What books would you recommend to me?

[BloomingRose]

So, I really enjoy reading stories settled in the Victorian times, and one of my favourite authors is Louise May Alcott. Since I've read all her works now, I would like to know what other authors from that time have good, smart and interesting novels to read. Which one would you recommend?

[Veho]

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte, if you haven't read it already...

[Red-Headed]

How about the Chronicles of Barsetshire aka Barchester Novels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronicles_of_Barsetshire) by Anthony Trollope? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Trollope)

[wessexgirl]

I second that, but I would suggest any of Trollope's work, not just the Barsetshire ones. I would also suggest George Eliot, particularly Middlemarch.

[dfloyd]

Not that good books aren't written by both sexes, but you might prefer Jane Austen and Mrs. ??????? Her name escapes me, but she was the author of Charlotte Bronte's biography, Cranford, and North and South.

[Lulim]

(...) and Mrs. ??????? Her name escapes me, but she was the author of Charlotte Bronte's biography, Cranford, and North and South.
Elizabeth Gaskell?

And, I believe, Jane Austen lived, and her settings are, somewhat before Queen Victorias times, nevertheless recommendable reading, though. :)

Apart from that, I suggest Thomas Hardy (e.g. Far from the Madding Crowd) and Charles Dickens.

[kiki1982]

If you like some early romantic stuff, there is a personal favorite of Charlotte Brontë: Sir Walter Scott.

He requires some adjustment on a vocab-level but once you have got used to his style, he is great. Ivanhoe and Rob Roy were his work.

He is a little more interesting than Austen, as she writes abot a very closed world where nothing happens, but both have the merit that they 'keep the reader's interest'

[Pryderi Agni]

How about:
a) George Gissing (proletarian literature)
b)A.E. Housman (great poetry)
c)R.L. Stevenson (adventure novels)
d) Bram Stoker (you sure you wanna hint?)
e) Oscar Wilde (drama, not the boring kind, though)

[Red-Headed]

Sir Walter Scott.

He requires some adjustment on a vocab-level but once you have got used to his style, he is great. Ivanhoe and Rob Roy were his work.



Rob Roy was written in 1817 I think. It is a great read though! :thumbs_up

[Dr Jekyll]

Well, how about Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights", Meredith's "The Egoist" or if you prefer Thackeray's "Vanity Fair" which are all set in the Victorian era. Also, books by Charles Dickens are great examples.

[kiki1982]

Rob Roy was written in 1817 I think. It is a great read though! :thumbs_up

Ok, not really Victorian then, but nonetheless a little the same style.

[mal4mac]

Middlemarch is great, so is Bleak House by Dickens. But these two novels are as big as they get, in very sense! You might want to start with earlier, simpler novels by both these authors. As you enjoyed reading all of Alcott you might enjoy reading all the best novels of Eliot and Dickens -- reading through them in order of publication would be a good way to go. (Same with Jane Austen - maybe start with her?)

[kiki1982]

Austen, like Scott, is not exactly Victorian, but you might find her more usefull than Scott. Austen is a good way to get acquainted with the rules of society and social relationships of the times, that relaxed a little towards the end of the 19th century, but basically still applied in the majority of cases (morning calling, leaving cards, who calls on whom, etc). You could also read a book about Victorian/Georgian-Regency social rules, but that is quite boring. That is of course, if you haven't read her at all yet.

Other than that, I think Eliot needs getting used to. I was in danger of relinquishing George Eliot after the first 150 pages of The Mill on the Floss. I didn't, because it would have been a failure to me and I continued, hoping it would get better. After the 200-mark, it did get better, but maybe she is not one to start with.

Personally, I am not a great fan of Dickens, but by all means do read him.