Victorians! discussion

It's that time again! We are now accepting nominations for the next group read, to begin 1 May. A few ground rules, if you will:

1) The book must be published between 1837-1901

2) All nationalities welcome

3) Please only ONE nomination per person (if more than one is suggested I will take the first suggestion only)

4) Feel free to add a link to the book, or an excerpt, to spark some interest and help "sell" your nomination

5) Nominations will close on 26 March and voting will then begin

6) Have fun and happy nominating!!

"The Sign of Four", by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Published in 1890.

(It's hard to find this published separately, but there are many anthologies available in libraries that would have it.)

It is in this, the second Holmes novel, that the great detective comes fully to life - not only as a melancholic and an inscrutable master of deduction, but also as an incurable drug addict. "Which is it today?" Watson asks Holmes matter-of-factly on the opening page of the novel, "morphine or cocaine?" "It is cocaine," Holmes famously replies. "A seven-per-cent solution. Would you like to try it?" Mary Morstan comes to Holmes in the hope that he will be able to solve a mystery. Ten years earlier her father, Captain Arthur Morstan, had returned to London on leave from his regiment in India where it is said that he and one Thadeus Sholto, "came into possession of a considerable treasure." By the time his daughter arrived at his hotel, he had vanished without a trace. The Sign of Four remains a small masterpiece of suspense, and the novel has enjoyed a steady readership ever since its first publication in 1890.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope

I'd like to nominate The Cranford Chronicles by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

I second The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

Jamie wrote: "I second The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

"
So do I Love anything by Oscar Wild.

Eliza wrote: "The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde"

I have been wanting to read that for a while now.

Hi,


Hi

I have been wanting to read the Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
for so long now.I'm really on for this one

Haven't read The Sign of the Four in decades, and would be glad to revisit it it's selected, but I'm going to suggest that we take a break from our string of serious books and propose a light and humorous interlude for our early summer reading -- Jerome K. Jerome's delightful Three Men in a Boat (To say Nothing of the Dog).

This 1889 book depicts a boating holiday, popular in the 1880s, in a Thames camping skiff. It is based loosely on an actual trip that Jerome and his friends took, but the delightful humor overtakes the initial intent of a serious guide book. (The trip is easy to follow on a map; most of the places they visited are still there, and I have read recently that all the pubs and inns they visited are still open.)

According to one description of the book, "Since its publication, Three Men in a Boat has never been out of print. It continues to be popular to the current day, with The Guardian ranking it #33 on The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time in 2003, and Esquire Magazine ranking it #2 in the 50 Funniest Books Ever in 2009."

I know this doesn't fall into the time period but I think that it looks this one could be a light fun read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand.

I nominate Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

I attempted to read this years ago and I think I may need a deadline and others with whom I can discuss it in order to complete it!

Rebecca wrote: "I know this doesn't fall into the time period but I think that it looks this one could be a light fun read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand."

Hi Rebecca-
You're right, it doesn't fall into this category, and I'm not even sure it would fall into the neo-Vic category.

Why not George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss?

Everyman wrote: "Haven't read The Sign of the Four in decades, and would be glad to revisit it it's selected, but I'm going to suggest that we take a break from our string of serious books and propose a light and h..."

I like the idea of something light.

Sarah wrote: "Everyman wrote: "Haven't read The Sign of the Four in decades, and would be glad to revisit it it's selected, but I'm going to suggest that we take a break from our string of serious books and prop..."

I just ordered Three Men in a Boat and Three Men on the Bummel from bookswap for my own reading; I would love to read it here! I've been meaning to read this one for ages.

Also, for those of us who love it when books draw on one another, Connie Willis has a steampunk novel called To Say Nothing of the Dog inspired by Three Men in a Boat

Kay wrote: ""The Sign of Four", by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Published in 1890.

(It's hard to find this published separately, but there are many anthologies available in libraries that would have it.)..."


This is the version of The Sign of Four that I have. It's a Penguin "Red Classics" (vol 2 of 8).

I would love to do this one for our group read!

Good choices so far! Keep in mind, whoever nominates a book will be asked to moderate that book discussion! : You are, obviously, welcome to decline, but it would be great to have someone new lead a discussion if anyone is interested!

Everyman wrote: "Haven't read The Sign of the Four in decades, and would be glad to revisit it it's selected, but I'm going to suggest that we take a break from our string of serious books and propose a light and h..."
Three Men in a Boat could be fun, I agree.

