lesser known classics

Did you know O’Neal Library has a book group dedicated to lesser-known classics?  The Lost & Found book group meets the last Thursday of each month at 6:30pm. 

The next meeting is next Thursday, January 27^th, for one of the great classic novels of Chinese literature, Monkey King: Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en.  Register to attend: https://www.oneallibrary.org/event/6044738.  

On February 24^th , get ready to get fabulous with one of the most unforgettable characters in contemporary fiction, Patrick Dennis’s Auntie Mame.  Register to attend: https://www.oneallibrary.org/event/6049840.

We all know some of the famous authors from years ago, like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and the Brontë sisters. But what of the less well-remembered authors — like Anne Brontë, whose two novels would never be as popular as her sisters? And what of the other writers, who may have been famous in their own day, but who are less remembered now? For the curious, here are 11 titles that you might not recognize — but that are definitely worth a second look.

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

Published in 1847, Anne Brontë’s first novel pulls heavily from her own experiences as a governess. It follows Agnes Grey, the daughter of a clergyman, who takes up a position as a governess. Despite her hopes, the upper-class families Agnes Grey works for treat her poorly — experiences that reflected the hardships faced by governesses in Victorian England.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

When Helen Graham arrives at Wildfell Hall with her young son, her presence draws the attention of the nearby villagers — especially Gilbert Markham. But Helen’s past holds dark secrets, including a cruel husband she’s running from. Through letters and diary entries, Anne Brontë’s compelling final novel explores alcoholism, abuse, and the desire for independence.

The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington

A Pulitzer Prize winner, this 1918 novel centers on generations of the aristocratic Amberson family, including the young, spoiled George Amberson Minafer. And as industry begins to thrive, George, grandson of the family patriarch, struggles with his family’s changing place and influence in their Midwestern town.

Hester: A Story of Contemporary Life by Margaret Oliphant and Wilson Oliphant (not in the JCLC system, but available via Interlibrary Loan)

Years ago, Catherine Vernon saved the family banking business from ruin. Now a powerful figure in the town of Redborough, she’s responsible for many of her relatives, including the young and independent Hester. But Catherine and Hester clash, and the rift between them grows when Hester forms a connection with Edward, Catherine’s younger cousin who she views as a son. This prolific Scottish author penned more than 100 novels in her lifetime in addition to numerous short stories, essays, and articles. Click here to see the author’s work that is available in the library system.

The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (not in the JCLC system, but available via Interlibrary Loan)

One of the bestselling US books during 1924, The Home-Maker offers a thought-provoking look at gender roles and societal norms that remains relevant today. When her husband, Lester, gets into a serious accident, housewife Evangeline Knapp becomes the family’s breadwinner. Click here to see the author’s work that is available in the library system.

There Is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset (not in the JCLC system, but available via Interlibrary Loan)

Set in Philadelphia and New York, this engaging 1924 novel explores race, love, and ambition. There Is Confusion details the lives of three Black children — Joanna Marshall, Maggie Ellersley, and Peter Bye — as they grow up, chase their dreams, and navigate challenges in the early 20th century.  The author’s novel “Plum Bum” is available in the library system.

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Published in 1868, The Moonstone is considered one of the earliest English detective novels, with Dorothy L. Sayers calling it “probably the very finest detective story ever written.” As different characters narrate, readers are pulled in to a captivating mystery: the theft of a diamond that’s rumored to be cursed. 

Evelina by Frances Burney

Described by Virginia Woolf as “the mother of English fiction,” Frances — or Fanny — Burney established herself as a popular writer in the late 18th century and counted Jane Austen among her readers. In Evelina, an epistolary novel, she satirizes society as her young title character experiences London for the first time and draws the eyes of several suitors.

Fantomina by Eliza Haywood

Considered an influence on authors like Jane Austen and Fanny Burney, writer and actress Eliza Haywood gained popularity and produced an extensive volume of work. In Fantomina, she tells the story of a young woman who disguises herself in different personas to keep the attention of a man named Beauplaisir.

Ruth Hall by Fanny Fern

Fanny Fern — the pen name of a popular newspaper columnist — drew heavily from her own life when writing Ruth Hall. Through vignettes, Fern weaves together the story of Ruth as she navigates her marriage, the death of her husband, and her struggles with her family.  

Deerbrook by Harriet Martineau (Not in the JCLC system but available via Interlibrary Loan)

A well-known sociologist, Harriet Martineau gained popularity in the 1830s through her volumes of Illustrations of Political Economy. Their success, Smithsonian magazine says, “not only secured herself a steady income but also cemented her status as one of Britain’s most popular intellectuals.” In her first novel, Martineau paints a vivid picture of Victorian England through the lives of the recently orphaned Ibbotson sisters — Hester and Margaret — who go to stay with their cousins in the village of Deerbrook. The Special Collections reference department of the Birmingham Public Library Central branch holds some of her sociological work.