It is such a brilliant and exciting adventure to discover novels as a teen. After growing up on Tove Jansson, Enid Blyton and Harry Potter, I keenly await, as I get older, further broadening my tastes and knowledge, grappling with my mountainous to-read pile, and figuring out how on earth I’ll fit them on my bookshelf afterwards. I might have to resort to extreme measures, such as stacking them in great piles which intimidate visitors. Most of all, I’m excited to read more classics. I believe a ‘classic’ is a book that always has something new to offer, with every new read and reader. It is a novel so good at expressing particular themes or ideas that it always offers something new when reread, cemented in history and beloved by many. A good classic can soothe, frighten, ridicule, entertain, explain, educate, question, and rouse a wealth of emotions in the reader.

Sadly, many young people are hesitant to read classic novels. Why? Maybe because of the sprawling sentences, old-fashioned phrases and words, and often just sheer length (have you seen the size of Les Miserables? 1,462 pages. I bet it’s broken records). If you are a fellow teen who would love to delve into classic literature but are terrified of the aforementioned issues, it can help to locate a classic that sounds similar to contemporary novels that you personally enjoy. Below I’ve collated a few great classics that have parallels with modern genres.

✧ ROMANCE ✧

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

For those looking to become acquainted with the classics and who love contemporary romance, why not begin with the queen of romance herself? Jane Austen is widely acknowledged as one of the finest writers of English literature. If you enjoy books packed to the brim with dialogue and flawed but charming characters (both Austen specialties), then perhaps Jane Austen is the classic author for you. Pride and Prejudice features the iconic love affair between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. It’s a tradition for publishers to print copies of Pride and Prejudice featuring peacocks on the cover; see if you can buy yourself a peacock-feather edition. It adds to the Regency allure.

✧ MYSTERY ✧

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I recently found a beautiful edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on sale – how lucky I was! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s gripping tales of the brilliant yet flawed detective Holmes and his long-suffering assistant Watson were pivotal in the rise of crime and mystery fiction. This collection of stories has all the features of any great classic; engrossing dialogue, incredibly riveting plotlines and impeccable attention to detail with characters. A brilliant read. You’ll be sad to finish it.

✧ FANTASY ✧

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Teens who have not yet read The Hobbit probably should. J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels were fundamental in the development of the fantasy genre, most notably his The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit is a stand-alone novel set in the same fantastical world of ‘Middle Earth’, a realm of the marvellous and terrifying, influenced by history and myth. A must-read for any contemporary fantasy connoisseur.

✧ SOCIAL DRAMA ✧

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

When in search of a small yet gripping classic, perhaps you might like to adorn yourself with pearls and feathers and slip back to the affluent Jazz era with The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s prose reads easily and elegantly, as we are told the tragic story of the mysterious Jay Gatsby and the glamorous object of his concealed adoration (who is, unfortunately for him, married.) Gatsby manages to pack a punch with only 184 pages, as well as being easily decipherable for a modern audience, with common American colloquialisms. It will appeal to those who like drama, realism and social satire, as well as immersing readers in the extravagance of the 1920s.

✧ HORROR ✧

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

Predating Bram Stoker’s infamous Dracula by 26 years, Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla is a vivid horror novella and one of the original vampire tales. The gothic story of beautiful young Laura and her companion, the dark and mysterious Carmilla, was frowned upon at the time of its publication, but has since been revered as a cult classic. Readers afraid of dauntingly thick books need fear not, as Carmilla is a slim and readable addition to any bookshelf. Fans of modern gothic YA and horror fiction will adore this fast-paced, bewitching tale.

✧ COMING-OF-AGE ✧

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Infiltrated with glowing nostalgia and warmth, Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle is a witty tale of romance, sisterhood and the panoramic beauty of the English countryside. The book kicks off with 'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink', and continues with similar lovable eccentricity for the remainder of the story. The witty, precocious Cassandra Mortmain and her bohemian family live in the ruins of Belmotte Castle, leading a penniless, nevertheless happy, life. When the castle’s American heirs arrive, the family’s life is changed forever.

Enjoyers of modern coming-of-age and romance books will enjoy Dodie Smith’s insightful illustration of life as a teenage girl, as well as the celebration of a vanished era filled with gramophones, formal dances and cherry brandy.

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The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar manages to win over affections and horrify in equal measure. Semi-autobiographical, the book recounts Esther Greenwood’s trials and tribulations in New York and her magazine summer job, and her descent into depression. The novel is bitter and brutal, dealing with serious mental health issues, but is a hallmark of second-wave feminism, rebelling against the societal expectations of women in the 1950s. It also contains some exquisitely described scenes that illuminate Plath’s tremendous sensitivity and talent as a poet and writer.