Kate Middleton's Favorite Books Are A Collection Of Absolute Classics
Thanks to a candid photo shared on Instagram in March 2020, the whole world got a look at the desk of Kate Middleton. While the snapshot was a nice peek at their daily life, viewers also got a glimpse of a row of books on the princess' desk, capturing the attention of bibliophiles everywhere.
Thankfully, some clever internet sleuths were able to figure out exactly what the titles were. The set of books was a collection of Penguin's Clothbound Classics, complete with the signature colorful foil jacket designs. But avid readers still had questions about exactly what books Middleton had on display. This curiosity about the princess, otherwise known as the "Kate-effect," typically applies to her clothes and cosmetics, where a product will sell out quickly when it's associated with Catherine. Her favorite perfume has been a huge topic of conversation, and her favorite beauty products frequently sell out. Now, the "Kate-effect" has taken a more literary turn, and, in true English style, her favorite authors are almost all from the United Kingdom.
Jane Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility'
Middleton's desk included several Jane Austen novels, including "Northanger Abbey" and "Mansfield Park." But the one that stands out the most "Sense and Sensibility." The classic British novel was actually Austen's first, published in London in 1811. The story is a delightful and clever telling of the three Dashwood sisters, who, through misfortune and later luck, find love and themselves. Interestingly, there's a character in the novel, a distant relative of Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret Dashwood, whose name is Sir John Middleton, creating a nice reference to Catherine's maiden name.
The book was a hit on GoodReads, with people chiming in about how the story still holds up today. "Okay, I LOVED this book," one reviewer began. "I don't even know why. It's about... girls who like boys! Who are jerks! Um, the end! But it was funny. But clever funny, which is my favorite kind. And I enjoyed deciphering the late 18th century prose. It made me feel smart, just to figure out what she was saying half the time!" Another reviewer raved about the characters. "The loving sister relationship is one of the best things about this novel," they wrote. "Nothing melts my heart more than good sibling relationships." No wonder Middleton loves this novel. The princess is known for having a close bond with her sister, Pippa.
'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Brontë
Another notable book in Middleton's collection is Emily Brontë's only novel, "Wuthering Heights." Published in London in 1847, the story is steeped in the traditions of Gothic fiction and romanticism. It tells the story of Catherine Earnshaw, a woman determined to socially advance, and Heathcliff, an orphan boy whom Catherine's father brought to Wuthering Heights to live with them. Catherine and Heathcliff fall in love, but because of Heathcliff's lack of social standing, Catherine instead marries Edgar Linton. The novel is darker than some from its time; featuring supernatural themes and imagery. After Catherine dies, Heathcliff digs up her grave and begs Catherine to haunt him. When he dies, people from the area claim to see their ghosts together.
This classic treasure gets rave reviews on GoodReads. "I'm just on fire with so much admiration for Emily Brontë right now," one review began. "Having read this book, I now understand why it's generated such fierce controversy since its first publication in 1847." Another reviewer did not hold back. "This is my [favorite] book," they wrote. "I do not say that lightly – I've read quite a lot from all different genres – but this is my [favorite] book. Of all time. Ever." It's worth noting that Catherine and Heathcliff are very flawed as characters, so "Wuthering Heights" also inspires heated responses the other way, too. "I understand why many people hate this book," another reviewer added. "Catherine and Heathcliff are monstrous. Monstrous. You won't like them because they are unlikable." Hey, you're certainly not going to be a bored reader!
'Bleak House' by Charles Dickens
Another great English novelist beloved by Catherine, Princess of Wales, is Charles Dickens. Her Penguin Classics collection includes "Bleak House," a novel about inheritance and lost fortune. The famous story was originally published in serial form between 1852-1853 in London and explores how the aforementioned financial implications impact the Jarndyce family. Fans of this immense classic go on and on about how great it is. "Pound for pound, this is Dickens' best novel, and of course, that is saying a great deal," one reviewer wrote on GoodReads. Another reviewer reassured readers that it's not as daunting as it seems. "'Bleak House.' How can it be over?" the reviewer began. "I hold this incredible book in my hand and can't believe I have finished it. The 965 page, two-inch thick, tiny-typed tome may seem a bit intimidating. Relax, you can read it in a day – that is, if you read one page per minute for 16 hours. And you might just find yourself doing that." Clearly, people who pick up this Dickens' classic cannot put it down.
Catherine is obviously a fan of Dickens, because "Bleak House" wasn't his only novel of his in her collection. Along with "Bleak House," she prominently features a copy of "A Christmas Carol" on her desk, so clearly the English novelist is a meaningful figure to her.
'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' by Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy's influential title "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," was originally published in 1891 as a serial by the British newspaper "The Graphic." It seems to be a curious choice for Middleton, as the novel grapples with difficult subjects, like the oppressive Victorian moral code, sexual assault, and poverty in rural England. However, because Hardy deals with these topics so masterfully, the novel has become a classic within the canon of English literature, so it does not surprise us that the Princess of Wales is a fan.
Not nearly as widely read as Jane Austen's works or Charles Dickens' novels, Hardy's masterpiece still holds its own amongst modern readers. One reviewer left a comprehensive and overwhelmingly positive review on GoodReads. "Double happiness that I have just experienced with 'Tess d'Urberville,' of a tasty richness: tragedy, social novel, painful romance, a novel of terror, psychological novel, political novel also on the condition of women, 'Tess' is all of these at the same time," they began. "The narration is extraordinarily fluid and cinematographic, punctuated by the unfolding of the seasons in the English countryside, every scent, every color, and every stone of Tess's paths from valley to valley."
"Tess of the D'Urbervilles" is no easy read, though. Many reviewers spoke about the anguish and heartbreak they experienced for Tess, as she struggled through her painful life. But it's well worth the effort. "The most tragic and beautiful of novels," another reviewer wrote. "What a loveliness inside and out Tess was." If you're ready to head into some tough topics, this is a good book.
'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde
Irish writer Oscar Wilde also had a place in Catherine, Princess of Wales' literary collection. His famous novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" held its own on her desk, and it's no wonder. The beloved novel, which was first published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890, deals with the life of the vain aristocrat Dorian Gray. In his obsession with youth and beauty, Gray magically remains physically perfect while a portrait of himself absorbs the physical transformations that age and a hedonistic lifestyle would have on his own body. The novel, which scandalized readers at first, deals with aesthetic beauty and vice.
Reviewers could not stop singing the praises of Wilde's classic. "I finished reading this last night, and afterwards I spent an entire hour staring into space so I could contemplate over the majesty of this work. It left me speechless. This book is exquisite," one reviewer wrote on GoodReads. "[I]nstantly a new all time favorite," another reviewer added. "I could spend the rest of my life reading this book OVER AND OVER AGAIN and it wouldn't be enough," another reviewer passionately added. No wonder it made it in Catherine's collection.