10 Best Victorian-Era History Books Depicting 19th Century British Life!
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the opulence, mystery and occasional mayhem of 19th century British life through these top 10 Victorian-era history books! From gas-lit cobblestone streets teeming with top hats and petticoats, to grand country manors hiding deliciously dark secrets, these novels and comics will transport you right into the heart of Queen Victoria's reign.
You'll rub shoulders with the struggling lower class and the privileged upper-crust, explore the dank underground world of London's crime-ridden underbelly, and navigate the stiff and often cutthroat world of high society. Evocative, poignant, and packed to the brim with painstaking historical detail, this carefully curated collection offers glimpses of Victorian Britain as you've never quite seen it before.
Whether you're a history buff seeking to deepen your understanding, a literature lover out for a rich narrative, or simply in need of a fantastic new book to dive into, these selections are perfect for you. So clear your schedule, find your favorite comfy spot, and prepare yourself to be thrown headlong into these vivid, compelling and undeniably addictive tales of Victorian life!
『Bridgerton』
A #1 New York Times Bestseller From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes the story of Daphne Bridgerton, in the first of her beloved Regency-set novels featuring the charming, powerful Bridgerton family, now a series created by Shondaland for Netflix. In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable. Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen. Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar. The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule... This novel includes the 2nd epilogue, a peek at the story after the story.
Author | Julia Quinn |
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Price | $7.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Apr 28, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『Inside the Victorian Home』
A rich selection from diaries, letters, advice books, magazines, and paintings creates a rooms-by-room portrait of Victorian life--from childbirth in the master bedroom to separate gender domains in the drawing room and parlor.
Author | Judith Flanders |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2004 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Viscount Who Loved Me』
# 1 New York Times Bestseller The inspiration for season two of BRIDGERTON, a series created by Shondaland for Netflix, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn: the story of Anthony Bridgerton in the second of her beloved Regency-set novels featuring the charming, powerful Bridgerton family. ANTHONY’S STORY This time the gossip columnists have it wrong. London’s most elusive bachelor Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry—he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate’s the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams... Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate’s determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony’s lips touch hers, she’s suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...
Author | Julia Quinn |
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Price | $7.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Apr 28, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『A Brief History of Life in Victorian Britain』
The Victorian era has dominated the popular imagination like no other period, but these myths and stories also give a very distorted view of the 19th century. The early Victorians were much stranger that we usually imagine, and their world would have felt very different from our own and it was only during the long reign of the Queen that a modern society emerged in unexpected ways. Using character portraits, events, and key moments Paterson brings the real life of Victorian Britain alive - from the lifestyles of the aristocrats to the lowest ranks of the London slums. This includes the right way to use a fan, why morning visits were conducted in the afternoon, what the Victorian family ate and how they enjoyed their free time, as well as the Victorian legacy today - convenience food, coffee bars, window shopping, mass media, and celebrity culture. Praise for Dicken's London: Out of the babble of voices, Michael Paterson has been able to extract the essence of London itself. Read this book and re-enter the labyrinth of a now-ancient city.' Peter Ackroyd
Author | Michael Paterson |
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Price | $3.99 |
Publisher | Robinson |
Release Date | Feb 07, 2013 |
Source | Google Books |
『Queen Charlotte』
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn and television pioneer Shonda Rhimes comes a powerful and romantic novel of Bridgerton's Queen Charlotte and King George III's great love story and how it sparked a societal shift, inspired by the original series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, created by Shondaland for Netflix. "We are one crown. His weight is mine, and mine is his..." In 1761, on a sunny day in September, a King and Queen met for the very first time. They were married within hours. Born a German Princess, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was beautiful, headstrong, and fiercely intelligent... not precisely the attributes the British Court had been seeking in a spouse for the young King George III. But her fire and independence were exactly what she needed, because George had secrets... secrets with the potential to shake the very foundations of the monarchy. Thrust into her new role as a royal, Charlotte must learn to navigate the intricate politics of the court... all the while guarding her heart, because she is falling in love with the King, even as he pushes her away. Above all she must learn to rule, and to understand that she has been given the power to remake society. She must fight--for herself, for her husband, and for all her new subjects who look to her for guidance and grace. For she will never be just Charlotte again. She must instead fulfill her destiny... as Queen.
