Emily+A

Literature ﻿ Canon


**1. The Complete Works of Jane Austen** Pride and Prejudice Persuasion Emma Northanger Abbey Mansfield Park Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austin's novels will captivate you and charm your pants off! Full of love, humour and the lengths some people go to get married, each novel on its own in brilliant. These novels provide an in depth look at what it was like to live in the 1800's, what the values and social standards were and how they lived. What i particularly love about her novels is the social ettiquette and how the main protagonists fall in love. They live a restrained way of life where aimuable matches in marriage are the supposed soul goal of a young women however Jane Austen writes her heroines as strong, if a little niave, independent women with intelligence. Intermingled with humour are the themes of love, social standing, family expectations and prejudice which are cleverly written into the novels.

My favourite novel of Austen's would have to be **Pride and Prejudice** //'Elizabeth is greatly unimpressed by the haughty Mr Darcy when he snubs her at a dance, she considers him proud and arrogant. However, as events unfold, the spirited Elizabeth discovers that a man can change his manners, and a lady her mind in this enchanting story of love, marriage and mutual understanding'// Pride and Prejudice //'deals with the misjudgments that often occur at the beginning of an acquaintance and how those misjudgments can change as individuals learn more about each other'.// __//'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possesion of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife'. - Pride and Prejudice//__ //__'She began to comprehend that he (Mr. Darcy) was exactly the man, who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her'- Pride and Prejudice__// [|More on Jane Austen and her novels]



J.K Rowling's Harry Potter Series is a classic. There is no denying this. Having sold 400 million copies and being translated in 67 different languages, it has definitely garned universal appeal. The heart-winning concept of good triumphing over evil tied together with love and friendship as well as humour makes Harry Potter what it is today. Being set in a world of witches, wizards and magical beasts it ignites your imagination sending you on a whirlwind tour of excitment, risk and friendship. A series you can (and i have) grow up with that you will fall in love with.
 * 2. The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling**

//__ 'It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.' - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince __//

[|More on J.K Rowling and the Harry Potter Series]

**3. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis** Written between 1949 and and 1954, one of the greatest classics was born. I grew up watching the 1980's BBC adapted television series of The Chronicles of Narnia which followed the stories of children enterning into the land of Narnia via wardrobe making friends with fauns, defeating the White Witch and running from Giants. After reading the novels, i more fully understood the messages that the author wanted to send. Going into Narnia was a chance to face your fears and to mature into young adults. The god like figure of Aslan, the Lion, guides the children on their journey to save Narnia and to face their own fears. A timeless classic, the Chronicles of Narnia are not just children's books but books that will stay with you forever.

__//"Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy...//"__ - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. So begins the first book in a series which were to become timeless children's classics. __//"When Aslan bears his teeth, winter meets its death, when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again".//__ [|More on C.S Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia]



Originally written in 1598 by William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy about two pairs of lovers Beatrice and Benedick and Claudio and Hero. This play explores the themes of true love, gender, deception and infidelity. I love this play because it cleverly intertwines love and comedy, sort of like the romantic comedy of the 1500's. Shakespeare has carefully implemented ryhme and rythm to produce a well rounded, intelligent and romantic piece of writing.
 * 4. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare**

__//'If it prove so, then loving goes by haps, some cupid kills with arrows, some with traps!'//__ [|More on William Shakespeare and Much Ado About Nothing]

**5. North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell** The novel North and South protrays the mid 19th century Industrial North of England and its conflicts as seen by a Southener and the heroine of the novel Margaret Hale. Miss Hale is the daughter of an Anglican vicar who moves his family to the industrial town of Milton after leaving the Church of England. Margaret is shocked by the ways of the North and sympathises with the workers, coming into conflict with John Thornton and Mill owner who slowly hereafter begins to fall in love with her. . . Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South explores not only the social and cultural differences between the north and south of England, but she also uses the title as a metaphor for the two main characters, North being Mr. Thornton and South being Margaret Hale. This novel creates a perfect balance between love and social issues such a worker's rights as well as exploring themes of family love and friendship. A must read! //__'He could not forget the touch of her arms around his neck, impatiently felt as it had been at the time; but now the recollection of her clinging defence of him, seemed to thrill him through and through,--to melt away every resolution, all power of self-control, as if it were wax before a fire.' -North and South__// [|More on Elizabeth Gaskell and North and South]

