Dear Prestwick House,
Next year, we plan on creating reading units for our 11th- and 12th-grade students based around Victorian literature. Which titles capture the spirit of this literary period?
We’re glad you asked! The world of Victorian literature is such a vast and exciting place. It’s easy to get lost among the many books written during this era.
Named after Queen Victoria’s reign, which lasted from 1837 to 1901, the Victorian period brought about dramatic shifts in Western societal values, all of which were reflected in the era’s literature. Many books written during this time featured common themes such as the role of women, the importance of science, and the effects of industrialization.
Students can learn about this fascinating era by diving into its most essential literature. Here are ten books from our Literary Touchstone Classics line that will send your high school students back to the Victorian era.
1. Jane Eyre
Naturally, we’re starting this list with one of the most famous Victorian works, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Part mystery, part romance, part Gothic novel, this 1847 book explores its eponymous heroine’s struggle to escape the repressive forces of Victorian society. Because of its critique of gender and class roles in society, this book is considered a proto-feminist work. Students interested in exploring early feminist media will find Jane Eyre fascinating.
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2. Wuthering Heights
No book captures Romantic literature of the Victorian era quite like Wuthering Heights. This tale of passion and vengeance amid the English moors received mixed reviews following its 1847 publication, but has become a literary classic over time. Rich with drama and supernatural elements, the story of Heathcliff and Catherine will certainly spark classroom discussions about revenge, social class, and love.
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3. Great Expectations
Originally published from 1860 to 1861 in his magazine All the Year Round, Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations is a unique rags-to-riches tale centering on a boy’s complex path to adulthood. Written after the boom of the Industrial Revolution, the novel highlights the problems that industry and the rise of a new middle class brought to Victorian England, especially to those in power who considered themselves “gentlemen.”
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4. Silas Marner
Silas Marner, George Eliot’s 1861 novel, follows the journey of its titular character as he grows from a lonely, reclusive man into a loving and kind individual. As a realist work, Silas Marner is best known for its frank depictions of mid-1800s English villages during a time of rapid industrial and technological change. The novel also enables students to examine themes such as societal expectations, the value of humanity versus that of money, and the effects of industrialization on community.
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5. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
An imaginative combination of fantasy, adventure, and parody, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland remains a cornerstone of the literary nonsense genre. Although written for children, this novel has gained a wide readership following its 1865 publication, and for good reason. The story’s disregard for logic and use of absurdity for satirical purposes will bring Alice’s bizarre journey to life for your students.
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6. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Both science fiction thriller and moral allegory, Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella examines how societal expectations can help shape an individual, for better or for worse. After years of repressing dark urges, Dr. Jekyll develops a serum that allows him to transform into his alter-ego, the diabolical Mr. Hyde. As Hyde, the man is free to act out against societal norms, but as time goes on, the evil persona completely overtakes the good.
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7. The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde’s only novel, faced heavy criticism at the time of its initial publication in 1890. Its unabashed exploration of Aestheticism and hedonism contradicted Victorian standards of morality and the function of art. Despite the controversy, this novel remains an essential piece of Gothic horror, as its scenes of murder, depravity, and disturbing descriptions of Dorian’s portrait continue to shock readers to this day.
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8. The Invisible Man
Published in 1897, The Invisible Man helped solidify H. G. Wells’s status as the father of science fiction. In this psychological thriller, a scientist named Griffin learns the harsh consequences of reckless experimentation after he renders himself invisible irrevocably. Although it is a work of fiction, The Invisible Man will intrigue students interested in science, as it reflects the late-Victorian shift in attitude toward the role of science within society.
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9. Dracula
A horror classic, Bram Stoker’s Dracula perfectly encapsulates the twilight years of the Victorian era. From its commentary on women’s sexuality and gender roles to the conflict between science and superstition, this novel directly challenged 1897 Victorian England’s societal conventions. Because it’s told in an epistolary format, Dracula can show your students how this storytelling method can add suspense, offer different perspectives, and lend credibility to multiple narrators.
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10. The Turn of the Screw
First published in 1898, The Turn of the Screw is one of Henry James’s best-known works. This eerie novella about a governess, her charges, and an old summer home starts off as a simple ghost story but quickly morphs into a tale of psychological terror. Aside from being a quintessential model of Gothic horror, The Turn of the Screw is also an excellent resource for studying the unreliable narrator, as readers are kept guessing whether the governess is truly seeing ghosts, or if her supernatural visions are merely a trick of her imagination.
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Do you have any questions about other Victorian classics or contemporary books or need reading recommendations for your class? Leave a comment below, or send an email to info@prestwickhouse.com. We’re more than happy to assist you!