Can I change my nomination from Dracula to The Sign of Four. Just bought the book (it also includes A Study in Scarlett) for £2.50 (inc. p&p) from Amazon UK. Bargain!

I would like to side up with Stephanie, The Cranford Chronicles would be a delight to devour.

Ok, just to sum up so far, the nominations I show we have at the plate are:

The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Sign of Four
Phineas Finn
The Cranford Chronicles
Three Men in a Boat
Anna Karenina
The Mill on the Floss

Nominations are open until 26 March so feel free to add more or point out one I've missed!

Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu

I vote for Three Men in a Boat too - great suggestion, and the others are great too but I've already read most of them.

I'm actually going to nominate this time - I don't usually but (although there are a few above that I want to read) the last two books that have won I have already read so I want to put another in there to open up the playing field some more (that I haven't yet read and really want to):

Shirley by Charlotte Bronte.

Boof wrote: "Shirley by Charlotte Bronte."

Oh that's a good one! I've tried to read it several times but never made it through - just got the audiobook tho.

I promised myself I'd read it this year too. I have heard that it isn't as good as Jane Eyre or Villette but I am still dying to give it a go to make up my own mind - it would be good to have some company.

Elizabeth wrote: "I really want to read Shirley! It's the last major Bronte work on my list and I promised myself I'd read it this year! Great suggestion. "

Oh, now I definitely want to read it!

Boof wrote: "I promised myself I'd read it this year too. I have heard that it isn't as good as Jane Eyre or Villette but I am still dying to give it a go to make up my own mind - it would be good to have some company."

Having company with GoodReads groups definitely helps me - even if I don't join in the discussions (the Middlemarch one is particularly impressive).

I may not become too popular with stating this, but it seems that a lot of the Victorian reads lately have been from the really standard authors -- most of us have at least dabbled in reading them before. I would love diverging from the Brontes, Dickens, Conan Doyle, George Eliot, etc. I know my opinion is only good for one vote -- and I love that we have polls, but I just wanted to share my opinion on this. And if we don't read something a little varied now, I am sure we will some time in the future.

Sarah wrote: "I may not become too popular with stating this, but it seems that a lot of the Victorian reads lately have been from the really standard authors -- most of us have at least dabbled in reading them ..."

That's plenty popular with me. (Plug: I think Jerome K. Jerome qualifies as a non-standard author, doesn't he?)

Of course, the standard authors are standard because people like to read them. That's how they become standard! But I agree, it's nice to venture off the beaten path from time to time. Maybe for awhile we should try for a mix of one non-standard to every two or maybe three standards?

We did post some names not long ago of non-standard Victorian authors. Maybe you could nominate one of them? (I've already given my nomination, so I can't.)

Sarah wrote: "I may not become too popular with stating this, but it seems that a lot of the Victorian reads lately have been from the really standard authors -- most of us have at least dabbled in reading them ..."

I agree with E-man - this is an opinion I share, but I still have a lot of the 'standard' classics to get through, so am open to most titles. Although, I'd have a hard time excluding others from nominations, as I think a lot of people join this group specifically to read some of those authors.

I've read Dorian Gray twice now, and I'm not much for repeat reads, but it might be a nice/quicker book than what we've had recently.

Would you like to nominate a book, Sarah, that fits the authors you reference? Perhaps a little excerpt to whet our appetites?

I just realized typing this that there are so many sub-sections to Victorian literature that we could do... neo-Victorian, non-fiction, traditional Victorian, obscure authors, early Gothic, 'high' Vic-lit, 'low Vic-lit'.... ahhh, the possibilities!! :)

I think we should just read both Dorian Gray and Three Men in a Boat (I have both). One gothic and one comic.

Sarah wrote: "I may not become too popular with stating this, but it seems that a lot of the Victorian reads lately have been from the really standard authors -- most of us have at least dabbled in reading them ..."

Sarah, absolutley I would love to see some lesser known authors in the mix too! Why don't you nominate one of the ones you suggested? I am dying to read Oliphant and I have just read East Lynne by Ellen Wood which was FANTASTIC!!!

Boof wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I may not become too popular with stating this, but it seems that a lot of the Victorian reads lately have been from the really standard authors -- most of us have at least dabbled in..."

