The 20 Popular Victorian Novels You Need To Read First

Greetings, discerning readers!

If one takes a cursory stroll down the labyrinthine corridors of the literary world, there are certain epochs and genres that beckon irresistibly, like sirens singing from across time. Ah, the Victorian era—how could we ever resist your beguiling charms? Spanning from 1837 to 1901, the era named after Queen Victoria is a trove of cultural artifacts that beckon us with a siren song of eloquence, elaborate plots, and deeply textured characters. Today, I make the case for why the Victorian novel should be not just a passing dalliance, but a sustained engagement in your reading journey.

The Lure of the Victorian Novel

Before diving into this curated list, let's engage in a short intellectual exercise—why Victorian novels? First, these works offer an uncanny psychological depth, a foray into the complex mechanisms that move the human soul. If you're captivated by the mysterious intricacies of the mind—a Freud before Freud, if you will—Victorian novels offer an in-depth study worthy of any psychology degree.

Secondly, the Victorian era is a cornucopia of social commentary and ethical discourse. Women's rights, class warfare, industrialization—these themes are as relevant today as they were then. Reading Victorian novels, therefore, is not just a leisure activity but a culturally enriching experience that spans across time, offering a telescope to the socio-political dynamics of yore and a mirror to our contemporary ethos.

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And now, for the pièce de résistance, let's unravel the long scroll of recommended readings:

Victorian Novels For the Psychological Savant:

Middlemarch by George Eliot - A labyrinthine narrative focusing on the complexities of marriage, idealism, and self-interest.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - An introspective journey into the mind of a woman ahead of her time.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - A cautionary tale that delves into the abyss of human vanity and moral corruption.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - A gripping novella that probes the dual nature of man, offering a veritable playground for psychological analysis.

Victorian Novels For the Social Commentator:

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens - A poignant criticism of the Poor Law and its impact on orphaned children.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - A tale of social disparity that pits industrialism against pastoralism.

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot - A study of the social expectations stifling women's opportunities for intellectual and emotional fulfillment.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy - A poignant critique of the sexual morality and social hypocrisy of Victorian England.

Victorian Novels For the Lover of Intricate Plots:

Bleak House by Charles Dickens - A convoluted legal drama that leaves no thread untangled.

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins - Considered the first modern English detective novel; enough said.

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray - A satire on society that intricately weaves multiple plots around a set of compelling characters.

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy - A plot that keeps you on your toes, involving love triangles, betrayal, and a generous serving of pastoral realism.

Victorian Novels For the Classics Aficionado:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë - A passionate and tragic story of love and revenge on the Yorkshire moors.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - A bildungsroman that explores the moral development of a young Pip as he navigates life's tumultuous seas.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville - While not British, this American novel of the same period captivates through its philosophical depth and complex characters.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - A collection of tales featuring the iconic detective, merging classical storytelling with acute psychological insight.

Victorian Novels For the Lover of Lesser-Known Gems:

East Lynne by Ellen Wood - A melodramatic tale of infidelity and disguise, this work was exceedingly popular in its time but is less read today.

The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith - A comic chronicle that paints an amusing and humane portrait of lower-middle-class life in Victorian England.

The Lifted Veil by George Eliot - A speculative novella that explores themes of extrasensory perception and the darker recesses of the human mind.

The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope - A scathing commentary on the moral bankruptcy of financial speculation and societal greed.

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Ah, such a tantalizing buffet of intellectual delights! With each book, you'll not only traverse landscapes and time zones, but also the undulating terrains of the human psyche. And given that you've now been handed the keys to this wondrous garden, how can you possibly resist unlocking its secrets?

So there you have it—the challenge has been laid forth. Pick up a Victorian novel and let yourself be transported to a world so like, yet so unlike, your own. It's a journey you'll relish, dissect, and ponder over, making it an endeavor that's as pleasurable as it is enlightening.

LET'S DISCUSS: What is your favorite Victorian novel? Do any of these on the list intrigue you?

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