Best Love Story of All Time

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

I hate to admit it, but I haven't read A Tale of Two Cities, either, but it's high on my list to read, as is David Copperfield. One I love is Bleak House.

I love everything about the writing of Dickens and Thomas Hardy, especially Thomas Hardy. I love his tragedy and bleakness, probably because he does it so well. If I had to choose one all time favorite author, it would definitely be Thomas Hardy, though I think Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is my all time favorite book.

Since you're a big fan of Dickens, you might like the book I just finished - The Quincunx. It took me a long time to read it, but it was worth it. It's very reminiscent of Bleak House and the author even chose "John Huffam," Dickens' middle names, as the name for his protagonist.

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ive got a small handful of dickens' and hardy books at home, still unread, bleak house being among them. maybe i'll make a point of reading it this summer. i read hard times not too long ago. although, ive also got anna karenina at home too, and since youre saying its your all time favorite, perhaps i'll give that one a shot first. smiles...

ive not heard of quincunx, i'll keep my eyes peeled for it...thank you.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

I love that one, too, islandclimber. I think it's my favorite Thomas Hardy novel.

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mine as well... "Jude the Obscure" is just far too sad and tragic, and hopelessly depressing... and his other works, though amazing, just don't quite stand up to these two... Though "The Mayor of Castorbridge" is wonderful... and "Far From the Madding Crowd" is one of my favourites because it is so light hearted, and not so tragic, even has moments of comedy... as well, I don't know about you, but I find his short works to be completely overlooked and underrated... they are great.. same with his poetry... he is just an exceptionally versatile writer...

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

I think The Quincunx was published about ten years ago. Maybe more. But when it was published, it made quite a stir in the literary world. It's a neo-Victorian mystery on the order of Bleak House. Set mainly in Victorian London and revolving around five branches of a family, a purloined will, a suppressed codicil, and lots and lots of mystery. I finally finished it last night, so no more long books for me for awhile. I need a break. LOL

I highly recommend the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of Anna Karenina. I think their translations are so much more readable.

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I do like the Pevear and Volokhonsky translations of Russian works... I have all their translations of Dostoevsky as well as AK and several others... but sometimes I just like to slip back into the comfortable Victorian style of a Constance Garnett translation... I just find she has a certain power, and stylistic approach that suits the time period... Overall I do like Pevear and Volokhonsky much more, but on occasion reading a Garnett translation can be quite wonderful...

Mine is Jane Eyre all the way. Unforgettable heroes and a love story that combines romantic love with sexuality. Who can resist that? ;)

Ps: you should also have made this question a poll. It would be easier to see the results.

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Originally Posted by Negar

Without doubt Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte ;)

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I was gonna say that .. diffinately Jane & Rochester..

i can also say Edward & Bella in Twilight

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Originally Posted by hoope

I was gonna say that .. diffinately Jane & Rochester..

i can also say Edward & Bella in Twilight

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Hoope,

For God's sake don't confuse Jayne Eyre with Twilight.

Love you anyway.

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Originally Posted by Brian Bean

Hoope,

For God's sake don't confuse Jayne Eyre with Twilight.

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y not? Cuz Jane Eyre can't come NEwhere close 2 Twilight's gr8ness?

:D

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

y not? Cuz Jane Eyre can't come NEwhere close 2 Twilight's gr8ness?

:D

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Sheherezade,

You do Hoope a disservice. She is not a native English speaker and, unfortunately, seems to have absorbed the current American vernacular into her writing. Because I have been in contact with her as a friend, I know that her main concern is to help disadvantaged people, and that is why she is studying nursing. Compared to myself, she is very young but her sincerity reaches beyond considerations of age or nationality and I have great respect for her. As for her literary concerns, she is a great supporter of Charles Dickens and has read more of his works than I have.

I would vote for the following three:

Love in the Time of Cholera
Lolita (yes, it is a love story in my opinion)
The Age of Innocence

Cyrano de Bergerac for me. He is the ultimate romantic hero.

Also Persuasion and Their Eyes Were Watching God.

"The Gift of the Magi", as so many have mentioned, is THE warm and fuzzy little love story of the century.

I haven't read Love in the Time of Cholera yet, though I'd like to. I just read my first Gabriel Garcia-Marquez in January and adored it.

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Originally Posted by hoope

I was gonna say that .. diffinately Jane & Rochester..

i can also say Edward & Bella in Twilight

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Not Twilight!

I'd add Lolita, not because it is a romance, but because it is a story of love. Lolita doesn't have any and Humbert has the wrong sort, but that scene right near the end...it made me cry it was so beautiful.

A Tale of Two Cities! Silly Darnay!

I'm not going to read through the whole thread, but I did notice R&J crop up near the beginning. I can I therefore add Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado - infinitely more credible, and, I think, deeper!

Romeo and Juliet. No doubt.

Won't give scores, but try "Simon and Hiroko," by Marius Hancu. Contemporary, Japan and US. E-book only for now. Starts sweet, ends big drama. Found at Goodreads.