Get the Tissues Ready
When you think about classic literature, you probably don’t think about something that will make you bawl. It’s easy to ignore all those dusty tomes for the shiny new ones on Indigo shelves—between all the confusing language and out-of-touch references, a lot of classic lit doesn’t hold up today. But some tragic stories withstand the test of time, and we’re here to revisit a couple.
1. The Diary of a Young Girl
Anne Frank’s diary is as tragic and insightful as you could imagine. It details the inner thoughts of an innocent kid before she and her family are squirreled away in an attic to avoid the incoming regime. It’s a brutal reminder of the horrors of war while also exploring teenage adolescence, resilience, and the human spirit.
2. Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Is there anything worse than bad outcomes from good intentions? Thomas Hardy penned this tragic story of social injustice and the horrible societal rules Victorian women were subjected to. We won’t give anything away, but there’s never a dry eye in the house—especially at the end.
3. Stoner
John Williams’ masterpiece is often overlooked in the world of classic literature. Though some recognize it as a terribly sad, brilliantly written glimpse into humanity, others don’t pay it much attention. However, if you can stomach William’s tragic life, you won’t regret joining him on his journey.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
4. A Farewell To Arms
If anyone’s going to make us cry, it’s Ernest Hemingway. Sure enough, Farewell to Arms ends with one of the most devastating events possible, highlighting the unavoidable hopelessness of some people’s lives. It also delves into the brutality of war and one’s struggle to find their sense of self—all with Hemingway’s blunt style.
5. A Tale of Two Cities
Familial duties, the trouble with legacies, love, loss, the French Revolution…need anything else ot make you cry? This is widely considered Charles Dickens’ darkest work, and for good reason. We won’t spoil the ending, though you may wish we did.
