Grab a cappuccino and cozy knit, it’s time to read
The University of Glasgow is often thought of in its autumn glory– colourful leaves, old architecture, plaid scarves, and aesthetic books. To get back into the academic year, it’s always nice to have a book to read for pleasure, not studies. Dark academia is a subgenre that has a gothic atmosphere, romanticises classic literature, and centres on dark, morally-grey themes. This article showcases book recommendations that align with the fast-approaching fall season and, luckily for us, UofG’s architecture.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The start of an academic year, a highly selective Classics professor, a dark atmosphere, what makes for a better back-to-school read? Donna Tartt writes with suspense, literary allusions, beautiful imagery, and haunting themes. The main character, Richard Papen, leaves his hometown to study literature at an elite school in Vermont. There, he comes across a class of hand-picked students led by Professor Julian Morrow. Once he gets accepted into this group, he learns about each member: twins Charles and Camilla, Francis, Henry, and Bunny. Spending time with the clique, Richard notices certain oddities, such as frequent injury, disappearing for days, and strange interactions between the students. Throughout the novel, Richard reveals secrets and narrates the story of Bunny’s death, uncovering mystery after mystery. Though the reader knows Bunny will die, the suspense of it all is unchanged. This is a great read for autumn because it focuses so much on starting university in a new place and meeting new, interesting people, all the while showing the dangers of devoting too much to academia.
The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins
As the days get colder in Glasgow, what’s a better read than a chilling Victorian novel? This is Wilkie Collins’s fifth published novel. It takes place in the mid-19th century with protagonist Walter Hartright, an art tutor who encounters a ghost-like woman lost in London. The mystery develops as Hartright discovers who this woman is, all the while taking up a teaching position at Limmeridge House, where his student, Laura, becomes his love interest. Collins uses descriptive language frequently, for example, in describing foggy nighttime landscapes. This technique makes this novel ideal for autumn, as Hartwright takes a job away from London to experience the season elsewhere. Inspired by criminal cases he encountered while studying law in Paris, Collins creates a thrilling story, which has villainous schemes, deception, fake identity, and immense mystery. However, this is a great introduction to Victorian literature. The novel is a page-turner, and the ending is unpredictable. There are also many interesting themes to analyse as you read, such as the role of women in Victorian society or the treatment of the mentally ill in the 19th century.
Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
Leaving home for a new future is what students do every September, and the protagonist of the Brontë work does the same, but instead of going to university, Agnes Grey sets off to become a governess. The main theme of this 1847 novel is human morality, or rather, the lack of it. Imagery and setting are used to describe the difficulties Agnes faces in her new lifestyle, with bleak and cold late autumn days reflecting her harsh reality. This novel displays the hardships of teaching children and examines themes of social hierarchy, such as how your childhood environment impacts your character, living independently as a young lady, and the inability to combat long-lasting patriarchal habits alone.
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Without Henry James, dark academia wouldn’t be the subgenre it is today. The Portrait of a Lady is about Isabel Archer, an American woman who loses her father and, invited by her aunt, travels to Europe to broaden her horizons. Rather than focusing on an academic atmosphere, such as a classroom, this novel shows the importance of intellectualism in life experiences. Isabel prioritises her beliefs and doesn’t go against her moral ideals, unlike some of the other characters who do so for the sake of reputation. For example, she wants to remain in solitude and rejects marriage proposals because she doesn’t want to be reduced to just a wife; she wants her own legacy. James writes this plot using beautiful metaphors and, of course, mesmerising Victorian syntax.
Letters to a Young Poet by Raner Maria Rilke
This collection of letters from poet Rilke to a 19-year-old military cadet Franz Xavier Kappus serves as a guide to poetics. Kappus wished to become a poet and sought advice from Rilke, a well-established Austrian author. The letters from Rilke are from 1903 and 1908 and include all sorts of advice on writing, living as an artist, and philosophical themes. Dark academia is noticeable in his ideas, such as the importance of solitude for artistic growth and the romance of suffering for one’s work. These 10 letters make for a short read, however insightful quotes are condensed into each page. If you are looking for mantras to add to autumn moodboards, this is the place to look.
Surrounding yourself with literature that matches your vibe can definitely inspire academic motivation in the colder months, so the next time you head to a coffee shop in the city, consider bringing along one of these books to spice up the fall experience!
Image credit: Typelish