As the leaves begin to change colour, and chill hangs in the air, autumn is well and truly here in Edinburgh. Here are some literary recommendations to get you in the spirit of the season; read them in a café while sipping on your overpriced autumnal drink or curl up at home with them as you hide from the rain and biting wind.
Poems by Robert Frost
The quintessential New England poet, Robert Frost was an expert in capturing a moment of time in nature, and his autumnal poems are where he finds himself at home. “Gathering Leaves,” “After Apple Picking”, and “October” are just a few of many poems which celebrate the beauty of this season and our interactions with the natural world during the colder months.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
An iconic classic, but if you’re going to turn to any familiar favourite this autumn, Emily Brontë’s masterpiece is the obvious choice. The atmospheric setting of the moors, the tormented characters all make for a deliciously gothic tale perfect for the darker nights that are upon us. Her sister’s novel Jane Eyre is similarly a great option, though it is a little less gloomy.
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
Frequently (and not unreasonably) compared to The Secret History, If We Were Villains follows a group of university students studying Shakespeare through deception, sex, and murder. It’s admittedly pretentious, but there’s something enthralling about a group of individuals who talk in Shakespearean spiel, drink heavily and end up with blood on their hands. Hardly a cheerful read, but an undeniably entertaining one.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Rebecca is Jane Eyre’s younger and more twisted sister. Du Maurier’s modern classic has hints of Charlotte Brontë’s work but simultaneously feels entirely original, with a highly anticipated twist that does not disappoint. Rebecca is a truly stunning novel, and hopefully the chill sweeping through the air will have you dreaming of Manderley just like its protagonist.
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
R. F. Kuang’s new satirical novel explores the flaws in the publishing industry, the pressure on aspiring authors, and asks who gets to tell which stories. Its protagonist is insufferable, mentally disturbed, and makes a series of disastrous decisions, but one cannot help but eagerly turn the next page to witness the consequences. A masterclass in satire and a novel that engages directly with the industry that provides us with the books we read, Yellowface is a daring and unique page-turner that you will race through this autumn.
“A book in autumn” by april-mo is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0