Representatives of blue blood are famous for their exquisite taste. We have previously written about what habits aristocrats adhered to, including behavior, appearance, clothing and nutrition. Now it is time to turn to the spiritual side of life. Reading fiction is an integral part of education. We’ve compiled a list of must-read books for copyright.
Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
The story takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. The plot revolves around two friends with completely different characters. The meek and somewhat naive Miss Emilia Sedley is the daughter of a successful businessman who enjoys all the privileges of high society. Wayward Rebecca (Becky) Sharp is an orphan, the daughter of a drunken artist and a French dancer, who dreams only of being accepted by secular society. However, she is not ready to accept the modest fate of the governess prepared for her. Becky will do anything for a good life.
“Anna Karenina” and “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy’s books, like Russian classics in general, are valued all over the world, but among aristocrats the most important are “Anna Karenina” and, of course, the opus magnum “War and Peace”. Who hasn’t heard the saying, “All happy families are alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way?” It is this theme that runs like a red thread in the novel Anna Karenina, where the main character dares to challenge secular society for the sake of love. The four-volume epic “War and Peace” will tell about the life of Russian society during the war between the Russians and the Napoleonic army through representatives of the noble families of the Bolkonskys, Rostovs, Bezukhovs and Kuragins.
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh’s book describes daily life in Britain on the eve of the First World War. The plot focuses on young artist Charles Ryder, who meets aristocrat Sebastian Flyte and his sister Julia at Oxford. Together with the heirs of the ancient Brideshead estate, the hero plunges into the fun whirlwind of bohemian life, where there is room for friendship, passion and disappointment.
“Mid March” by George Elliot
Writing under the pseudonym “George Eliot”, Mary Ann Evans went down in the history of English literature as one of the outstanding masters of the late Victorian novel. Although the action takes place in the fictional city of Middlemarch from 1828 to 1832, the book tells about real events, especially Chapter IV. From the transfer of George’s throne to his brother, the future King William IV. The main character, Dorothea Brooke, becomes involved in this story. She falls in love with the priest Edward Casaubon and marries him, but their relationship begins to break down after her cousin tells the girl the ugly truth about her husband’s past. Despite the difficulties in her personal life, Dorothea sets out to change society for the better. It seems that the only person who shares her wishes is Dr. Lydgate…
“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë
The story of 10-year-old Jane, who comes from an orphanage to become a governess in the home of the mysterious Mr. Edward Rochester, an aristocrat with a dark past. She must overcome many obstacles to remain true to herself and find true love.
“Feeling and Sensibility”, Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s novel tells the story of two different sisters, sensitive Elinor and romantic Marianne. Each of them will have to endure their share of disappointments on the way to personal happiness in order to finally meet true love. The book is interesting not only for its subject, but also for its description of the rules of conduct and etiquette of secular society; Much of this today seems both complex and absurd.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
The Canadian author’s first novel tells the story of Anya Shirley, a red-haired and mischievous 11-year-old orphan. By chance, the girl becomes a student at the Green Gables home of her sister and brother, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. There he will have many adventures and make friends. This is one of Kate Middleton’s favorite books, by the way.
“Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll
“If everything in the world is meaningless, what’s stopping you from inventing meaning?” – These and other existential questions of the characters will drag the reader into the atmosphere of a completely different reality. The story of a girl chasing a white rabbit and finding herself in Wonderland fascinated not only children but also adults. This book by mathematician Carroll will teach you to think outside the box and, of course, come up with a dozen impossible things before breakfast.
“That Peerless Jeeves” by Pelham Grenville Woodhouse
This is an ideal choice for fans of Jeeves and Wooster, Downton Abbey and the Bridgetons. This book contains many British humor and stories about secular social life. According to the story, the clever and witty butler Reginald Wooster will save his friend, the aristocrat Bertram Wooster, from awkward situations many times.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover David Lawrence
At the time of its publication, this novel caused a lot of noise: the early British public was shocked by the depiction of obscene scenes. However, this did not prevent the book from becoming one of the most loved books of high society. This is the story of a young and beautiful woman who is deprived of feminine pleasures after her husband is disabled from the war. Unexpectedly, Lady Chatterley falls in love with an unsociable forester who lives near her estate. But everything has a price and you will have to pay for a private connection…
Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf
The plot tells the story of a day in the life of Miss Clarissa Dalloway, who, after an illness, goes to buy flowers for a reception, but on the way she meets people from the past, dragging her into a whirlpool of memories. …
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
A twisted detective story that begins in a fictional English village. An unreliable narrator, Dr. Sheppard takes over the investigation into the sudden death of wealthy widow Ferrar. He will reach the truth together with his boss, the famous detective Hercule Poirot.
End of the Parade, Ford Madox Ford
Ford Madox Ford’s End of the Parade tetralogy includes To Each Their Own, No More Parades, A Man Can Last, and The Last Post. The story follows the life of Christopher Tietjens, a distinguished government statistician from a wealthy family who served in the British Army during the First World War. After his wife and socialite Sylvia leaves for another man, he begins a rocky relationship with suffragist Valentina Wannop. However, circumstances do not always work out in their favor.
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
As the name suggests, the subject of the book is dedicated to the history of the wealthy English Forsyte family. John Galsworthy was even awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932 for his extraordinary skill.
Source: People Talk
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
