Books we’d recommend to Jane Austen’s best characters
Do you ever read a book so often that the characters feel like old friends? That’s how we feel about the heroes and heroines of Jane Austen’s novels: we’ve rooted for Persuasion’s Anne Elliot to stand up for herself, felt as exasperated as Emma’s Mr Knightley and, yes, swooned over Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy more times than we’d care to admit.
We’ve been thinking about these characters more than usual this year, as it’s the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, and we started thinking: what if some of Austen’s most beloved characters slid into our DMs, asking for a book recommendation? Below, we imagine what they might be in the mood for reading – and the books we’d suggest.
Catherine Morland (Northanger Abbey)
“Despite having an overactive imagination, I do love a ghost story that will spook me into seeing things that aren’t there. What would you recommend?”
If you’re prepared for a sleepless night with your overactive imagination, then the perfect bedtime read would be The Hotel by Daisy Johnson. This is an unsettling collection of ghost stories set in a hotel which looms over the Norfolk Fens, built on cursed land: it's a place that shakes its inhabitants to the core and it's guaranteed to leave you in the mood for a gothic adventure of your own.
Lydia Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)
“I often walk into town, hoping to bump into the handsome soldiers. I’d love something fun and romantic – preferably featuring a man in a red coat.”
If you’re looking for love, lust and globe-trotting adventures, we recommend Riders by Jilly Cooper. Set against the glamorous backdrop of elite showjumping, it sees underdog Jake Lovell going head-to-head with the rich and charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black as they compete for fame, glory and women. It’s a fun, riotous read – and it’s full of gorgeous men in red coats.
Anne Elliot (Persuasion)
“I let the love of my life go because everyone told me to. Now I’m having second thoughts! How can I stop people-pleasing and live life on my own terms?”
We get it: it’s hard to fly in the face of convention, especially when well-meaning family and friends are particularly persuasive. That’s why we’d recommend psychologist Marta Martínez Novoa’s new book, Good Girl Syndrome. It’s a practical guide that will help you understand why you put others above yourself and how to become bolder and more confident in making your own decisions. We hope it helps!
Mr Knightley (Emma)
“I’m falling in love with my closest friend and neighbour. Can you recommend any books on yearning?”
If you’re looking for a slow burn 'friends-to-lovers' plotline, you can’t do better than Emily Henry’s masterpiece People We Meet on Vacation. Alex and Poppy have been friends for over a decade but this year, on a make-or-break trip, their relationship is at a crossroads. Full of friendship, love and yearning, perhaps their story will inspire your own?
Mrs Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)
“Five daughters, none of them married, and a feckless husband. I’m losing my mind! Something to soothe my nerves please.”
It sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate – much like the heroine of Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood. Grace is exasperated by her family and tired of being underappreciated, so she abandons everything to rediscover who she is and what she wants for herself. It’s a funny, empowering story that might be just the escapism you need…
Fanny Price (Mansfield Park)
“Everyone in my family is loud, wealthy, and morally questionable. I prefer reading quietly in corners. Can you suggest a book with a family drama at its heart that I can get lost in?”
It sounds like you'd get on with Cassandra Mortmain – the leading lady of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Like you, Cassandra is a keen observer of her family’s antics in their crumbling castle, and the novel famously starts with her writing from their kitchen sink.
Mr Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
“I’m trying to overcome my shyness and be myself in social situations. Could you recommend a book that would help develop my self-confidence?”
Firstly, there’s nothing wrong with being the quietest person in the (ball)room. In fact, there’s strength in being introverted – which is the message of Quiet by Susan Cain. This book will give you the tools you need to understand yourself, the power of shyness, and your hidden gifts, making you the most eligible bachelor in the county.
Elinor Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility)
“I fell in love with a man after he carried me home in the rain and read poetry to me. He turned out to be a scoundrel! Something to mend a romantic’s heart please.”
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton is the perfect read for when you feel let down by a potential suitor. Nina’s life feels like it’s falling apart when she meets the charming Max – a man who claims he loves her, before disappearing into thin air. It’s a comforting, poignant comedy about what to do when your world is falling apart, that will make you feel less alone.
Mr Collins (Pride and Prejudice)
“When I stay with my cousins they have the most excellent potatoes. Can you suggest a book I can use to create this most perfect dish at home?”
Potato by James Martin – you can thank us later!
If you would like your own personal book recommendation, follow us on Instagram @PenguinUkBooks and look out for our Ask Penguin sessions, or join our Broadcast group to put your question to the Penguin Podcast team.