I liked Pamela as a sort of exercise in literary history. I wouldn’t read past the first volume, as it devolves into something that might have been titled, “Pamela’s Household Hints”.
I much preferred Henry Fielding’s Shamela, which, as you might guess, is a parody of Richardson’s novel.
@Susan I think too many people take Pamela at “face value.” It’s more interesting if you’re thinking “What if she’s like most kids that age and isn’t telling her parents the whole truth in her letters.”
I Capture the Castle, 84 Charing Cross Road, Possession, The Screwtape Letters, Griffin and Sabine, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. (Ok, maybe some of them are a little new to be classified as ‘classic’, but they’re going to be!)
Lady Susan (I guess we are answering by way of examples. My understanding is that they go in and out of vogue. That is, common in non-consecutive periods.)
Not all that common. I could only think of “Les Liasons Dangereuses” (see above), “Lady Susan” by Jane Austen, and “We Need to Talk about Kevin” by Lionel Shriver, off the top of my head, though I’m sure there are more!
It actually predates the Victorian period — it’s 18th century. I wouldn’t read past the first volume or so, as, once they’re married, it devolves into what might be titled, “Pamela’s Household Hints.” Henry Fielding (of Tom Jones fame) wrote a very funny parody called, Shamela.
The only ones I’ve read are Herzog and Carrie.
Dracula is my favourite, but there are many from that era
Lady Susan
By Jane Austen
Pamela by Samuel Richardson. (I haven’t read this one.)
I liked Pamela as a sort of exercise in literary history. I wouldn’t read past the first volume, as it devolves into something that might have been titled, “Pamela’s Household Hints”.
I much preferred Henry Fielding’s Shamela, which, as you might guess, is a parody of Richardson’s novel.
@Philippa I read that at University.
@Susan I think too many people take Pamela at “face value.” It’s more interesting if you’re thinking “What if she’s like most kids that age and isn’t telling her parents the whole truth in her letters.”
Anne of Windy Poplars (4th in the Anne series by LM Montgomery)
I Capture the Castle, 84 Charing Cross Road, Possession, The Screwtape Letters, Griffin and Sabine, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. (Ok, maybe some of them are a little new to be classified as ‘classic’, but they’re going to be!)
Potato Peel Pie Society?
Is that a classic?
@Kathy , as I said, perhaps a little new for the designation, but it will be one day.
84 Charing Cross Road is non-fiction.
Lady Susan (I guess we are answering by way of examples. My understanding is that they go in and out of vogue. That is, common in non-consecutive periods.)
Persuasion; The Tenant of Wildfell Hall; Clarissa; The Sorrows of Young Werther.
Ella Minnow Pea, Frankenstein…
@Colette Ella Minnow Pea is one of my favorite and delightful novels of all time!
@Julia I loved it too.
Les Liaisons dangeureuses by Choderlos des Laclos (staged and filmed as Dangerous Liaisons)
Not all that common. I could only think of “Les Liasons Dangereuses” (see above), “Lady Susan” by Jane Austen, and “We Need to Talk about Kevin” by Lionel Shriver, off the top of my head, though I’m sure there are more!
Finished Color Purple recently, can’t say if they are popular
Tbe Color Purple is very popular among academics ( for teaching) and among many others.
Isn’t every novel written in the 18th century epistolary ? My favourite of these though has to be Wilkie Collin’s The Woman in White.
@Lucy fiction could masquerade in the form of a journal, pamphlet, report, log, etc
Dracula
Anne Bronte’s Tenant of Wildfell Hall (sort of)
@Carolyn On my TBR. I really must get to it.
epistolary = where letters are prominent
And today,…text messages, email, voice mail, snail mail and sign language.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, ha! Not exactly classic literature.
Fanny Burney’s Evelina is amazing.
Pamela – Samuel Richardson is long but very good
It’s getting on for 2000 pages, isn’t it? That’s a lot to commit to. How easy is it to read at a chapter a night (ish)?
@Helen If you’re in a Victorian reading mindset and are prepared to let the plot develop it’s worth keeping going. Chapters vary in length.
It actually predates the Victorian period — it’s 18th century. I wouldn’t read past the first volume or so, as, once they’re married, it devolves into what might be titled, “Pamela’s Household Hints.” Henry Fielding (of Tom Jones fame) wrote a very funny parody called, Shamela.
i enjoy reading books of letters between 2 people
faction or non fiction