"There's always room for a story that can transport people to another place."
—J.K. Rowling
As someone who has loved the magic of stories ever since I was only a little thing, I believe that escaping to the worlds within books and hiding away behind the crackling pages of worn old novels is one of the greatest and most important things in the world. There is a certain enchantment to the way stories work, and there is nothing better than finding a piece of yourself in the characters that string their words across the page as they go on adventures and take you with them.
And the lovely thing about stories is that you can find protagonists of every kind. Princesses can be dragon slayers, little can defeat big, and introverts can be heroes, too.
So in case you are ever in need of a book with a relatable character to follow into battle, here are five of my favourite stories that have introverted protagonists.
1. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
A story of a quiet and respectable Hobbit who is called to adventure by a company of dwarves and one cunning wizard, The Hobbit follows Bilbo Baggins on his assorted escapes and escapades as he endeavours to defeat a dragon and help the dwarves reclaim their homeland. Full of quirks and concerns and an introvert's wisdom, Bilbo is certainly a character worth rooting for.
2. Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
When eleven year old Anne Shirley is accidentally adopted by an old brother and sister who were not expecting to get a girl, she finds a home in Green Gables of Prince Edward Island, and would love nothing more than to stay. With a dreamer's heart and an endless imagination, Anne leads a life of adventure (and misadventure) that is a wonderful read for anyone who knows what it is to have a creative mind and an old soul.
3. Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
The story of dangerous young outcasts and an impossible heist, Six Of Crows is a thrillingly fast-paced tale filled with schemes and escapes and no small number of plot twists that make it utterly unputdownable. The first book in a fantasy-tinged duology, it is told by five alternating perspectives that are diverse in both race and personality. It's a masterclass in plotting as well as character development, in which introverts and extroverts alike find themselves twisted up in a master plan to get rich and maybe even save the world in the process.
4. Phantastes by George MacDonald
Phantastes is the story of Anodos, a young man who journeys to a rather different world from the one we live in. It is a twisted sort of fairytale that was first published all the way back in 1858, and it's full of lush descriptions and poetic prose that is terribly romantic in the best possible way. Although it may seem light in places, this story has a depth and darkness to it that makes it quite an enrapturing read.
5. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Sean Kendrick and Puck Conolly each have their own reasons for competing in the Scorpio Races, the infamous race that takes place each November on the island of Thisby. The race is made deadly by the water horses on which the competitors ride, and many never survive to see the finish line. Told in alternating perspectives by two characters who portray introversion in very different ways, this is a tale of dangerous gambles and deadly consequences, and is perhaps my favourite book of all time.
I believe there is magic in reading stories, and perhaps even more magic in writing them. There's just something about finding yourself in another world that you can see and feel and touch without having to leave the comfort of your own bedroom, and it is a feeling that I will never grow tired of. And if the story's protagonist just so happens to be an introvert, I love it just a little bit more.
What are your favourite stories with introvert protagonists?
