By Christa Protano Gentle Reader:  The time has finally come to swoon over Penelope and Colin’s friends-to-lovers story in season 3 of our favorite Regency-era series Bridgerton. And since this season is divided into two delightful parts, we thought it’d be appropriate to suggest some romantic reading to tide you over in between drops. After all, four weeks is a rather long time to wait for a happy ending. And who better to spend our time with then the creators of classic romantic literature. From Jane Austen to the Brontë sisters, these iconic writers surely inspired Julia Quinn and coun ..read more

By Christa Protano As book lovers, we relish a good reading challenge. Whether it’s seasonal, annual, or monthly, having a set timeframe in which to consume a certain number or type of book is our idea of a good time. But have you ever considered a 24-hour read-a-thon? Sounds a little intense, right? Well, we are here to tell you it doesn’t have to be. Recently, this type of book challenge has popped up all over TikTok and I have to admit, these girls made it look super fun. Wait—do I have to read for a full 24 hours, you might ask? The answer is no. The point of the challenge is to engage wit ..read more

By Christa Protano Ever since Taylor Swift announced her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD), at this year’s Grammys, we’ve been excitedly counting down the days until its release—and speculating and analyzing all of the resulting clues and Easter eggs. What we know for sure: TTPD drops on April 19th, which is also “Poetry and the Creative Mind Day.” The Academy of American Poets coined this holiday to celebrate artists who use poetry as a creative outlet to express their emotions—a practice our girl Taylor is an expert at. We also have cover art and a track list that will be ..read more

By Christa Protano You know what “they” say: the book is always better than the movie. We couldn’t agree more, but we still enjoy seeing if the latest film adaption is worth the hype. Take Anyone But You, for example. Hollywood’s newest rom-com just set the record for the highest-grossing live-action Shakespeare adaption. And while it’s not necessarily Oscar-worthy, there is something to be said about the success of movies that take their cue from literary works. This year, there are eight films nominated for Academy Awards (airing March 10th) that are based on books, and there have been count ..read more

By Brian Boone Joyeux anniversaire to iconic 19th century French author Victor Hugo, who’d celebrate his 222nd birthday this February 26. He’s responsible for some of the most enduring and frequently adapted literary works of all time, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame…and Les Misérables, probably the single most important work about the French Revolution.  Add this stunning Leather-Bound edition of Victor Hugo's famous work to your library today. Shop Now LONG WRITE, LONG READ  Victor Hugo began his research and outlining on Les Misérables in 1829, but the project proved su ..read more

By Christa Protano If you have read your share of romance novels or seen many a rom-coms, you may wonder why the same storyline appears over and over again—and yet, you keep reading (or watching). Turns out, there is actually a method to the writing madness that authors and screenwriters have been following for years. It’s called the romantic trope, and at Canterbury Classics, you’ll find many. So what exactly is a trope? Many genres feature this storytelling tool. But especially in romance novels, a trope is a plot or theme that lets the reader know where the story is headed. For example, a b ..read more

By Brian Boone February 7 marks what would be the 112th birthday of sublime English author Charles Dickens. He wrote many masterworks of 19th century, from the warm A Christmas Carol, to the scrappy Oliver Twist, to the pioneering epic, A Tale of Two Cities. Let’s take a long visit to the latter.  Add the Word Cloud Classic to your collection. Shop Now THE FRENCH DISPATCH  Of the 14 novels Charles Dickens wrote, the only one with any action set in any place other than England is A Tale of Two Cities. The titular two cities: London, and Paris (which is in France).  SERIAL BR ..read more

By Sarah Gray If there’s one thing Canterbury Classics knows for certain, it’s that epic tales in classic literature stand the test of time. Whether it be Hollywood blockbuster films, theater, or modern literature, these timeless stories of adventure, love, and loss are retold again and again. Read on for a list of bestselling novels that are actually homages to popular classics. Hello Beautiful and Little Women It’s no surprise that the four Padavano sisters are actually based on the well-known March sisters from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Throughout Hello Beautiful, the four sisters ..read more

By Christa Protano The holiday break is a welcome opportunity to tackle your TBR list during those blessed lazy days post-Christmas. But if you find yourself searching for a good read, why not take a cue from Hollywood? After all, many holiday blockbusters are, in fact, based on books. Take this year for example: On December 25th, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is getting the musical treatment, and it’s already receiving Oscar buzz. The origin story Wonka is another highly anticipated December release, inspired by Roald Dahl’s classic Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. We love the idea of c ..read more

By Christa Protano Dear Reader: Now that Ms. Swift is taking a break from her North American Eras Tour, it’s time to catch up on your book list. And since our anti-heroine is known to draw inspiration from a classic novel or two, why not start with the OGs. From enchanted fairytales to sad, beautiful, tragic love stories, Taylor’s songs are sweeter than fiction, woven with allusions to F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charlotte Brontë, and Emily Dickinson, just to name a few. Her narrative songwriting includes so many literary references that it’s easy to go down a rabbit hole of interpretation. But don’t ..read more