Unattended Moments

Jane Austen

My favourite 19th century writer. I read Emma in my early teens and immediately wanted to read all her other novels. Her light touch, blending witty observation and romance, make her books a pure delight.

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Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Ever since I read it as a teenager, this is perhaps the 19th century romance I love most - with vivid images and emotions, and one of the strongest heroines: passionate, intelligent and outspoken.

Charles Dickens

My introduction to 19th century writing (with Oliver Twist). His characters are vivid; his work satirises the values and institutions of his society, but also shows a belief in basic human goodness. My favourite is Great Expectations.

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Middlemarch - George Eliot

For me, one of the greatest novels. It is a many-layered story, building up a complex web of relationships between its varied characters, and shows the compassion and sympathy underlying George Eliot's vision.

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

I did not expect to be so moved by this story, which has become my favourite among 19th century gothic novels. It is a powerful narrative, touching on many ideas still relevant today.