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Category Archives: British
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
Mary Barton is a story that looks at the difficulties of lower class people in manufacturing towns during the Industrial Revolution. It has some really engaging characters and charming story-telling. My enjoyment was up there with North and South and … Continue reading
Posted in British, General adult audience, Romance, Social Novel, Victorian
Tagged 19th Century, British, character-driven, classic, coming-of-age, drama, fiction, industrial revolution, realism, society, working class
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Henrietta’s War and Henrietta Sees It Through by Joyce Dennys
Henrietta’s War by Joyce Dennys and its sequel, Henrietta Sees it Through, are a series of letters to a childhood friend during WWII. They document the small and amusing indignities and challenges of life in a “safe part of England” … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Light Fiction, British, Comedy, Episodic Novel, Epistolary Novel, General adult audience, Light Fiction, Novel, Social Novel, War Story
Tagged 20th Century, British, epistolary, fiction, good out loud, home front, humour, illustrated, overcoming adversity, semi-autobiographical, war novel, wartime, WWII
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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 19th Century, British, Brontë sisters, classic, divorce, domestic abuse, drama, ethics, fiction, grace, relationships, substance abuse
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The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is one of my favourite books. It’s a book about the Christian life written in the form of letters from a senior to a junior devil, who is tasked with sabotaging the spiritual life … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Classics, British, Christian, Christian Living, Christian Non-fiction, Classic, Comedy, Epistolary Novel, Fantasy, Fiction, General adult audience, Novel, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult
Tagged 20th Century, British, C.S. Lewis, Christian living, Christianity, classic, discipleship, epistolary, fiction, good for spiritual health, good out loud, home front, The Inklings, wartime, WWII
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Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
Five Children and It, written by E. Nesbit and first published in 1902, is about a strange-looking Psammead (also known as a sand fairy) who grumpily grants one wish a day. But somehow the wishes always seem to go wrong … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, British, Children's Classic, Children's Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel
Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, British, children's classic, fairies, fantasy, fiction, humour
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Hornblower by C. S. Forester
The Hornblower novels by C.S. Forester are a terrific blend of plot and characterisation. Set during the Napoleonic wars, they are action packed and fast moving but this action also serves to develop the complex character of Horatio Hornblower. Even … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Classics, British, Episodic Novel, Fiction, General adult audience, Historical Fiction, Novel, War Story, Young Adult
Tagged 20th Century, action, adventure, boats, British, classic, drama, fiction, historical, humour, Napoleonic Wars, navy, travel, war novel, wartime
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The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis is the first (chronologically) in the Narnia series. If you’ve never read Narnia then start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but make sure you come back to the prequel. It’s a … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, Allegory, British, Children's Classic, Christian, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel, Speculative Fiction
Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, animals, British, C.S. Lewis, children's classic, Christianity, classic, good out loud, Narnia, The Inklings, whimsical
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Persuasion by Jane Austen
Persuasion is probably my favourite Jane Austen novel. It lacks the bright humour of Pride and Prejudice, but both book and heroine share a lovely, gentle pensiveness. It explores ideas of regret and duty, as well as the difference between being … Continue reading
Posted in British, Fiction, General adult audience, Novel, Novel of Manners, Pre-Victorian
Tagged 19th Century, British, classic, fiction, good out loud, Jane Austen, novel of manners
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Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
Three Men in a Boat (to Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome is an amusing account of a boating trip up the Thames. Rich in hypochondria, satire and altercations with tents and pineapple tins, it is a … Continue reading
Posted in British, Comedy, Fiction, General adult audience, Light Fiction, Novel, Travel Fiction, Victorian
Tagged animals, boats, British, classic, fiction, good out loud, humour, travel
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Peter Pan and Wendy by J. M. Barrie
My sister gave me Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, illustrated by Robert Ingpen, for my 20th birthday and warned me that although I might not be excited to receive it, she had got it for me anyway. K’s … Continue reading