7 Under-Rated Classics to Read in Self-Isolation

This week’s book post is all about under-rated classics that self-isolation is the perfect time to read!

Let’s jump right in, with some under-rated star reads.

7 under-rated classics to read in self-isolation

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

One of my favourite classics is this much under-rated read by W. Somerset Maugham. A lot of people will talk about Of Human Bondage, when (if ever) they mention W. Somerset Maugham but for me, it’s The Painted Veil. It’s evocative, atmospheric, and full of great storylines of heartbreak, revenge, and feminism.

Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne Du Maurier

I love Rebecca, but I recently read Frenchman’s Creek and I want to see an adaptation of this wonder! It’s a Restoration pirate romp! Think Treasure Island meets Poldark! So good. A really pacy for a classic too.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Now everyone knows about The Great Gatsby and might have even heard of the movie Benjamin Button. But I don’t know many people who know that Benjamin Button was a novella written for F. Scott Fitzgerald. Or read it for that matter. It’s a quick, easy-to-read packed with an emotional punch about life and acceptance.

Goodbye Mr Chips by James Hilton

A quiet classic at only 128 pages long. This is the story of an unassuming, friendly schoolteacher at Brookfield Grammar School, a 19th-century boarding school for young men. It’s a sweet, relaxing read. Perfect for sitting in the conservatory or garden with a cup of tea this summer.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

From the tiny to the massive. This epic romance is one of my favourite classics of all time. Sure, it’s problematic due to the racial aspect of the book but you cannot put today’s morals on yesterday’s era. This is a book depicting the time before, during, and after the American Civil War. Following the best anti-heroine of literature, Scarlett O’Hara.

Gemma by Noel Streatfield

A lot of you will have heard of Ballet Shoes, but one of my favourite series growing up was the Gemma series. I had my mum’s 1970s book editions, and it is very much a 1950s-1960s read. A group of sisters, an American cousin joins them when her actress mother can’t handle her anymore, and Gemma becomes the leader of an acting-dancing troupe of sisters. It’s a collection of really sweet stories, that I still think are great for young girls growing up with lots of dreams.

Villette by Charlotte Bronte

And finally, Villette by Charlotte Bronte. Lucy Snowe travels to the fictional village of Villette in France to teach at a girl’s school and finds love, hardship, and adventure. Apparently based on Charlotte Bronte’s own experiences of teaching, and falling in love, in Brussels, this should be a classic just as much as Jane Eyre.

What are your underrated classics that you wish more people would read? Let me know in the comments below.

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