Finally—the first unit of reading this year! We are reading all kinds of English literature, from histories to plays, and even some poetry, and this is the episode I share with you what’s on the list.
When we decided to go on this trip to England, I thought this was a great time to combine an old routine of “pre-vacation reading” with my newfound enjoyment of old, classic, and even “great” books. This is the first time I’ve put together anything more than just one or two titles, though, and I’m interested to see how it works out.
While I haven’t finished everything yet, here is what’s on the list right now:
- Venerable Bede—An Ecclesiastical History of England (Honestly way more fun than it sounds)
- Alfred the Great—A History of the Anglo-Saxon People (and Vikings!)
- Bijan Omrani—God Is an Englishman (modern history that talks about English Christianity and the Church of England)
- Henry Fielding—The History of Thomas Jones, a Foundling (I’ve never read anything that more embodies the word “rollicking”)
- Anne Brontë—The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (less rollicking for sure)
- The Book of Common Prayer (1662 Edition)
- Helene Hanff—84, Charing Cross Road and Q’s Legacy (set in London but that’s okay)
- James Herriott—All Creatures Great and Small (for Yorkshire atmosphere)
- William Shakespeare—Henry IV Parts 1 and 2; Henry V (the history England THINKS is true)
I’ve already read many of these, but we are only leaving for our trip this week. So come with me while we see if this helps, was too much, or maybe I missed the mark entirely!
What should I add for a trip to Yorkshire and Scotland? Let me know!
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