English Novels Everyone Should Read
The classic novels on this list are my (non-exhaustive) selection of ‘must-read’ books for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of English literature. What counts as English literature spans over a thousand years, but you’ll find most of the great classics that well-educated people are often expected to have read – what’s known as the ‘canon’ – were primarily written in the 19th century or a little after, so this list focuses on that time period. Whether you’re a native English speaker or just learning, add these books to your reading list and make it your mission to read them all before the year is out. Reading novels is a great way to accelerate your English language skills; if you’re ready to take the next step towards fluency, why not learn English as a Foreign Language on campus as part of our Oxford summer courses. 1. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë This tumultuous tale of life in a bleak farmhouse on the Yorkshire moors is a popular set text for GCSE and A-lev...