice! A sad, sad story, but a joy to read. Classics I turn to: David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. Anna Karenina. Howard’s End. Barchester Towers and The Last Chronicle of Barset. And from the children’s shelf, The Dark Is Rising.

This is such an enjoyable video.

This is a FANTASTIC video. I don't agree with you on "The Hound..." (Valley of Fear and Study in Scarlet are my favorites), but its atmosphere is amazing. And I learned some things and have some ideas on new things to read. Thanks.

My favourite classics 1) The Woman in White 2) Great Expectations 3) The Count of Monte Cristo 4) Jane Eyre 5) The Small house at Allington by Trollope. 6) The Mayor of Casterbridge 7) Crime and Punishment 8) Les Miserables 9) Armadale 10) Dombey and Son 10) Women in Love ( D.H Lawrence)

I think there are a lot of similarities between Jane Eyre's romance with Rochester and Elizabeth's romance with Darcy. They both have that dynamic in the beginning where the heroine despises him because he's rude and aloof, but comes to know him over time and find that he's not so bad. Both romances have that dynamic of the two characters being a good match due to their intellect. It's a lovely dynamic, which I've also seen in Much Ado about Nothing with Beatrice and Benedic. 😊 (it's also super popular in Bollywood. Ah, i really love that tongue in cheek banter kind of relationship.)

Pride and prejudice (and other Jane Austen books) and Jane Eyre are the ones I can read again and again. Frankenstein is my favorite though. I love so many classics, it´s impossible to make a list without forgetting something. I practically have a shrine to 1984.

Some great books on this list and I love your criteria! Trying to think what books that would leave on my list!

I thought this was great really enjoy it!!

#BASICBITCH is so #meeee. ;) Und hier natürlich mein obligatorisches: _You_ are wrong! ;) Ich liebe Favoriten-Videos, weil alle da immer so happy und gushy sind.

Emil und die Detektive ist auch spannend.

Maurice, not Morris

I hated Jane Eyre and I have a strong suspicion that I would hate all the other books by the Bronte sisters, too.