6 CLASSICS YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF

What are some unknown classics, or at least lesser known classic books? That is a question that I often get asked.
In this video I share 6 classic books by very respected classic authors which the majority will probably never have heard of. Each of these classic book recommendations are well worth reading, even if it is just to introduce you to the authors themselves.
2 of the classic novels mentioned in this list were written in the 19th century, whilst the other 4 are classic books written in the 20th century.
Which ones have you read?
If you would like to support my channel and also read a classic book along with me, you can join my Patreon group. Each month we read a book together which I make an exclusive in depth video for at the end of the month. There are also extra videos exploring the classics much deeper.
Check it out at the link below:
patreon.com/user?u=84761803
If you have any recommendations for videos you would like to see on this channel, feel free to leave them in the comments and help me become the best booktuber on youtube that I can be.

[@GladysHunnam]

Titles mentioned: 1- The house of Ulloa by Emilia Pardo Bazán (10 points for pronouncing correctly that z in spanish ✨) 2- Time will darken it by William Maxwell 3- The old wives tale by Arnold Bennett 4- Address Unknown by Catherine Kressman Taylor 5- A child of the Jago by Arthur Morrison 6- On the black hill by Bruce Chatwin Thanks for the recommendations, Tristan!

[@cozycomfy589]

Just bought Time Will Darken It because of your review. Will probably buy more. THANK YOU.

[@pamelajarvis7728]

How good to hear your praise of Arnold Bennett. He is so rarely even mentioned let alone recommended. A wonderful writer ….no idea why his works have faded from recognition in literary circles. Nice video 👍

[@KatiaFdez]

So happy to see the House of Ulloa, I thing you will enjoy it very much!! It’s pronounced “uyoa” like the second way you were saying it 👍🏻😊Greetings from Spain 🇪🇸

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you so much for the pronunciation help😀 I'm really looking forward to reading it.

[@bdwon]

But the proper "British" RP is always highly anglicized! They say, for example, "Kwicks" + "Oat," instead of Quixote . . .with the "X" pronounced and an "H."

[@maslina4567]

Your videos are always akin to discovering buried treasures! From this list the only one I've had the pleasure of reading is Old Wives Tales. I am intrigued by the other five, particularly Address Unknown which I've just requested from the library. Thank you for reading the first paragraphs and your thoughtful insight into these lesser-known Classics.

[@Beesmakelifegoo]

I want to read every book on your 6 Classics that you haven’t heard of.’ That’s my New Year’s wish list. I’m not sure which one will be the first. But,I will purchase them and will take it from there. Your suggestion is very inspiring,that’s what I need to get motivated to read again. Thank you Tristan & the Classics.

[@rolmarmeier6210]

I discovered your channel recently and follow it with increasing interest. I am also a frequent reader of the classics. While I have read many of the books you are presenting I do find now and again books of great interest to me, thanks to your presentations. Keep it up Tristan you are one of the very few!

[@tmicheletti100]

Read “Address Unknown” last year and have never forgotten it. It’s so amazingly and uniquely written that it stays with you. It is my understanding that, though this is fiction, situations described it the book actually occurred.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Absolutely! I think it is what makes it so haunting. The fact is, this was someone's story. Likely more than one persons, tragically.

[@Kite562bookishreviews]

I've read Stoker,Shelley, Shakespere and Lovecraft. A long with Lady Audely's Secret and Poe. I've recently acquired the complete canon of Sherlock Holmes. I'm glad I discovered your channel! 😊❤📚

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

I'm pleased to have made your acquaintance too. Lady Audley's Secret is an entertaining tale.

[@BEVERLYRANDOLPH-lx4qu]

Tristan, thank you for this really interesting video! I am an Audible listener and I’ve already downloaded The Old Wives’ Tale and Address Unknown. I was an English teacher and I had never heard of any of these authors or titles. I’m glad now to be better informed!

[@BEVERLYRANDOLPH-lx4qu]

Addendum: Address Unknown is compelling, heart wrenching, astonishing. I HIGHLY recommend it!!!

[@maltohi]

Congratulations on 10K subs! Also, I'm learning so much more about the classics as a member of your patreon channel having signed up after reading another of your patreon's recommendations on this channel. Thank you, sir, for your passion and dedication to this genre!😁

[@sjmsutherland]

Another great video, definitely lesser known classics I had not heard of!! I'm definitely going to search out a copy of Address Unknown, a book that I'd definitely be interested in!! Thank you for some fab recommendations, as usual!!

