Victorian Era Books

[dr.mel_PT]

I'm obsessed with everything Victorian. I have the next 5 weeks off from school, so I want to read (for pleasure...FINALLY) before things get crazy again. Can anyone recommend some historical fiction that takes place around this time period? I like everything from horror to mystery to a good old love story.

TIA!!

 

[Justinef]

Are you looking for a book written in Victirian times (eg Dickens and Hardy etc) or a recent book, set in Victorian times? Total fiction or historical novel? Set in Victorian England or anywhere?

I'll try and suggest a few.
Justine

 

[Justinef]

OOPS - just re-read your post and realised you said fiction

Phillip Pullman and the Sally Lockheart series
Human Traces by Sebastian Faulkes
Wide Sargasso sea - Jean Rhys
The woman in white - Wilkie Collins (or the Moonstone)

Any use?

 

[garance]

Anything by George Eliot, but especially Middlemarch and The Mill on the Floss. Because of her interest in reflecting historical reality, you won't be disappointed. These two novels are great love stories too.

 

[Beth-B-Fit]

I suggest Wuthering Heights, Jekyll and Hyde, Kidnapped, A Tale of Two Cities, and a Thomas Hardy-Jude the Obscure or Tess. Have fun!

Beth

 

[NY25]

The Dress Lodger!! Excellent and fascinating historical fiction taking place in London. Check the reviews on Amazon. Great book!

 

[maddiesmum]

OOPS - just re-read your post and realised you said fiction

Phillip Pullman and the Sally Lockheart series
Human Traces by Sebastian Faulkes
Wide Sargasso sea - Jean Rhys
The woman in white - Wilkie Collins (or the Moonstone)

Any use?

I have to second the recommendation of Wilkie Collins: love both these books, especially Moonstone, the first detective fiction......

Clare

 

[dr.mel_PT]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!! The kindle store had a bunch of these for free downloads so now I have a bunch of stuff to keep me occupied

 

[jodijodi]

Louisa May Alcott wrote a number of stories for adults anonymously and under the name A.M. Barnard. She wrote these for money before and shortly after having written Little Women. (In fact, if you've read Little Women, she makes a reference to these same kinds of "potboiler" stories written by Jo.) It's an interesting contrast to most of her better-known children's books, and they often feature strong female characters. Many of them are available for free at amazon or gutenberg.org:

Behind a Mask; or, a Woman's Power http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8677

The Abbot's Ghost, or Maurice Treherne's Temptation: A Christmas Story http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8694

The Mysterious Key and What It Opened http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8188

Pauline's Passion and Punishment http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8384

If you like the free ones, there are a few other collections of stories edited by Madeleine Stern. You might be able to find them online or at your library.