A well known epic read for those who are in the mood to delve into some serious philosophical issues, tragic, exciting. Incredibly humane, it manages to inhabit both the intimate and the grand scale and draws characters that are completely…
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General fiction - 19th Century Classics - Christchurch City Libraries
If you have already read your way through better known 19th century novelists such as Austen or Dickens and can’t get enough of their vibrant characters and gripping narratives, why not try some lesser known literary classics by the following authors. A Christchurch City Libraries list.
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21 items
War and Peace
a Novel
- Darcy’s Pride, Lizzie’s Prejudice, misunderstandings and adorable side romances - what’s not to love? Since its immediate success in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language.
- Packed with mystery, intrigue, and many twists and turns, Lady Audley's Secret is a gripping narrative told briskly yet poetically. Braddon's classic tale tells the story of the beautiful but devious lady Audley and her scandalous secret which will…
- Set in the bleak Yorkshire Moors, this is a novel of transgression, passion and lust. This classically dark romance has achieved cult status through its haunting language and deft portrayal of an obsessive and dangerous love between Heathcliff and…
- In this unique text, one of history's finest thinkers looks at hero worship be it for priests, poets, revolutionaries or God- and what it is to be a hero worshiper. Whether you agree or disagree with Carlyle's views, this classic remains a…
- Orphaned at a young age, Jane has experienced more than her fair share of sorrow and loneliness. When she is employed by the rich and powerful Edward Rochester, she finds herself drawn to his enigmatic, brooding, complex nature, and Rochester is…
- More than a mystery, Collins envelopes romance, vivid characters, and both domestic and exotic landscapes to create a literary masterpiece. In English literatures first detective novel, Wilkie Collins spins a captivating tale around the coveted…
- A read that is densely layered filled with lyrical language and intense narratives. One for those who have time to really delve in and ruminate, a disturbing and powerful look at imperialism. Conrad's classic novel looks at what happens when Marlowe…
- Set in post Napoleonic France, this thrilling classic tells the story of Edmond Dantes from his wrongful imprisonment in the fortess of the Chateau D'if to his reinvention as the powerful, mysterious, and vengeful Count of Monte Cristo. Fast paced,…
- Set in 19th century England, Middlemarch tells the story of various individuals in the province, including Dorothea Brooke, a young, idealistic woman with dreams of social change, Will Ladislaw, a passionate man with political promise, and Lydgate,…
- Described by some as being "Pride and Prejudice with a social conscience", Gaskells classic explores the harsh realities of life in the mills of 19th century northern England. Gaskell looks at the tempestuous relationship between self made mill…
- New grub street explores the lives of two Victorian authors and the rigorous demands they must meet both in their harsh urban lives and in their unforgiving profession. Realistic yet non-pitying, Gissing's narrative is an important look at Victorian…
- Isabel Archer, a spirited young woman from America, is determined to make her own choices when she arrives in Europe, but her decision to marry the charming Gilbert Osmond, will take her on a difficult journey to self discovery. This beautifully…
- When John Bold discovers that a good but simple English clergyman is in possession of an income exceeding his foundation, he makes it his mission to put right the apparent abuse of his position. A charming, humorous , and ultimately touching…
- When the talented but mordant Bazarov enters the home of his friend Arkady Kirsanov, his scepticism of Russian society and its hierarchy soon triggers arguments and even love affairs, in the Kirsanov family, transforming the household just as Russia…
- This touching classic makes for a poignant and perceptive read filled with lyrical language and captivating characters. In 'The Age of Innocence', Wharton looks at the pressures and hypocrisy of society in 20th century America. Newly separated from…
- 'Therse Raquin' is the haunting story of how a terrible deed committed by one couple in order to remain together, literally, comes back to haunt them. Set in the dingy back streets of Paris, Zolas classic is a realist novel of passion, crime, and…
- Set in the Puritan world of seventeenth century England, 'The Scarlet Letter' tells of how one act leads to the intransigent Hester's ostracization in the community. A classic tale of redemption, revenge, and the meaning of justice, Hawthorne's…
- Captain Ahab is hell-bent on hunting the white whale that cost him his leg, dragging his crew, and narrator Ishmael, into an epic battle with nature, obsession, and fate. Part adventure, part deep dive into life’s big questions, it’s a wild, poetic…
- Emma Bovary longs for passion and luxury, but her romantic dreams clash with the dull reality of small-town life and marriage. Her pursuit of escape leads to heartbreak and ruin in this sharp look at desire, disillusionment, and the cost of chasing…
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