[@kaydavies8903]

I think you are brill Tristan. Just to let that i think Arnold Bennett's book is set in Staffordshire as opposed to Shropshire and the Square referred to in the first para is in Burslem . The high Peak point he mentions is the Winking Man in Leek and the hill where Methodism started is Mow Cop which has a folly castle! But we who love lit in Stoke-on-Trent think you are a super ace teacher!!! Please don't be offended I would be mortified

[@jennyaldridge4186]

I would have thought Staffordshire too. I’ve only read the Clayhanger trilogy but remember Bennett being a man of the 5 Towns.

[@fernandamurari8577]

That is a great video, I enjoyed it very much! I have The Old Wive's Tale on my reading list for a while and you just gave me enough motivation to finally read it. Thank you very much as well for the other recommendations!

[@masterprocrastinator7078]

A Tristan video on my Birthday- The cherry on top of the sundae! You make everything sound so enticing- I will continue for now to savor your Patreon choices but always love to hear your enthusiasm:)

[@enfermagembenfermagemb2251]

Great video❤ I loved reading “Time Will Darken It” , the story is so gripping and it’s a page turner

[@sofiasarabia9280]

I love how you transmit so much excitement about the books you comment on! I'll read Address Unknown, sounds fascinating and hopefully will get me out of my reading slump. Thank you for all the recommendations and insightful thoughts on the books! :)

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you, Sofia. I hope you can get out of your reading slump.

[@juliealvar4587]

Fantastic video! I really like that you read the first paragraph of each book. I'm going to start with Child of the Jago. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

[@Manders3900]

May I suggest a "Read with Me" video that you do next? It's something I use to feel a little less alone when I'm reading by myself at home. Some other BookTubers do it and I love them!!

[@cozycomfy589]

Just received Time Will Darken It. Thanks so much for introducing authors unknown to me. Always look forward to your videos.

[@darrylfriesen]

So glad you’re back making videos again after having to take time to deal with your back injury, Tristan! Another great video full of very intriguing-sounding books!! Question, sheerly out of curiosity: whose ceramic bust do you have on the top of your bookshelf?

[@Sarah-cd1mj]

Thank you for the wonderful recommendations! Adding these to my reading lis!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

You are welcome, Sarah.

[@margaretinsydney3856]

What a wonderful introduction to some very intriguing books. I haven't read any of them. I've heard of Arnold Bennett, and Bruce Chatwin is pretty well known in Australia because of Songlines. Looking forward to reading these books, starting with whichever one I can find first.😊

[@yarnmama10]

I was intrigued by Address Unknown. I have borrowed it from my library to read on my Kindle. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@deirdre108]

Chatwin's "Songlines" is probably the best "travel lit" book I've ever read. He has a beautiful poetic prose style. I'll check out "Time Will Darken It" as it sounds like something that would interest me. I'd like to add the US author, Dawn Powell's novels (novellas?) to the list of unknown classics. I found out about her years ago from an article in the New York Review of Books written by Gore Vidal called "Dawn Powell, American Master" or something like that. GV was raving on her so hard that I had to read her and see what all his fuss was about. I'm glad I did and ended up reading her entire ouvre, or at least that which is reprinted in the "Library of America" series. Her most well-known (and I think her best) is the so-called New York trilogy --"The Locusts Have No King", "The Wicked Pavilion", "The Golden Spur". If you can imagine Dorothy Parker settling down and writing full-length fiction, you'd get an idea about how good Powell's work is. Highly Recommended!!

[@whalesequence]

Well, Pet Shop Boys didn't call the song, East End Girls for a good reason

[@asteroefstathiou5407]

Well i love classics! Following your recommendation i got “the sea the sea” and so far, despite the almost 1000 pages (am reading it in Greek) i love it! Thank you for this!

[@patriciadeane7250]

At your recommendation I read Arnold Bennett’s Old Wive’s Tale. It was superb and a quick read.

[@anonymous16858]

Hi ! I just discovered your channel, and i love it ! I particularly like the way you talk from books with such passion ! Do you have the Goodreads apps ? It would be so great to follow your reading through time !

