10 Personal gifts for Classics Readers (Austen, Brontë & more!)
Items that are marked with * were sent to me by publishers or small businesses for friein the past for review, were part of a previous paid collaboration, were shot for freelance photography work or contain affiliate links. Anything I’m including here is based on my personal recommendation and opinion.
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What do you get your resident classics lover for Christmas or their birthday? If you’re not so well-versed in the world of literature this can be quite a challenge, especially if you’re not sure which books they already have! Hopefully this guide, written by a certified book-lover, can give you some ideas. I own every single one of these items myself, so consider them tried and tested.
I’ve included a mix of small businesses and artists and well-known publishers. As you’ll find out, I’m a big fan of Austen and the Brontë sisters, so some of the gifts are themed around those authors, but hopefully there’s something in here for everyone!
Penguin Minis (Moderns or Clothbound Classics)*
Buying a book for an avid reader is always a bit dangerous (what if they already have it?!) but the Penguin Mini sets make for fantastic gifts. If you’re going for beautiful editions, the Penguin Little Clothbound Classics are the perfect pick. They have only been released recently, and there is a range of famous and lesser-known classics, and they’re all absolutely gorgeous.
The Penguin Mini Moderns and Little Black Classics are amazing as stocking-stuffers or budget-friendly gifts (they’re all £2 each). There are literally a hundred to choose from, so just see what catches your eye. There’s even a Penguin Mini Modern website that will select a random one for you. I don’t think can go wrong with these!
Jane Austen Playing Cards*
The Jane Austen Playing Cards are a gift that can be put to good use immediately! It comes in a beautiful box and is an absolute joy to use as you discover all the illustrations.
Book Spines Prints
Georgina the Librarian
If you’re after a beautiful black and white illustrated look, the classic spines prints by Georgina the Library on Etsy are perfect!
Bedlam Books
Bedlam Books has a range of colourful spine prints, and also offers custom spine prints for the ultimate personalised gift! I ordered one that combined my partner and my own favourite books all mixed together.
Bronte Sisters Print by Amanda Whie
Amanda White creates beautiful collaged images, and sells them as very affordable prints on Etsy. I’ve got this Brontë sisters print on my wall, but she also specialises in the houses of lots of different authors. You can also buy a range of her work at the Brontë Parsonage museum gift shop.
Literary Pins
The Literary Emporium has a beautiful collection of Gothic-themed Literary Pins (which can also be bought individually), but also has lots of different book pin options for all readers. And if you’ve got a slightly bigger budget, there are also beautiful themed gift boxes containing a shirt, book and pin!
National Trust & Literary location tickets
Make dreams come true and send your favourite reader on a trip to visit a literary location with a National Trust Membership, or a ticket for one specific venue. If you need some suggestions, Jane Eyre’s Haddon Hall (see above), Chatsworth House and Stourhead (both Pride & Prejudice) are some of my personal favourite locations and National Trust also has some great lists with their most famous filming locations and literary connections.
Dracula Jigsaw*
These are guaranteed to keep you busy on a birthday or during the Christmas break! The beautifully detailed literary puzzles from Laurence King are quite a challenge, but totally worth it. The Frankenstein and Dracula ones are my personal favourites, but there are Bronte and Jane Austen jigsaws, and much more! Always check out their website for discount codes around the Christmas period.
The famous Penguin Tote
You can’t go wrong with the ultimate bookish fashion statement: the classic orange Penguin tote! Or if you’d rather shop local, why not check out what tote options your closest bookshop has on offer. I’m personally quite fond of the Pages of Hackney tote, the Daunt tote, and the famous Shakespeare & Co tote (and I just happen to have endless photos of me modeling the wide variety of bookish totes in my possession).
Jane Eyre Embroidery kit*
Abigail sent one of her beautiful Jane Eyre themed embroidery kits* my way last year, and I think they would make for an amazing gift. They’re beautifully wrapped and contain everything you might need, including detailed instructions, so it’s perfect for beginners. And there’s a variety of other literature-themed kits available on her Etsy too.
Personal Shopping Experience
Lots of bookshops offer personalised recommendation services, including my local Books on the Hill. You can choose a gift voucher amount, and a letter that can be used as the gift will be sent out. Then the receiver of the gift gets to enjoy a cup of tea and a recommendation session with a bookseller, and spend their voucher during the session. Mister B’s in Bath offers a Bibliotheraphy session (which involves cake and a huge personalised stack of books to choose from) Rare Birds in Endinburgh offer a wonderful Advent Calender experience (which doesn’t need to be done in person), which offers lots of options for the reader to choose from.
Book Club Journal*
Of course I have to give a shoutout to a gift that’s very close to my heart: my very own Book Club Journal. I wrote this journal last year, and it’s filled with tips on how to run your own book club + lots of themed reading lists for inspiration. You can document 50 books in the journal, with plenty of space for notes and also lots of prompts to get you started.
