The classics are making a comeback. The great books of the past, which have been in danger of falling by the wayside as people read less and less, are suddenly reentering the zeitgeist. Guillermo del Toro’s film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was a big hit this year. The upcoming adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights has the internet buzzing. A new miniseries of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is in the works. And influencers such as Chris Fizer and Jack Edwards are going viral for their takes on classic literature.
Movies and TV shows are all well and good, and listening to someone tell you about the classics is easy enough. But what if you actually want to read these books yourself?
For some, reading the classics isn’t as easy as just choosing a book and cracking open the spine. The old-fashioned syntax, unfamiliar historical context, and outdated vocabulary can make the task of reading these books feel like an exercise in codebreaking. When you’re looking for your next escape, you don’t want to be constantly consulting a dictionary. But the classics are classics for a reason, and once you crack the code, these books are the greatest escape there is.
If 2026 is going to be the year the classics make a comeback, you might want to get in on the action. So here are five classic books so engaging that they’ll make reading the classics a breeze.
1. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
You probably have some sense of the general plot of The Phantom of the Opera since it’s been adapted for the stage and screen so many times. That makes it a great classic to start with since you won’t be going in blind. It’s the story of the disappearance of opera dancer Christine Daaé and her lover Raoul. Framed as a sort of whodunit, the story takes us into the underground labyrinth beneath the Paris opera house, where a mysterious figure dubbed “the Opera Ghost” lurks, making mischief that ranges from humorous to horrifying. It’s a wild, gothic ride that ropes you in from the very first page and doesn’t let up until the end. The Phantom of the Opera is a wonderful first classic because it’s short, it’s wildly engaging, and the language isn’t overly complicated.
2. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Modern comic book heroes owe their existence to The Scarlet Pimpernel. So, if you love comic books or the DC or Marvel cinematic universes, this is the classic book for you. Like Batman, the Scarlet Pimpernel is a shadowy figure who shows up in disguise to save the day but lives as someone else the rest of the time. And, like the caped crusader, he does this without revealing his secret identity even to his closest friends. Set during the French Revolution, the book is an action-packed adventure story with all the recognizable comic book characters we know and love today, such as the hero, the girl, the villain, and the sidekick. Like The Phantom of the Opera, this book is short, and the language is fairly straightforward, so it shouldn’t be too daunting as a first or second option.
3. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
If you love psychological thrillers, The Woman in White is the book for you. It’s so full of twists and turns that it’s almost impossible to explain the plot without giving something away. It’s a mystery, a love story, an adventure, and a thriller all wrapped up in one and features perhaps the greatest villain ever to appear in print. This one’s a bit on the longer side, and the language, though still pretty accessible, may feel a little challenging. So, this is probably a book to try once you have one or two classics under your belt.
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
If you’re into brooding, tortured men and the women who love them, Jane Eyre is ideal. This one’s a bit more challenging, particularly because it takes a little while to really take off, but it’s worth the effort. It’s the story of poor, plain Jane Eyre, who comes to work for the wealthy but tortured Mr. Rochester as a governess for his ward — you can probably see where this is going. Except trust me, there’s much more here than you think! And what’s wonderful about this book is the deeply developed characters and their relationships. If you love a good romance and you’ve got a few tissues handy, Jane Eyre is a great pick.
MODERN ROMANCE COULD USE A LITTLE JANE AUSTEN
5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
If you’re a fan of rom-coms, Pride and Prejudice is the classic you’ve been waiting for. This is the original romantic comedy. But it’s more than that, too. It’s both the inspiration for every bodice-ripper ever written and a highly intelligent social commentary told with biting wit and astute observation. With characters you’ll recognize from your own life — the meddling mother, the awkward suitor, and the mean girl — Pride and Prejudice is amazingly relatable, given that it was written over 200 years ago. The story depends on social dynamics rather than propulsive plot points, and the language and historical details can take some work to parse. So this is probably not a great first classic, but as a fourth or fifth, it’s wonderful.
So, here’s to a year of great books. Happy reading!
Faith Moore is the host of Storytime for Grownups, a podcast that helps people learn to love classic literature. She is also the author of the novel Christmas Karol, available on Amazon.