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hi anonymous. Great to make your acquaintance. So pleased to meet another book lover. I'm afraid I do not have a Goodreads account. I do have an Instagram account and hope to start a tiktok doing live readings 📚

[@yorkshirerose6334]

Yes I’ve read The Old Wives Tale and loved it. I have read several novels by Bennett including Anna of the Five Towns and the Clayhanger Trilogy.

[@alidabaxter5849]

I still have my battered paperback of Arnold Bennett's lovely book and, as so often, you've made me want to read it again.

[@missjenny1953]

Thanks for reminding me of Bruce Chatwin. I read Songlines years ago and loved it

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

You are the second person to mention Songlines. I must grab a copy. Thank you 😊

[@arekkrolak6320]

Interesting list! I was aware of Bennett book as it was mentioned in "The Novel" by James Michener as English masterpiece but havent read it yet

[@michaelldennis]

Finished Address Unknown today. Haunting. I’ll be thinking of this book for weeks, or longer.

[@dagmoon]

Hello! From Texas I'm sending a BiG Thank YOU

[@ducypoo]

So, the funny thing about double Ls in Spanish is that the pronunciation changes depending on the location. Foreigners are most frequently taught that they are simply pronounced like a Y (ie. Ulloa becomes Uyoa). And while this will work, it’s not entire helpful if you’re going to certain places *especially* parts of South America. Argentina, for example, is famous for pronouncing the LL as how an English speaker pronounces SH. That is not the only exception as most of Central and South America say it differently from both Y and SH pronunciation including some places that go so far as making it almost hard J sound. But, you are probably safe using the Y pronunciation for the most part 💜

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you. My only experience of the name was a footballer called Ulloa, and the commentators were told to use something between a sh and y, which to my English ear sounded close to a soft J. Thanks for the info. 👍😀

[@MarietaHolandesa]

Never heard of these books . 'Address Unknown', I'm already looking for it. Thank-you!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Pleased that you like the sound of them. I can't wait to read those I haven't looked at before. Address Unknown is a story that will stay with you.

[@dqan7372]

Well, you gave me quite a few additions to my TBR. Bennett's "Old Wives' Tale" was the only one I was really familiar with. I have Maxwell's more famous novel. Recognized "Ulloa" but couldn't have told you anything about it. Thought I had a Chatwin but I must be thinking of someone else. I think the rest were new to me. Really want to dig into Morrison.

[@useupwearout5029]

"Time Will Darken It" sounds right up my alley! I did want to note; in my neighborhood, it's the men stopping along the road as they meet each other that do much of the gossiping! Perhaps the conversation begins about weather and hay, but it always turns to who's and what's.

[@useupwearout5029]

I really should learn to hold my comments until the end. Several more titles have made my list.. Thank you for bringing them forward!

[@MaliciousChickenAgenda]

Maxwell for me personally is well worth reading. I haven’t read Time will darken it but I have read They came like swallows and So long, see you tomorrow and I really enjoyed them 😊

[@victoriabergesen6775]

I have read Arnold Bennett, also recommend Anna of the Five Towns and the Clayhanger Trilogy. I knew nothing of any of the others, so many thanks for some good ideas.

[@septemberhawks8913]

I'm trying to remember if I've read Address Unkown. The title sounds familiar. Either way, I'm going to look for it. By the way, if you're interested in Holocaust survivor stories I highly recommend "My Friend Anne Frank" by Hannah Pick-Goslar. Easily the best one I've ever read. Heartbreaking, of course, but also heartwarming. And it encompasses so much more of their lives than what happened in the camps: normal childhood in Amsterdam, post-war life, adult life (for Hannah) in Jerusalem. Excellent book.

[@shanc4696]

The show you’re describing sounds like Dexter. I’ve not actually seen Lucifer but I believe that one has the devil helping and possibly dating a cop then not being the devil anymore and someone else takes his place. Something like that. 🙂 I will need to tell my Mom about Address Unknown. It sounds like something she may want to add to the classroom library she made for her students.

[@babettedejong2975]

Very enticing recommendations!

[@maryfilippou6667]

Thank you for recommending Address Unknown. I got it next day at the Library. Quite harrowing and so sad re naive young woman . Tells a lot in concentrated pages.

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

Great idea for a video! 😊

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

Time will Darken it sounds intriguing and so does the first book you mentioned.

