Eros:

Eros is the Greek god of love. It represents romantic or passionate love. This one is the most popular form of all types of love in literature, especially in the classics and pre-classics, and likewise alluring. The more famous are Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, and Anna Karenina.

Philia:

The word Philia stems from Philos. It is the love of goodwill and friendship. Furthermore, this understanding of love transforms the possessive love into an impulse for philosophy. Friendship is regarded highly in literature. There are many stories of true friendship such as A Tale of Two Cities and The Kite Runner that warm the cockles of your heart.

Storge:

Storge is the Greek word for natural affection. It is familial love. Little Women, Robinson Crusoe, Inheritance and The Weight of a Piano are most noteworthy examples of this.

Agape:

Agape is the universal love. It is the comprehensive feeling for the entire cosmos. This type of love in literature is more spiritually inclined. This genre includes powerful literary works such as Outwitting the Devil, The Disappearance of the Universe When Breath Becomes Air.

Ludos:

Ludos originated from the word ludo, meaning ‘I play’. This is the skittish kind of love. This type of love, in literature, is portrayed many times as betrayal. A few examples are Macbeth, Paper Princess, and The Sense of an Ending.

Pragma:

Pragma stems from ‘pragmatic’, duty and reason are the foundations. Consequently, it is seen in the form of arranged marriage. A beautiful classic- The Bride, and from more recent times, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and The Princess Diaries make you see the world from a totally different perspective.

Philautia:

Philia, which means ‘between equals’ , is the root for Philautia. Philautia means self-love, love within oneself, it is the process of loving ourselves. The most classic examples in literature are The Four Agreements, The Gift of Imperfection and Untethered Soul are more recent examples.

TOP TEN CLASSIC ROMANCES

Pride and Prejudice:

Why end with tragedy when you can end with a wedding? Jane Austen, that queen of Regency romance, wrote many love stories, but none can beat that of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Their societal dance around one another is inescapable, and the threat of destitution looming over all unmarried women gives Elizabeth’s journey real tension. Pride and Prejudice endures as THE favorite literary romance.

Romeo and Juliet:

Before all the rest, Shakespeare wrote the quintessential tragic love story that has been the mold for star-crossed lovers ever since. Their families hate each other, but somehow, these idealistic adolescents find a love that could end all strife. Of course, we all know that it was not to be for Juliet and her Romeo. Whether you root for them or not, Shakespeare’s characters speak truths which have echoed through the centuries.

The Great Gatsby:

F.Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel set during the Roaring Twenties gave us the story of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby, a man who quite literally built his fortune just to impress the love of his life, remains separated from her until the narrator introduces them again.

Jane Eyre:

When Jane is hired as a governess to the ward of Mr. Rochester, she practically stumbles into his affections. But what do you do when the man you love forgot to tell you that he’s already married to a madwoman? Charlotte Bronte’s Gothic love story is at times baffling, but always filled with intensity.

The Notebook:

Nicholas Sparks’ first published book (and popular movie adaptation) tells the story of love’s endurance. Noah and Allie share an exciting teenage summer romance, which is stopped by Allie’s mother. Years later, they are reunited and rekindle their love. The story is told by an elderly man to his wife who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Gone with the Wind:

Scarlett O’Hara may be the epitome of a difficult woman, but Rhett sure loves her. Money, power, and the Civil War drive them apart, yet they are drawn back together time after time. Scarlett and Rhett share a stubbornness that makes their romance raw and unapologetic.

Wuthering Heights:

Catherine and Heathcliff, lovers without the opportunity. Their relationship grows from childhood but is sabotaged by both their family and themselves. The overlapping of family ties and romantic love may raise some eyebrows, but their story remains a much-beloved classic.

The Remains of the Day:

If your tastes tend away from the dramatic fire of your romance, Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel about the would-be love between an English butler and housekeeper may strike your fancy. It’s a story of what could have been, woven into the daily work of pre-World War II service.

Anna Karenina:

The passionate (and tragic) affair between Anna and her lover Vronsky is contrasted with one of the sweetest, most gentle romances in literature: Kitty and Levin. Although Kitty initially dismisses Levin for his age (fourteen years her senior), his patience and enduring love win her affection. And unlike most romances, the novel continues past their wedding day.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover:

Yes, it’s been accused of being thinly masked pornography, but the torrid love affair between Constance (Lady Chatterley) and her gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors, is filled with passion, class struggles, and a woman’s acceptance of her desires.