Great classics like Tolkien's
Lord of the Rings and Homer's
Iliad have been made into movies. Of course, it's nothing new. Over the years, many fantastic movies have been based on literary classics: Mark Twain's
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Edith Wharton's
House of Mirth, Louisa May Alcott's
Little Women, Charlotte Bronte's
Jane Eyre,
Victor Hugo's
Les Miserables, and Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleeping Hollow." Discover the books!
The scope of Homer's "Iliad" is emmense, incorporating myths and themes, which were largely familiar to people of the time, though the timeline of the work was not contemporary to Homer's time. The newest adaptation of Homer's epic was brought to the big screen as "Troy," and it has made readers take another look at the age-old story of the Trojans and their struggle of the Trojan War. Read Homer's "The Iliad," and then watch the movie.
Charlotte Brontë's classic novel is a favorite, though the movie renditions haven't always achieved a high level of acclaim. Read the story of the young orphaned girl, who becomes a governess and falls in love with Mr. Rochester, only to learn the true history of his sordid past. There's the version of "
Jane Eyre," directed by Franco Zeffirelli (1996), one directed by Delbert Mann (1970), "
Jane Eyre," directed by Robert Stevenson (1944), and many more.
Numerous versions of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" have been made, so after you read about Huck's journey down the Mississippi through prejudice, danger, and more, you'll have lots of movies to watch. There's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," directed by Stephen Sommers (1993), "Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn," directed by Dick Lowry (1982), "The New Adventures of Huck Finn," directed by Hollingsworth Morse (1968), and more.
Edith Wharton's "The House of Mirth" is one of those classics that most readers either absolutely love or detest. It's the story of Lily Bart, who must rely on others for support--having no real wealth of her own. In the end, will she do what she must do to survive? Read the novel, and watch the movies: "The House of Mirth, starrig Gillian Anderson and directed by Terence Davies (2000), one directed by Adrian Hall (1981), and "The House of Mirth," directed by Albert Capellani (1918).
Have you ever curled up on a chilly day or evening to read through the spine-tingling tale of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane? If you've not had the opportunity, you now have the chance! Of course, once you've read the tale, you'll want to watch the infamous "Sleepy Hollow," starrring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton (1999). Or, you may want to watch the animated classic, directed by Clyde Geronimi and Jack Kinney (1958), or the verison directed by Étienne Arnaud (1912).
Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" is a tale of love and sacrifice in a time of war. The four March sisters--Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy--all live, laugh, and love. There are a number of "Little Women" movies: the one starring Winona Ryder and directed by Gillian Armstrong (1994), "Little Women," directed by George Cukor (1933), the movie directed by Mervyn LeRoy (1949), and more.
Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" is a statement against human suffering and ignorance. The novel focuses on Jean Valjean, who is arrested for stealing a loaf of bread, spends 19 years in prison, is released, becomes a mayor, and is once again imprisoned for a minor crime. "Les Misérables" has been adapted to many movies, including one Bille August (1998), one directed by Claude Lelouch (1995), a movie directed by Robert Hossein (1982), and more.
Jonathan Swift's satire is legendary, and "
Gulliver's Travels" is recognized by many as his crowning achievement. He used satire to attack what he sees as erroneous conceptions of humanity's nature in the modern age. After you read the book, you'll find the movies especially entertaining, as you see societies in all shapes and sizes. The movies include "
Gulliver's Travels," with Ted Danson starring as Lemuel Gulliver, (1996), "The 3 Worlds of Gulliver," directed by Jack Sher (1960), and more.
Drawing on vampire myths and legends,
Bram Stoker created "Dracula," which was published in 1897. The characters, and the vivid depictions that Stoker created, thrills even the readers of today. And, the movies put even more life to the Stoker legend. Read the novel, and then watch Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula" (1992). More recently, "Van Helsing" prominently featured Count Dracula.
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most important works of the 20th century. The trilogy is peopled with hobbits, elves, humans, monsters, and many more creatures. The movie trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, is an amazing achievement. The special effects alone are worth the viewing. Read the books, and then watch the movies. Or, if you're in the mood, you can go back to the animated version of
The Lord of the Rings, directed by Ralph Bakshi (1978).
