Category Archives: Pastoral novel

A Country Gentleman and His Family by Margaret Oliphant

A Country Gentleman and His Family by Margaret Oliphant is surprisingly well written. Mrs Oliphant was a Victorian authoress who wrote novels to support herself and several dependents so was prolific but variable in quality. This book had skillful characterisation … Continue reading

Posted in British, Classic, Family Drama, General adult audience, Novel of Manners, Pastoral novel, Romance, Social Novel, Victorian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Miserable, Not Romantic: The Happy Ever After of Marrying a Scoundrel Explored in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë is a book about what happens if you actually marry Mr Rochester or Mr Willoughby. Helen marries a careless but charismatic man and finds that her influence quickly wanes after their marriage. … Continue reading

Posted in British, Classic, Diarial, General adult audience, Novel, Pastoral novel, Realism, Romance, Social Novel, Victorian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Warden by Anthony Trollope

The Warden by Anthony Trollope is the first of the Barchester Novels and is Amusing, Character-Driven and Short. Characters have names like Septimus Harding and Sir Abraham Haphazard! Clergyman, Mr Harding is accused of being Paid Too Much for his … Continue reading

Posted in 18th Century, Classic, Comedy, General adult audience, Novel, Novel of Manners, Pastoral novel, Serial Novel, Victorian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons is an hilarious 1930s novel about Flora Post, a young woman with no useful skills but a strong desire for tidiness. She goes to live with the very untidy Starkadder family at Cold Comfort … Continue reading

Posted in 20th Century Classics, British, Comedy, General adult audience, Melodrama, Novel, Parody, Pastoral novel, Speculative Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment