Kyra Smith, Claire Fitzgerald and Dan Hemmens offer up their top ten romantic picks!
A few days ago the Guardian published a the results of a poll to find the country's 20 top romance reads.
Like most polls of the sort it consists entirely of books people think they should have read.
But, in the spirit of the results, we offer up our own top ten. So treat yourself to an iced-tea and a box of Milk Tray and prepare to be sizzled, scintillated and swept off your feet by these little known romantic classics.
10. Moby Dick
When the mysterious outsider Ishmael signs up with a whaling vessel nothing can have prepared him for her captain. Brooding, tyrannical and tempestuous, Ahab is a man with a dark past and darker obsessions. Can Ishmael save Ahab from his all-consuming infatuation with Moby Dick or should he embrace the gentle friendship of his long-time buddy Queequeg with whom he shares a bed. A beautiful tale of unrequited love and dangerous obsessions; and very informative about whaling too.
9. The Steppenwolf
Mysterious Harry Haller is a troubled artist, alone in his garret with his books and his German thoughts. Will he be saved from a life of incomprehensible brooding by the love of a good woman and epic quantities of drugs? Oh ja!
8. Strangers on a Train
When Guy Haines and Charles Bruno meet by accident on a railway journey, they feel an instant mutual attraction. There's just one problem: one of them is already married! But Bruno refuses to let that, or his father's disapproval, stand in the way of true love. Strangers on a Train is a heart-warming tale about two people who find each other, just when they need each other the most.
7. Richard III
Lady Anne Neville never thought she could come to love a man like the hunchbacked Richard of Gloucester, especially after he murdered her husband and his father in cold blood in order to secure his succession to the throne. But a breathtaking coffin-side seduction is about to change her mind! A daring romance of love, hate and civil war.
6. Watership Down
When shy youngster Hazel and his strapping, hirsuite buddy Bigwig are forced to flee with their entire community, they embark on an epic quest for pastures new, as well as charting new territory of the heart. In this truly erotic sizzler, it's not long before Hazel and Bigwig and all their companions are at it like...yeah, you know
5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The beautiful gypsy Esmeralda does not lack for suitors. But should she choose the hideous hunchbacked bell ringer, the shallow self-obsessed soldier or the lust-haunted archdeacon, and will a spell in Frollo's torture chamber change her mind? With its endless descriptions of cathedrals the author happened to at once witness and its extensive cast of murderers, thieves and blood thirsty peasants this is romance on an epic scale!
4. A Clockwork Orange
In this classic tale of sin and redemption, bad boy Alex is definitely leader of the pack...but he's also tragically misunderstood. Will he accept the love of a mysterious cabin-dwelling writer, or continue to run wild with his tearaway droogs? A real must-viddy!
3. Tess of the d'Ubervilles
When beautiful, innocent Tess is brutally raped by the lord of the manor, Alec d'Urberville, she thinks no man will ever be able to love her, especially not Angel Clare, the attractive and pious son of the local Reverend. And she's right! But Tess will stop at nothing to win Angel's love and she has the butter knife to prove it. Be warned: this one's a weepy!
2. Waiting for Godot
When pretty, witty Vladimir went to meet his employer under a tree one sunny afternoon, love was the last thing on his mind but a chance exchange of root vegetables with sultry, mysterious Estragon might just change his mind. Passionate and engaging, this is the tale of a whirlwind romance in which each day seems like an eternity.
1. 1984
In this heart-rending story of love lost and found, Winston Smith embarks upon a journey of self-discovery only to learn that he always had everything he wanted all along. Laugh, cry and rejoice with Winston as he learns to love Big Brother!
Like most polls of the sort it consists entirely of books people think they should have read.
But, in the spirit of the results, we offer up our own top ten. So treat yourself to an iced-tea and a box of Milk Tray and prepare to be sizzled, scintillated and swept off your feet by these little known romantic classics.
10. Moby Dick
When the mysterious outsider Ishmael signs up with a whaling vessel nothing can have prepared him for her captain. Brooding, tyrannical and tempestuous, Ahab is a man with a dark past and darker obsessions. Can Ishmael save Ahab from his all-consuming infatuation with Moby Dick or should he embrace the gentle friendship of his long-time buddy Queequeg with whom he shares a bed. A beautiful tale of unrequited love and dangerous obsessions; and very informative about whaling too.
9. The Steppenwolf
Mysterious Harry Haller is a troubled artist, alone in his garret with his books and his German thoughts. Will he be saved from a life of incomprehensible brooding by the love of a good woman and epic quantities of drugs? Oh ja!
8. Strangers on a Train
When Guy Haines and Charles Bruno meet by accident on a railway journey, they feel an instant mutual attraction. There's just one problem: one of them is already married! But Bruno refuses to let that, or his father's disapproval, stand in the way of true love. Strangers on a Train is a heart-warming tale about two people who find each other, just when they need each other the most.
7. Richard III
Lady Anne Neville never thought she could come to love a man like the hunchbacked Richard of Gloucester, especially after he murdered her husband and his father in cold blood in order to secure his succession to the throne. But a breathtaking coffin-side seduction is about to change her mind! A daring romance of love, hate and civil war.
6. Watership Down
When shy youngster Hazel and his strapping, hirsuite buddy Bigwig are forced to flee with their entire community, they embark on an epic quest for pastures new, as well as charting new territory of the heart. In this truly erotic sizzler, it's not long before Hazel and Bigwig and all their companions are at it like...yeah, you know
5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The beautiful gypsy Esmeralda does not lack for suitors. But should she choose the hideous hunchbacked bell ringer, the shallow self-obsessed soldier or the lust-haunted archdeacon, and will a spell in Frollo's torture chamber change her mind? With its endless descriptions of cathedrals the author happened to at once witness and its extensive cast of murderers, thieves and blood thirsty peasants this is romance on an epic scale!
4. A Clockwork Orange
In this classic tale of sin and redemption, bad boy Alex is definitely leader of the pack...but he's also tragically misunderstood. Will he accept the love of a mysterious cabin-dwelling writer, or continue to run wild with his tearaway droogs? A real must-viddy!
3. Tess of the d'Ubervilles
When beautiful, innocent Tess is brutally raped by the lord of the manor, Alec d'Urberville, she thinks no man will ever be able to love her, especially not Angel Clare, the attractive and pious son of the local Reverend. And she's right! But Tess will stop at nothing to win Angel's love and she has the butter knife to prove it. Be warned: this one's a weepy!
2. Waiting for Godot
When pretty, witty Vladimir went to meet his employer under a tree one sunny afternoon, love was the last thing on his mind but a chance exchange of root vegetables with sultry, mysterious Estragon might just change his mind. Passionate and engaging, this is the tale of a whirlwind romance in which each day seems like an eternity.
1. 1984
In this heart-rending story of love lost and found, Winston Smith embarks upon a journey of self-discovery only to learn that he always had everything he wanted all along. Laugh, cry and rejoice with Winston as he learns to love Big Brother!
