If you’re new to classic novels, getting started can feel like a daunting task. Many readers aspire to read the classics, but it’s easy to be put off when you don’t know where to start. The archaic language of some texts can feel intimidating, the intricate plots and numerous characters more so.

Fortunately, I’m an avid reader of the classics, and I’m here to help.

It is possible to find classic novels that are easy to read, and a few are perfect if you’re new to this style of writing.

Here are 5 of my favorites :

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The perfect cozy read, and ideal if you’re new to the classics. Little Women has endured because it’s themes are universal and still relevant today : struggle and sacrifice, gender roles, the necessity of work, love and family. The March sisters, with their four distinct personalities, are relatable and it’s easy to recognize elements of yourself in them : I used to imagine that I was a Jo, but I’m probably more of a Meg these days!

The language is simple, the plot is easy to follow, and the characters are well drawn. What’s not to like?

Emma by Jane Austen

Any of Jane Austen’s novels would be suitable for a beginner, but my favorite is Emma. Fans of the movie Clueless will be familiar with the plot: the kind-hearted protagonist vastly underestimates her matchmaking skills, whilst blithely ignoring her growing feelings for her friend Mr. Knightley. It’s gentle, funny, and creates a whole world within its pages. It’s one of the few novels that I genuinely missed after I finished it.

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

If a modern classic is more your thing, Dodie Smith’s masterpiece is the place to start. It begins with an iconic first line (“I write this sitting in the kitchen sink”) and develops into a tangled family drama, filled with the heartbreak of first love, poverty and sisterhood. It’s one of the best coming of age novels ever written, and I felt the heroine’s pain acutely as she struggles with her feelings, sibling rivalry and the eternal questions of who she is, and who she will be.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

It’s not short, nor is it a steady ride. It will test you and break your heart in equal measure. But my goodness, it will reward you if you persevere.

Jane Eyre and her story have captivated readers for centuries, because at its heart, hers is a story of survival. Whatever life throws at her – an abusive childhood, the death of her only friend, a madwoman in the attic – she chooses to survive. She’s brave, strong and independent. Her story is timeless, and deserves to be enjoyed for centuries to come.

1984 by George Orwell

My Dad once gave me a piece of advice I’ve never forgotten: if you only ever read one classic novel in your life, it should be 1984. He wasn’t wrong.

Stepping into the pitch black world of 1984 isn’t for the faint hearted, but the novel itself is very readable and easy to follow. Set in a dystopian United Kingdom which is now under a constant state of surveillance and conflict, this is an addictive read. Many of the phrases and plot points from this novel have passed into common parlance: Big Brother, Room 101, The Thought Police – but don’t let that put you off or convince you that you know how this one will play out. It is a novel that is full of twists and turns, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Any classics I’ve missed?