My Top 25 Victorian Novels

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Books Mentioned In This Video:
Return of the Native - Thomas Hardy
Dynevor Terrace - Charlotte Mary Yonge
Grania - Emily Lawless
In the Roar of the Sea - Sabine Baring Gould
Romola - George Eliot
North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell
The Woman in White/Man and Wife - Wilkie Collins
Aurora Leigh - Emily Barrett Browning
The Canterville Ghost - Oscar Wilde
Maud: The Diary of a Victorian Woman
The Story of the Treasure Seekers/The Wouldbegoods - E. Nesbit
The Three Brides - Charlotte Mary Yonge
Mary Barton - Elizabeth Gaskell
The Stokesley Secret - Charlotte Mary Yonge
The Belton Estate - Anthony Trollope
Uncle Silas - J. Sheridan Le Fanu
The Cloister and the Hearth - Charles Reade
Can You Forgive Her? - Anthony Trollope
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Daniel Deronda - George Eliot
The Heir of Redclyffe - Charlotte Mary Yonge
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Middlemarch - George Eliot
Wives and Daughters - Elizabeth Gaskell

[heatherinoklahoma]

Such a great list! I have added a few to my TBR. I am currently re-listening to Middlemarch. It's also one of my favorites. I told Steve that young men need to read the sections on Dr. Lydgate and Rosamund and make sure that they are marrying someone who loves them for who they are and not what they can do for them! 😂

[KierTheScrivener]

Alan Rickman narrating sounds sublime! I love the Canterville Ghost.

[setayeshsbooks]

It was amazing 😍
Just found your channel and love your recommendations so much.

[beckyfair]

I love your energy for reading these books. Very motivating!

[Tasman_Tea]

Kate, I found myself agreeing with so many of your picks! As soon as you mentioned David Copperfield, a warm feeling swept over me - and then when you shared how you always smile like that when you talk about this novel, this feeling only increased! It might not be his most mature or polished novel (that probably goes to Bleak House or Our Mutual Friend) David Copperfield, as you said, has such an emotional impact on the reader, doesn't it? Wives and Daughters is definitely my favourite Gaskell, too. Great video. Please keep them coming. Greetings from Tasmania.

[ES_LA]

Couldn't agree more about Juliet Stevenson's narrations! She is sublime.

[jensreadinglife]

I have a number of these sitting on my shelf to read and am going to add quite a few more based on your descriptions! I am rereading Jane Eyre this month and am so glad to see it so high on your list! This was wonderful! 😊

[meghanthestorygirl]

This is such a great list! I love all the Gaskell on here ❤ And this makes me want to read Can You Forgive Her. It sounds so good!

[fortheloveofclassics]

Loved this so much, Kate! Probably the best news for me is that I have not read six of your top ten! I am 50 pages into Wives and Daughters and loving it already. ❤️ You and your family remains in our prayers. Happy 2025!

[amyofhearthridge]

♥️♥️♥️so many wonderful books! I’ve read SO many of these (and loved them!) thanks to you !

[n.desmond]

A perfect video! The summaries are intriguing - I added the ones I havent read yet to my to-read-list. Thanks!

[miriamelizabethreads]

Loved this!! Domestic realism with romance and a mystery subplot - YES, my absolute FAVOURITE type of classic!! The perfect novel.

[mitzireadsandwrites]

Thanks for this list! I'm creating a list for my Victorian TBR for 2025 and I'll add several of these.

[Candycekampie]

I loved your vlog so much so I sent it to my daughter.

She replied:

I loved that YouTube video about the 25 Victorian novels! I’ve been in a little bit of a reading funk, but it made me excited to read again. And I loved that she used “scrapes” to describe getting into trouble…such a Victorian word LOL! I think you sent me a video of hers that originally got me into reading.

[miriamelizabethreads]

I'm excited but nervous to start Middlemarch! I'm starting it in December and will be slowly reading it - as it was released serially.

[marianapgar]

Bless you for bringing this to us, Kate. Your list is great, and I hope to read some more of these books in the coming months.

[Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Yay it's Kate!!🎉🎉❤❤❤

I think i may use your list to help me read from my shelf next year! I own a good many of them already so i might as well!

[amandalavelle]

What a treat- I’m so glad you got to film this. I’ve never really sat and thought what my top 25 Victorian reads would be to be honest but I think diary of a nobody and lady audley’s secret would be in there somewhere xx

[emilykateisreadingandpraying]

Wives and Daughters really is number one, I agree 💜 I've got a few more to read from your list, hopefully soon Daniel Deronda.. and I really want to read The Cloister and the Hearth, super curious! Thanks Kate for an awesome list, really given me some things to think about... Happy reading! 💜📚

[ButOneThingIsNeedful]

Thank you for this. If you've never done a top five Wilkie Collins list I'd be interested. My wife just read and greatly liked The Woman in White. I've ordered No Name and The Moonstone. Actually hadn't heard of Man and Wife.