[@mitzireadsandwrites]

Hi, Tristan! Hope your week is going well! No, I don't know these, so yay for new titles. Do you remember Reading Rainbow from the 1980s? That's what I feel like I'm watching as you convince me to read them all. Thanks for sharing!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hi Mitzi! Great to hear from you. I don't remember Reading Rainbow. Is that a North American programme? But I am pleased to convince you to read these gems. We'll have to do a collaboration on a book.😀👍

[@mitzireadsandwrites]

@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Yes, that would be awesome! Reading Rainbow was a PBS program in the US starring Levar Burton. He promoted reading and made us want to read everything!

[@kathleencraine7335]

An interesting and eclectic list, Tristan. I read "Address Unknown" 10 years ago and it is a stunner--and it refutes all the claims that here in America we didn't know what was happening in Germany. We did--but we looked the other way. I have "The Old Wives' Tale" and "Anna of the Five Towns" on my TBR shelf, and look forward to both--have you read Anna? William Maxwell is an under-appreciated author today: I have read "So Long, See You Tomorrow" (wonderful), his memoir "Ancestors" (pretty good) and his story collection "Over by the River" (a mixed bag for me, like many short story collections). I have Maxwell's "They Came Like Swallows" on my TBR shelf, which I have heard is one of his most beloved books--a coming of age story. Had not heard of "Time Will Darken It", but the Illinois prairie town setting is his strength. Morrison & Chatwin are new to me, and have been duly noted. Thank you!

[@joyceredman2136]

Time will Darken looks promising. I have Chatwin's Songlines on my TBR. I love hearing about lesser-known classic works.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Yes I'm looking forward to Time Will Darken also.

[@Saraneyd]

Address Unknown is a remarkable book. I picked it up at the local library when I was looking for a quick read. It had an incredible impact. From my understanding the friend who returns to Germany is described as a gentile.

[@robertfranklin8704]

The only one of these I know of is Bennett's significant book. Here are a few classics: Phantastes and Lilith by George MacDonald, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, Tom Jones by Daniel Defoe, Henry Osmond by Thackeray, and Lucinda Brayford by Martin Boyd. Also, The Timeless Land by Eleanor Dark, for anyone who wants to understand Australia's magical Bush. Thanks, bookmaster 😊.

[@sid1gen]

I'm a bit late to this one, but I loved that you included "Los pazos de Ulloa" (The House of Ulloa). I read it in Spanish, in the Catedra edition (long introduction and many footnotes). Extraordinary work by Dona Emilia. The pronunciation of the Spanish double "L" can be baffling, because in the Spanish-speaking world it's simply pronounced both ways you tried: as a very soft consonant (1st try) without an equivalent in English, and as a stronger one, like the English "J" in Jason, or Julia. Add to this that the vast majority of native Spanish speakers, like me, will not differentiate between the "LL" sound and the "Y" sound, when the letter "Y" is a consonant. Therefore, "lluvia" (rain) is supposed to be pronounced softly; and "Yermo" (desert, wasteland) is supposed to be pronounced hard. But plenty of us simply pronounce all those words with the equivalent of an English "J" or we uniformly use the softer pronunciation. Many singers will pronounce "Yo" (I, myself) as "io" as an affectation. I was taught that the "Ll" was always soft and the "Y" was always harsh. Very interesting list. I have added Address Unknown to my list: I haven't read it, but I'm afraid the title gives away the ending.

[@neils5539]

Your list is great and gives me new authors to investigate. Might I suggest John Hersey to you. He won the Pulitzer Prize for A Bell for Adano (which is great) and wrote some very deep fiction like White Lotus. An interesting author who was a journalist during WWII and wrote Hiroshima (which is not fiction, so maybe wouldn't be in the classics category).

[@Guiidenker]

Thank you! I use your videos to get book recomendations and also to practice english (portuguese is my native language).

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

So pleased I can help. Thank you for watching and being kind enough to comment. I'm pleased to meet you

[@meggy8868]

Went right out and ordered The Painted Veil and Testament of Youth. Read Painted Veil in a day. Remarkable smooth read, economical yet a peek into the mind of how women view men, what causes revulsion and attraction. Sad ending. Now will start on Testament. Thanks for recommending

[@radiantchristina]

Nice to "see you "! And, you are correct - I have not heard of any of these classics ! I've added them to my tbr :) Also, funny side story - I was listening to Lana del Rey videos here on youtube and all the videos listed on the side , where they recommend what to watch next were all Lana except for one...this video lol lol lol. How strange it would be added in with her videos.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hey Christina. Great to hear from you. I understand my videos coming up with ... me and Lana are besties😂😂😂

[@radiantchristina]

@@tristanandtheclassics6538 🤣

[@user-fr7db4rh4v]

Just reserved Address Unknown and Time Will Darken It from my local library. Thank you!!

