"The course of true love never did run smooth," wrote William Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream—and he knew what he was talking about. A text from this study guide collection might be just the thing to remind you of the bliss and pain of love.
Publication year 1928
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Femininity
Tags Classic Fiction, Romance, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, Modernism, History: World, Historical Fiction
Lady Chatterley’s Lover is a Modernist novel by the English writer D. H. Lawrence. It was written between 1926 and 1928, while Lawrence was living in Italy, and first published privately in 1928. Since it was considered scandalous and obscene, the novel was not widely available in America or the United Kingdom until the 1960s. The novel was controversial because of its explicit sexual content, as well as its depiction of an adulterous affair between... Read Lady Chatterley's Lover Summary
Publication year 1871
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Romance, Classic Fiction, British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction
The narrative follows the exploits of Lady Susan, a beautiful and charming widow whose husband has recently died. Lady Susan is an excellent conversationalist who manipulates men into falling in love with her; they forget her socially unacceptable behavior and incorrigible flirtations after merely speaking with her. At the outset of the novella, Lady Susan has sold off her late husband’s family estate instead of giving it to his younger brother, Charles Vernon, as is... Read Lady Susan Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Love / Sexuality, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ, Romance
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Legend is the first book in the titular book trilogy by Chinese-American author Marie Lu. Originally published in 2011, Legend is a dystopian novel that explores topics of love, family, fascism, civil disobedience, inequality, propaganda, poverty, and hope in the face of an oppressive government. Lu was inspired by the classic Victor Hugo story Les Misérables and wanted to explore a similar cat-and-mouse dynamic in a futuristic setting. Just like the law-abiding policeman Javert pursued... Read Legend Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 1979
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Identity: Masculinity
Tags Historical Fiction, Western, Relationships, WWII / World War II, American Literature, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction
Legends of the Fall is a collection of three novellas by Jim Harrison, including “Revenge,” “The Man Who Gave Up His Name,” and the titular novella, “Legends of the Fall.” First published in 1979 by Collins, Legends of the Fall remains one of Harrison’s most highly regarded works. Harrison wrote across a range of genres such as fiction, poetry, essay, and film and was the recipient of several awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship. His work... Read Legends of the Fall Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality
Tags LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Humor
Written by Andrew Sean Greer and published in 2017, Less is a satirical comedy novel. It portrays the journey of Arthur Less, who after a difficult breakup plots a round-the-world trip to better understand himself. It won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.Plot SummaryApproaching 50, Arthur Less sits in a hotel lobby waiting to be picked up for a literary event. He is a writer and will be interviewing another writer, albeit a sci-fi author... Read Less Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: The Future
Tags LGBTQ, Humor, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Gender / Feminism, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future
Tags Romance, Humor, New Adult
Publication year 1838
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Gothic Literature, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, American Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Edgar Allan Poe's “Ligeia,” a well-known piece of Gothic and Romantic literature, invites readers to explore the intricacies of reality, death, and the enigmatic power of human will. Published in 1838 during the Romantic era, this tale falls within the sub-genre of Gothic fiction, typified by brooding atmospheres, uncanny occurrences, and a fascination with the supernatural.This guide refers to the Penguin Classic 2019 Kindle edition.Content Warning: This guide and the source text use the term... Read Ligeia Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Gender
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 1989
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: War
Tags Magical Realism, Latin American Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance, Food, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Like Water for Chocolate is the debut novel of Laura Esquivel, published in Mexico in 1989 and then translated into English by Carol and Thomas Christensen. Esquivel has sold over four million copies of the novel worldwide. She is a novelist and active politician serving in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. She collaborated with her husband at the time to adapt the novel into a film in 1992, which was then nominated for a Golden... Read Like Water for Chocolate Summary
Publication year 1857
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Satire, Class, British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Victorian Literature / Period
Charles Dickens’s novel Little Dorrit was originally published in serialized form between 1855 and 1857. In this novel, the author satirizes government and society at large, with a specific focus on debtors’ prisons that incarcerated those in debt. The prison in Little Dorrit is the Marshalsea, where at one time, Charles Dickens’s father was imprisoned for debt. Little Dorrit explores common Dickensian themes such as economic class, duty, and societal issues.Other works by this author... Read Little Dorrit Summary