Good to know! I just got East Lynne in the mail the other day!

Boof wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I may not become too popular with stating this, but it seems that a lot of the Victorian reads lately have been from the really standard authors -- most of us have at least dabbled in..."

I am glad my idea wasn't too off-base. Actually I think Elizabeth was suggesting those titles and I would have to see if I could come up with anything else quickly -- because after more thought I realized that we should come up with ones that have been in print at least recently enough that we can all obtain copies in some way. I guess I was thoughtless about that part. I have one of Mrs. Oliphant's but I don't think is a very new edition. I will take a look.

Shall I just be digging around for something for the next nomination period? I know there are good noms already listed -- I didn't mean to complain about those really and I know our time is almost up. Elizabeth might want to see one of her suggestions on the list though. Elizabeth?

Yes, looking at my schedule today, I won't nominate anything this time -- give me a chance to look around. Everyman, thanks for that suggestion. Do you remember where that list was that you were talking about?

Elizabeth wrote: "Elle Et Lui by George Sand is my preference because I'd love to read it and because she's a non-English author. (She's actually the only French woman writer I know from..."

Hi! Is there an English translation of this novel? Do you know what the title is in translation? I love George Sand, but I can't place this one.

Sarah wrote: "I may not become too popular with stating this"

That is indeed a good point - as someone else said classics have stood The Test of Time (TM) &c &c, but I like works off the beaten track (esp by women) too. If we did want to get into Oliphant there is a TON of stuff by her at Gutenberg (I know a lot of people don't like reading on a screen, but at least that's available) - http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/autho...

Everyman wrote: "Haven't read The Sign of the Four in decades, and would be glad to revisit it it's selected, but I'm going to suggest that we take a break from our string of serious books and propose a light and h..."

This is an absolute riot! In my 'Anglophiles Anonymous' group on Shelfari, we read this last summer as a group read. Written like a travelogue, it is just hysterical drop-dead funny. If selected, I can assure the group that it will be very well received! I gave a copy to my very elderly mother and father, and they read it aloud to one another and loved it.

Chris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where you been???? We've missed you!

Jamie wrote: "Boof wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I may not become too popular with stating this, but it seems that a lot of the Victorian reads lately have been from the really standard authors -- most of us have at lea..."

can't wait to hear what you think, Jamie. It shot into my top 20 of all time.

Boof wrote: "Chris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where you been???? We've missed you!"

Hey, Boof, nice to hear from you too! I have been back 'in action,' so to speak, for a couple of weeks now. I was very, very busy with other stuff (mostly work, etc.) for a couple of months following the holidays and just did not have much time for the on-line world unfortunately. I am in the process of rectifying that though. I am in the midst of a thoughtful and quite delightful re-read of the entire Patrick O'Brian Aubrey-Maturin canon, as well as a group read of John Galbraith's The Forsyte Saga on Shelfari. Cheers! Chris

Elizabeth wrote: "Sorry! Yes, there's an English translation of the Sand book; it's called He and She."

Great! I have heard of that, and should ahve been able to figure that one out :) . Thanks!

I'm interested in the off the beaten path selections proposed by Elizabeth and EMan, provided that they're available on Guttenberg, because otherwise I'll have some difficulty in getting them here.

Kay wrote: ""The Sign of Four", by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Published in 1890.

(It's hard to find this published separately, but there are many anthologies available in libraries that would have it.)

It is i..."

I second this, as I'm a bit in love with Holmes at the moment. However, I'm also on board with the idea of reading more obscure authors from the period. And Dorian Gray is one of my favorites, so I guess I'll be happy with whatever wins!

Virginie wrote: "Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu"

I should have read futher down the posts before I posted! Drat, now I'm torn. I really wanted this one to win last time around. Arg. They all look so good...

Katie wrote "I second this (The Sign of Four), as I'm a bit in love with Holmes at the moment. However, I'm also on board with the idea of reading more obscure authors from the period. And Dorian Gray is one of my favorites, so I guess I'll be happy with whatever wins!"

Katie, I actually feel the same as you - I'd love to read Dorian Gray with the group. But I want to delve more into Holmes also.

Nominations are now closed! Sorry about the delay, but an extra day of nominations never hurt anyone, right? :) I'll set up the poll momentarily. Great selections this time! How do we choose??? By the way - once the poll is set up, feel free to add more comments to 'sell' your choice!