As you probably know, today is Boxing Day in Britain and her former colonies around the world. Traditionally, employees would receive gifts ("boxes") from their bosses. In modern times, it's a day of family, friends, sports, and shopping...all without the pressure of Christmas. Sounds like a pretty great idea to me.
So to celebrate a holiday I wish Americans celebrated, I've put together a list of books set in England.
For a little help, I turned to my dear friend Lynn. In addition to conquering the world of investment banking, making the best brownies, and being one of the wittiest and most genuine people I know, Lynn is a serious reader with great taste in books. As the daughter of a British mother, she has a special love for English literature and graciously agreed to share some of her favorites.
This list of a combination of Lynn's picks and mine, and between the two of us, I know you'll find a book you love too.
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When I asked Lynn for her recommendations, this topped the list. First published in 1959, this memoir tells the story of the author's boyhood in a small Cotswold village. Prepare to be transported to another place and time.
Emma by Jane Austen
What would an English book list be without Jane Austen? According to Lynn, her favorite by the vaunted Miss Austen is "quintessentially British." Kindle owners can download this tale of mischievous matchmaking for free.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
During a brutal encounter on a nearly deserted African beach, the lives of a sixteen year old Nigerian orphan and a British couple become forever intertwined. This is a suspenseful and thought-provoking read--one that sticks with you for months after you finish.
The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein
In Harry Bernstein's working class neighborhood in northern England, Jews and Christians never cross the invisible wall dividing their street--until Harry's sister falls in love with a Christian boy. Written when the author was in his nineties, this barrier-breaking love story is one of the best I've ever read--and it's true.
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
This crime novel by an author you may have heard of is a great quick mystery read. When the beautiful starlet Lula Landry falls to her death, PI Cormoran Strike (don't you love British names?) is hired to find out what really happened. You'll recognize the storytelling style of the Harry Potter books but with much more grown-up themes.
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Sometimes history is way more fun than fiction. That's definitely the case with this book about 1,000 years of cheating kings and secret flings. If you love drama, look no further.
How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewelyn
Lynn calls this "one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful books you'll ever read." Set in Wales, the author remembers when the mines came to his small village. There's a reason this is a classic.
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
A husband and wife reunite in Ipswich after World War II. He spent the war fighting with the the Polish Resistance and then the British; she, hiding in the forests with her baby son. This book is heartbreaking as two scarred people try to return to normal life--but ultimately triumphant.
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
One of my all-time favorites. It's a young adult novel, but the antics of Catherine, the daughter of a minor noble in thirteenth century England, as she tries to avoid unsuitable suitors are hilarious no matter how old you are. If you're like me and love to read about how ordinary people used to live, you'll find the descriptions of everyday medieval life totally fascinating.
The Dreaming Suburb by R.F. Delderfield
A favorite of Lynn's mother, this book tells the interwoven stories of four families living in an English suburb between the two World Wars. In his day, R.F. Delderfield was one of England's most popular writers and in this book and its sequel (The Avenue Goes to War), he's at his best.
Can't get enough of all things British? Stay calm and read on...here are a few more favorites:
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
Small Island by Andrea Levy
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease
We'd love to add even more titles to our list. What are your favorite books set in England?
Happy reading!
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