Classics That Are Perfect for Wintertime

Winter is a season unlike any other because of its simultaneous sense of magic and coziness, as well as danger and isolation. Something about that duality makes winter my favorite time for reading as it feels fitting to read works that are joyful and works that are dejected.

Because I love classics, here are some great options for a winter read, whatever your vibe may be.

Little Women By Louisa May Alcott

Little Women is a great wintertime pick if you're looking for something about connection. Like any sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy each have complex and evolving relationships with one another that sometimes results in fights, awkward incidents, and heartfelt moments. Under the influence of their mother, family remains a staple in each of their lives, regardless of how much they fight or change. The March family is as close-knit as it comes.

With the New England setting, changing seasons, and occasional winter aesthetic, Little Women is a great book to read by the fire and be transported to the lives of the March sisters.

Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton

Ethan Frome was actually the inspiration behind this list since I was advised to read it in the winter by one of my former teachers. This novella perfectly captures the dark and isolating aesthetic of winter as it reflects the emotional life of the titular Ethan Frome. Wharton delves into the private sphere and picks at the seams of the life, marriage, and choices of Ethan Frome through the questioning and intrigue of the narrator.

Ethan Frome is certainly a good wintertime choice if you're seeking a short and impactful read.
A darker tale, this is also a great choice if you're interested in themes of depression and isolation, complex entanglements, societal expectations, and choices and their consequences.

Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte

Similarly to Ethan Frome, Wuthering Heights is a great pick because of its aesthetic and paralleled themes. A dark and stormy backdrop raises the tension that is slowly and surely unraveled throughout the novel. Heathcliff will likely be a familiar name, but he's just one of the many characters who contribute to a cycle of hurt and unhappiness.

Wuthering Heights is a good fit for those interested in an exploration of trauma, grief, and hurt, and the continued cycle of it.

Persuasion By Jane Austen

Persuasion is an interesting pick for the winter because it balances some of the points I've made for earlier inclusions. On the one hand, it reflects themes of regret and loneliness, while also being optimistic in its reflections on relationships. The novel follows Anne Elliot as she meets her lost love again after she had originally been persuaded to turn down his proposal. As she is older, Anne faces both societal and familial expectations and pressures, but is also reflective of her own choices and wants.

Persuasion is a nice read for those who want something with some subdued themes, but is ultimately a hopeful and optimistic story.

Whatever you're seeking this winter, I hope you're reading is everything you wish for!