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The Perfect Summer Reads

July 22, 2019

Summer is in full swing! Whether you spend it on the beach, in the park, or on your couch, we won’t judge. Canterbury Classics can help liven it up a bit with classics that transport you to a pirate ship, an Australian island, or in a submarine in the deep sea – all from the comfort of your beach towel or couch. Get your adventure fix this summer with the classics below!

Treasure Island

Perhaps the most iconic pirate story of all time, Treasure Island was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1881. The book follows young Jim Hawkins who finds himself in possession of a treasure map and embarks on a journey to unearth the pirate booty. His adventure takes him through the turbulent waters of morality, and his subsequent coming of age has captivated generations of readers. 

Also available as an Illustrated Classic edition.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea 

This adventure tale tells the classic story of Captain Nemo and his submarine Nautilus as seen from the point of view of Professor Pierre Aronnax, who was commissioned to find the mysterious sea monster responsible for sinking ships. Written by French science fiction writer Jules Verne in 1870, the novel illuminates themes that transcend time, such as man versus nature, freedom, and revenge. 

Moby-Dick

“Call me Ishmael” is the iconic opening line of Herman Melville’s classic American novel, Moby-Dick. Ishmael is a seaman aboard the whaling vessel, Pequod, under the vengeful captain, Ahab. Maniacally seeking retribution from the great white sperm whale called Moby-Dick–the whale responsible for the captain’s missing leg–Ahab leads the crew on a quest to kill the infamous beast. A fictional work based on actual events, Moby-Dick is a classic that has been enjoyed for generations.

Robinson Crusoe

Pirates, shipwrecks, and being stranded on an island doesn’t stop Robinson Crusoe in his quest for adventure on the high seas. Originally presented as a true account, Daniel Defoe’s novel made quite a stir in 1719 and became one of the most widely published books in history, spawning enough imitations that it inspired its own genre, the Robinsonade.

In The Swiss Family Robinson, the family gathers their resources and builds a life over a period of ten years living on a deserted island. Included in the Robinsonade genre, this story imparts high morals and practical self-reliance skills through adventures that are sure to thrill all ages.