Author | Julia Quinn/Shonda Rhimes |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Avon Books |
Release Date | May 09, 2023 |
Source | Google Books |
『Pride and Prejudice』
With the arrival of eligible young men in their neighbourhood, the lives of Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters are turned inside out. Pride encounters prejudice, upward-mobility confronts social disdain, and quick-wittedness challenges sagacity, as misconceptions and hasty judgements lead to heartache and scandal.
Author | Jane Austen |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2019 |
Source | Google Books |
『Little Women』
One of the best loved books of all time. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Lovely Meg, talented Jo, frail Beth, spoiled Amy: these are hard lessons of poverty and of growing up in New England during the Civil War. Through their dreams, plays, pranks, letters, illnesses, and courtships, women of all ages have become a part of this remarkable family and have felt the deep sadness when Meg leaves the circle of sisters to be married at the end of Part I. Part II, chronicles Meg's joys and mishaps as a young wife and mother, Jo's struggle to become a writer, Beth's tragedy, and Amy's artistic pursuits and unexpected romance. Based on Louisa May Alcott's childhood, this lively portrait of nineteenth- century family life possesses a lasting vitality that has endeared it to generations of readers. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Author | Louisa May Alcott |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
Source | Google Books |
『Emma』
Emma was the last novel that Jane Austen published while alive. In it, she tells us about the adventures of Emma Woodhouse, a young English woman raised in a wealthy family who not only does not have the slightest intention of getting married, but also insists on being a matchmaker for her circle of friends. In particular, for her protégé Harriet Smith. Emma's advice produces all kinds of misunderstandings and embarrassing situations, which translates into a fun work that, two centuries after its appearance, continues to delight readers.
Author | Jane Austen |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Clásicos Ilustrados |
Release Date | May 01, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Anne of Green Gables』
Puffin in Bloom is a charming assortment of classic novels with coming-of-age themes, aimed at the young reader. Bond, a stationary artist with Rifle Paper Co. renowned for her floral patterns, puts her signature touch on the covers in this lineNbecause just as a flower blossoms, a young child comes into her own.
Author | L. M. Montgomery |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Puffin Books |
Release Date | Aug 28, 2014 |
Source | Google Books |
『Daily Life in Victorian England』
What was life really like in Victorian England during its transition from provincial society into modern urban power? Discover the effects of increased women's rights, technological advances, and Charles Darwin's discoveries on everyday life. This volume offers a fascinating glimpse into Victorian daily living, including women's roles; Victorian Morality; leisure; health and medicine; and life in all settings, from workhouses to country estates. This edition features an extensive guide to contemporary primary source material and further research, including information about finding authoritative sources easily on the Web. Illustrations, interactive sidebars, a chronology and glossary further illuminate the details of Victorian culture. This volume is an ideal source for students and teachers alike. Discover the effects of increased women's rights, technological advances, and Charles Darwin's discoveries on everyday life. Engaging narrative chapters explore all aspects of the Victorian experience, including: fashion, morality, courtship and mourning rituals, crime and punishment, public school requirements, legal status (marriage, divorce, inheritance, guardians, and bankruptcy), sports like croquet and foxhunting, and the importance of religion.
Author | Sally Mitchell |
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Price | $14.55 |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing USA |
Release Date | Nov 30, 2008 |
Source | Google Books |
In conclusion, you can't go wrong with any of these Victorian-era history books. These riveting accounts of 19th century British life gives you a taste of what it was like to live in an era that shaped much of the world we know today. The upper crust splendor, the struggles of the working class, and the society's collective leaps in science and industry - it's all laid bare in these masterfully written pages. While each of these books presents a snapshot of the Victorian era in their unique style, they all share a common goal - to take the reader back in time, to let them soak in the richness and complexity of this fascinating time period. So, whatever your preference in style or subject matter, you're bound to find something in this list that compels you, enthralls you, and ultimately, enriches your understanding of Victorian Britain. Happy reading!
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