[@marytumulty4257]

Decades ago I read “On the Black Hill”. I don’t really remember much about it except that it was about bachelor brothers living on a poor, isolated farm. If I read it now I might see much more meaning through metaphors and allusions. As it is, it’s a pretty sad story.

[@pjef1956]

I believe that the TV show you refer to around 27 mins in is "Dexter", not "Lucifer". Dexter is a serial killer who only goes after victims who "deserve" to be eliminated. I could be wrong, but I believe that was the American show you were referencing.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

That's the one! Thank you for the correction. 😀

[@gerrade71278]

Thumbs up for topic.

[@joysedgwick812]

I read the Bennett at school but feel I must reread over a half century later, during much of which I have lived in Staffordshire! (It’s a bit late but I think you said Shropshire??!). I need to stop watching you and read now 😅.

[@michaelldennis]

I really enjoy your videos (recently read A Month in the Country based on one of them). If I may ask: what is your background in literature? Do you have a related career or is this “only” a hobby?

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thanks for your kindness. A Month In The Country is wonderful, in my opinion. As for my background, I have no formal education in literature, nor a career in it. I have read since a boy and love story, history, words, and art. I love researching and learning and especially talking to others to learn from them.

[@michaelldennis]

⁠@@tristanandtheclassics6538for some reason that only makes me happier.

[@susprime7018]

Heard of Maxwell and Bennett, but if I ever read them, I do not remember. Thanks for the reviews.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

You're welcome Sus. I expected that you would have heard of many of these authors as you are so widely read. I'm looking forwards to getting into Maxwell.

[@Mariak82]

Just added old wife's tale to my tbr. 🙂

[@davewhite756]

You - Low- ah. It is my mother's maiden name

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you, I appreciate it. 🙏

[@radiantchristina]

I'm revisiting this video to let you know that since I last commented, I've purchased The House of Ulloa, Old Wives Tale, and Time Will Darken it . I have not yet read them, but they are now on my shelves , so I'm one step closer :) Also, in that same purchase I got 2 Goethe books - The Sorrows of Young Werther and Elective Affinities. Have you read either ? I can't remember if I've seen any Goethe content on your channel. I hope you are well. Happy reading :)

[@racheldemain1940]

Child of the jago sounds good and very like Dickens.

[@OmnivorousReader]

I have not heard of ANY of these books. Though I do have Anna of the Five Towns by Bennett on my to-read shelf.

[@kaydavies8903]

By the way Alec Guinness came to Burslem to film The Card donkeys years ago complete with a Yorkshire accent. Check out Robbie Williams accent he is from Burslem for the authentic twang

[@danielanorambuenadiaz9183]

I’m curious what made the translator change a word in Pardo Bazán’s work, in spanish it’s called “los pasos de Ulloa” so it would be like “Ulloa’s footsteps” or “The footsteps of Ulloa”. I really want to read Pardo Bazán’s work, but it is hard to find in my country 💔

[@lintommy1236]

Wow Tristan ❤ You read all the Classics in the world ! I guess you don’t really need to work then ? I wish …… Love X

[@leafsonata]

31:10 yes please do a review on this

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

I will. 😀

[@hannahk1714]

Time Will Darken It sounds fascinating

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

👍I'm pretty excited to read it. We'll have to compare notes when we have both read it.😀

[@hannahk1714]

@tristanandtheclassics6538 yes! I added it to my TBR. I'm well-versed in redneck culture, so I'm looking forward to it 🙂

[@mikedl1105]

Cuppa coffee? Not tea?

[@janebaily3758]

Can you give us the spelling of the title of the Spanish txt please? MANY THANKS😊

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

It is called The House of Ulloa.

[@janebaily3758]

Thanks Tristan!! I spelled it incorrectly. Love these recommendations especially Address unknown, the house of Ulloa and the Morrison book.

[@richardrose2606]

Interesting, but a bit slow. I fast fowarded through some of it. My suggestion for recommending lesser know classics would be for authors primarily known for one novel. For example, for Aldous Huxley I would recommend his novel Eyeless in Gaza.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thanks Richard. I like your recommendation 😊