From the moment I picked up Angels and Demons, i was hooked. The author, Dan Brown, has intelligently created a series full of historical mysteries which grab you from the first page. Dan Brown has intertwined fact and fiction, crammed in historical intriuge and jam packed twists and shocks that keep you on edge until the final page. These books are modern day adventures that could almost happen in real life, which is what makes them bestsellers and such a great book to read. Personally, i have to say that the big appeal for me in these books are the use of history and symbols to encode and explain the plotline. If you are ever in need of a good mystery to get you going, these are the books to read.
 * 6. Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown**

//'When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol -- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist -- he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati... the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth.'- Angels and Demons// [|More on Dan Brown and his novels]



**7. The Brambly Hedge Series by Jill Barklem** The story of Brambly hedge, of mice who live in tree trunks and where old values and seasonal self suffiency are abundant was first conceived on a scrap of paper on a tube train in the 1970's. Originally intended for children, the series was an immediate sucess with readers of all ages. The lovely stories of mice who go on adventures in the chronicles of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter stories were read to me since i was very young. For me this series encapsulates all that is good and kind, written simply and elegantly accompanied by beautiful illustrations that give you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside.They captured my heart and i'm sure that the innocent stories, sweet love and friendship will capture yours too.

__//'Brambly Hedge is on the other side of the stream, across the field. If you can find it, and if you look very hard amongst the tangled roots and stems, you may even see a wisp of smoke from a small chimney, or through an open door, a steep flight of stairs deep within the trunk of a tree. For this is the home of the mice of Brambly Hedge'.//__ [|More on Jill Barklem and The Brambly Hedge Series]

First published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows have long been considered as a children's classic. It follows the themes of mystery, adventure, morality and camaraderie through the eyes of four talking animals- Mole, Ratty, Mr. Toad and Mr. Badger. My mum always loved to read this to me when i was younger so much that i began to feel that she loved it more than i did! The Wind in the Willows contains within its pages gentle stories that touch your heart and excite you to join in on all the fun! Full of mischief, excitement, love and friendship The Wind in the Willows is one of the best books to read, even if you're and adult!
 * [[image:24140_669[1].jpg width="278" height="333" align="left"]]8. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame**

__//"Do you know, i've never been in a boat before in all my life." said Mole. "What?" cried the Rat, open-mouthed. "Never been in a - you never - well, i - what have you been doing then?" -The River Bank, The Wind in The Willows//__

[|More on Kenneth Grahame and the Wind in the Willows]

**9. Dirty Beasts by Roald Dahl ﻿ ** Dirty Beasts, written by Roald Dahl is a collection of 9 poems telling tales of the unusual and often devilish deeds of animals and beasts. It is excellently written and illustrated and definitely one of Dahl's best works. It uses the medium of rhyme cleverly to enhance the effectiveness of the plot lines, often ones that detail the unexpected turn of events that changes the animal into a 'dirty beast'. A wonderful piece of writing that shows rhyme at its best. If you haven't read this then you have no idea how much fun and laughter you are mising!

__"No animal is half as vile__ __As Crocky-Wock the Crocodile__ __On Saturdays he likes to crunch__ __Six juicy children for his lunch__ __And he especially enjoys__ __just three of each, three girls, three boys..."__ [|More on Roald Dahl and Dirty Beasts]

In the novel "The Goat Who Sailed the World" the author has intertwined an important event in history with a wonderful story of a friendship that lasts through shipwreck, bushfire and illness. This coming of age story is simply written from the point of view of both the main character Issac and the Goat which provides two perspective's on the dangerous journey to search for the Great South Land. however this is also an historical novel which is originally what attracted me to read it. This novel not only furthered my knowledge of Captain Cook and his journey to find Australia but it also warmed my heart at the tender friendship that develops between the Goat and the boy Issac.
 * [[image:9780207200779[1].jpg width="211" height="320" align="left"]]10. The Goat Who Sailed the World by Jackie French**

__**//' The HMS Endeavour is sailing to tahiti to map the transit of Venus, but there are rumours that once the task is completed, Lieutenant James Cook has a set of secret orders- orders that command him to search for the Great South Land ... Issac is twelve and has joined the crew of the Endeavour as a masters servant ... he's certainly not considered good enough to fetch hay for the Goat ... and this Goat even has already sailed around the world once, watching from her spot on the quarterdeck.' //**__ [|More on Jackie French and The Goat Who Sailed The World]

Thank you for reading! :) I hope you thoroughly enjoyed it.