Celebrating Black History Month and beyond
We all remember the books we were told were essential - the novels and poems that filled our school reading lists and shaped our idea of “classic literature.” But as much as we love those stories, the literary canon we were taught is far from complete.
This Black History Month, we’re shining a light on incredible Black authors whose work deserves the same recognition and reverence as the so-called “classics.” These stories are bold, lyrical, heart-wrenching, and imaginative - expanding the conversations that literature can hold.
Whether you’re drawn to Gothic drama, feminist essays, or speculative fiction, here are some brilliant “if you loved this, try this” recommendations to help broaden your bookshelf.
If you loved: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Explore: The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins
A gothic tale of obsession, murder, and forbidden love in Georgian London - full of atmosphere, mystery, and unforgettable prose.
If you loved: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Try: The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez
A Black lesbian vampire navigates 200 years of American history, redefining what it means to be a monster - and what it means to survive.
If you loved: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Discover: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Twin sisters, one family, infinite questions about identity, colourism, and belonging. A modern masterpiece exploring the shape-shifting nature of self.
If you loved: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Try: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
An adventure spanning continents as an enslaved boy escapes to claim his freedom and discovers his genius. Sweeping, daring, and deeply humane.
If you loved: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Discover: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Seven generations, two continents, one family torn apart by slavery’s legacy. A devastating and beautifully crafted exploration of ancestry and resilience.
If you loved: Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Try: The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon
A groundbreaking, stream-of-consciousness novel following Caribbean immigrants in 1950s London. Witty, heartbreaking, and essential reading.
If you loved: Ariel by Sylvia Plath
Read: Blessing the Boats by Lucille Clifton
Winner of the National Book Award, Clifton’s poems are intimate reflections on survival, grace, and quiet revolution.
If you loved: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Read: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
A classic that should already be on every syllabus. Janie Crawford’s journey to self-discovery is one of literature’s most powerful portraits of independence and love.
If you loved: 1984 by George Orwell
Experience: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
Dystopian brilliance that predicted our climate crisis - written in 1993. Butler’s visionary storytelling feels more urgent than ever.
If you loved: A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
Discover: Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde
Essential essays on feminism, racism, and poetry as power - from the mother of intersectionality herself.
Why “Reclaiming the Canon” matters
The aim isn’t to replace beloved classics, but to expand the canon - to make room for voices that have long been overlooked. Each of these books enriches our understanding of literature, history, and humanity.
As readers and book lovers, we have the power to decide what becomes “essential.” So this Black History Month (and every month) let’s keep widening our shelves and celebrating the brilliance of Black writers whose words continue to shape the world.