We’ve selected some of our top reads inspired by or set in and around Yorkshire. All are currently available as downloads so you can easily access them from your kindle, tablet or phone while at home. We’ll soon be sharing a guide to the wonderful book shops around Yorkshire that we can’t wait to be browsing again soon!
1. All Creatures Great and Small is one of our favourite feel-good reads when we need a little escapism! James Herriot’s memoirs of turning up in an idyllic, rural corner of Yorkshire are the perfect pick me up right now.
2. The Secret Garden by Hodgson Burnett is a magical tale, perfect to read together with children. An enchanting story of hope after adversity and a wondrous world that exists at the end of a Yorkshire garden.
3. Seasons of My Life is the much loved memoir of Hannah Hauxwell who first came to the country’s attention in an award winning TV documentary. This is the tale of her life single handedly managing her family’s Yorkshire farm, fully self sufficient without running water or electricity whilst keeping her much loved steady, serene nature and unwavering good humour.
4. The Yorkshire Shepherdess is Amanda Owen’s story of upping sticks from Huddersfield and moving to the Yorkshire Dales to fulfil her dreams of being a shepherdess. She recounts her story of the characters she meets, raising her growing brood of children as well as her sheep and the trials and delights she experiences in her part of rural Yorkshire.
5. A Kestrel for a Knave is the classic novel by Barnsley born author Barry Hines where Billy finds solace from his troubled home and school life when he finds and trains his kestrel ‘Kes’.
6. If more dramatic, dark tales are your preferred literary choice the classic horror of Bram Stoker’s Dracula will take you on a journey through Dracula’s bloody destruction with Whitby inspiring one the locations.
7. For younger scary story fans in Robin Jarvis’ Whitby Witches an orphaned brother and sister find themselves in Whitby surrounded by sorcery and witchcraft with the shadow of Whitby Abbey looming overhead. A great read for children aged around 9-14.
8. God’s Own Country, the much lauded debut from Ross Raisin, will reel you into the story of a solitary young farmer and his extroadinary battle with the world. A novel that is all at once dark, comic, frightening and impossible to put down!
9. Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte’s only finished novel, will transport you to the rugged, brooding Yorkshire moorland as the backdrop to a tale of dramatic, tortured love between the foundling Heathcliff and his wealthy benefactor’s daughter Catherine.
10. InYorkshire Folk Tales for Children Carmel Page brings to life Yorkshire’s rich heritage in folk storytelling as short stories for Children which would be perfect jumping off points for children to create pictures of their own magcal creatures or write their own fantastical folk tales.
We’d love to welcome you to Yorkshire and help you find your perfect luxury holiday property in which to read and relax once the current Government regulations are lifted, you can see all of our beautiful properties here.
