Victorian Fiction

[frillylemons]

Anyone have any suggestions? I read The Newgate Jig and Walking in Pimlico by Ann Featherstone and they were ace!

Have you read Affinity by Sarah Waters? - she seems to b a bit of a marmite author - I like her though, and really enjoyed this one - story centres on a Victorian women's prison.

The American Boy by Andrew Taylor also set in Victorian era and is a good read.

I am off to google the ones you've read - I love anything set in Victorian times

I'm doing an English Degree and we did Victorian Fiction last semester, do you want to read authentic Victorian stuff or modern texts set in the period? Most Victorian texts are free on the kindle which was great for me. I would suggest Madame Bovary and Lady Audley's Secret as good authentic texts from the period.

Thanks :) Kurrie, Affinity sounds good, I'll look it up.

Unnamed I was thinking more along the lines of stuff written now but set back then. Thanks for the suggestions though, I'll check them out!

Fingersmith is another one by Sarah Waters frillylemons - also set in Victorian times, but I haven't read that one - so don't know what its like.

DH has just finished reading The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue (she also wrote Room). Set in Victorian times about a divorce case. He said it was v.good, and is now on my tbr pile.

Have you read Crimson Petal & the White? It's truly amazing although the end is a bit frustrating.

Totally agree, BabeRuthless. A wonderful, rich book but the ending leaves you a little... deflated. There is a 'sort of' sequel called The Apple - it's a short story anthology which ties up a few loose ends. It's a much shorter book but no less wonderful than its predecessor.
Two other modern takes on VicFic I can heartily recommend are Gillespie And I by Jane Harris and The Quincunx by Charles Palliser. The latter is especially brilliant.

I've got Gillespie and I on my tbr pile - looking forward to reading it. I've also got The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - another Victorian(esque) novel.

Anne Perry writes very good Victorian murder mysteries with lots of slum dwellers and diseases, social problems and hidden deviancy. I like them a lot.

Read Wilkie Collins!

For modern stuff, 'The American Boy' is really good. I can't abide Sarah Waters (so agree re the marmite comment).

I did enjoy a book called something to do with a character called Dora Damage (google it) about Dora having to work in the Victorian porn industry when her husband is unable to work - it's not intended to be taken too seriously and is a bit of a romp iirc.

I've just finished Affinity- and ot's a goody. I also read a book called the portrait of mrs charbuque by jeffery ford once. It was very good and has good reviews on amazon.

I really liked The Great Stink by Clare Clark, about the sewers in Victorian London.

Ooh notnowImreading, I shall have to check her out, sounds right up my street! I loved The Great Stink, it was fab.
Another one worth checking out is The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman - lots of dark intrigue, slums and tragedy set in Sunderland.