One characteristic is the complex social commentary. Victorian novels often explored the class differences, moral values, and social hierarchies of the time. For example, in 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens, Pip's journey from a poor boy to a gentleman wannabe shows the impact of class on one's identity and dreams. Another aspect is the detailed character development. Writers would create multi - dimensional characters with their own flaws and virtues. Also, the language used was often elaborate and descriptive, painting vivid pictures of the Victorian era's settings, whether it was the dirty streets of London or the grand mansions of the wealthy.
I would also mention 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot. It's a complex and detailed portrait of provincial life in the Victorian era. With a large cast of characters, it explores themes such as marriage, politics, and the pursuit of ideals.
Well, 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot is a very well - known Victorian novel. It's a complex work that weaves together the lives of many characters in a provincial town, exploring themes like marriage, society, and the pursuit of ideals. 'Oliver Twist' by Dickens is also famous. It exposes the harsh reality of the workhouse and the underworld of London through the story of an orphan boy.
Well, 'Oliver Twist' is a very well - known Victorian novel. It shows the harsh life of an orphan, Oliver, in the workhouses and on the streets of London. Then there's 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot. This novel is complex and delves into the lives of the people in a provincial town. 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde is also a famous Victorian novel that explores themes of beauty, morality, and the consequences of a hedonistic lifestyle.
Charles Dickens was a very famous one. His works like 'Great Expectations' and 'A Tale of Two Cities' are well - known around the world. Another was Charlotte Bronte. She wrote 'Jane Eyre', which is a classic. Thomas Hardy was also a prominent Victorian novelist, known for works such as 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' and 'Far from the Madding Crowd'.
In the realm of Victorian vampire novels, 'Dracula' stands out as a masterpiece. It not only created a terrifying and alluring vampire figure but also explored themes like Victorian sexuality in a rather veiled way. 'Carmilla' is also notable as it was one of the first vampire stories to focus on a female vampire. It has a more sensual and mysterious tone compared to 'Dracula'. Additionally, 'The Vampyre' by John Polidori was an early example of the genre in the Victorian era, which helped to establish many of the vampire tropes we still see today.
The most prominent author of Victorian Christmas stories is undoubtedly Charles Dickens. His works like 'A Christmas Carol' and 'The Cricket on the Hearth' are beloved. Elizabeth Gaskell also contributed to Victorian Christmas literature. Her stories often captured the social nuances of the Victorian era along with the Christmas spirit. Additionally, Lewis Carroll, known for 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', wrote some pieces related to Christmas during the Victorian period.
Arthur Conan Doyle is extremely famous for creating Sherlock Holmes. His stories are some of the most well - known in Victorian crime fiction. Another is Wilkie Collins. His 'The Moonstone' is considered one of the first detective novels in English. It has a complex plot with many twists and turns.
Well, there's Oscar Wilde, who wrote 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', a rather unique Victorian novel that explored themes of beauty, morality, and the corrupting influence of society. Robert Louis Stevenson is also a well - known Victorian writer, famous for 'Treasure Island' which was a great adventure story but also had elements of Victorian morality in it. And of course, we can't forget Elizabeth Gaskell, who wrote 'North and South', which contrasted the industrial north and the genteel south in England during the Victorian era.
Famous Victorian fiction often has a moral undertone. Writers were concerned with the right and wrong in society. The stories are typically long and episodic. They might follow a character's life journey over many years, through various events and encounters. And the language is often quite elaborate, with detailed descriptions of characters' appearances, emotions, and the surrounding environment.