What comes to mind when you thinking of classic literature?

Do you picture a stack of well worn leather bound volumes edged with subtle gold detail?…

……. Or perhaps an antique library that is just waiting to be discovered?

I know that Fanny, (from Sense and Sensibility) never liked the smell of books, but I disagree. There is nothing quite like the smell of a new book….with smooth paper and a perfect hard cover waiting to be opened and you, the first reader are about to do so.

I have complied a few quotes from some of my Jane Austen books were the ladies mention books, or the act of reading. I know there are many more quotes, but these are the ones I could remember at the time.

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On entering the drawing-room she found the whole party at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting them to be playing high cards she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.

“Do you prefer reading to cards?” said he; “that is rather singular.”

“Miss Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, “despises cards. She is a great reader and has no pleasure in anything else.”

“I deserve neither such praise nor such censure,” cried Elizabeth; “I am not a great reader…and I take pleasure in many things.

- Pride and Prejudice

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“Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. I have seen a great many lists of her drawing up at various times of books that she meant to read regularly through–and very good lists they were–very well chosen and very neatly arranged–sometimes alphabetically and sometimes by some other rule.

The list she drew up when only fourteen–I remember thinking it did her judgment so much credit that I preserved it some time; and I dare say she may have made out a very good list now.  But I have done with expecting any course of steady reading from Emma.  She will never submit to anything requiring industry and patience and a subjection of the fancy to the understanding.”

Mr. Knightley discussing Emma with Mrs. Weston.
Emma, volume 1, chapter 5

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Why might I be mentioning reading? Well, reading was a way that many young ladies could further their knowledge, however one must be careful with the kinds of books you read. No lady wants to end up like Catherine Morland, from Northanger Abbey.

However, if you are looking for a good read…I would suggest Jane Austen’s Novels. I have also written the date they were published, it is amazing that novels published so long ago can still be so popular and relevant today.

Sense and Sensibility (1811)

Pride and Prejudice (1813)

Mansfield Park (1814)

Emma (1816)

Northanger Abbey (1818)

Persuasion (1818)

If you have read them, which is your favorite and why?

I would love hear what you think…

My favorite….oh, this is hard to choose. I think I would have to say Pride and Prejudice is my first favorite, but then I do so enjoy Sense and Sensibility as well as Emma and Persuasion.

This article is a part of the Jane Austen Tour 2010 that is being hosted at here from July 19th to August 3rd. Find more info here.