best opening sentences in fiction

The opening of 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen - 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' It's a great opening as it gives a sense of the social values and expectations of the time, and also intrigues the reader about the relationships to come.

Best opening sentences engage readers by creating mystery. For example, if an opening sentence is something like 'The door at the end of the hall had never been opened, not in all the years she had lived there.', it makes the reader wonder what's behind the door and why it's never been opened. This mystery hooks the reader and makes them want to keep reading.

One of the best is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. It immediately sets a tone of contrast and historical context, making the reader wonder about the times being described.

One of the best opening sentences is from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' This sentence immediately sets the tone for the story which is largely about marriage and social status in the 19th - century English society.

The opening sentence of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' is also remarkable. The unexpected 'clocks were striking thirteen' creates a sense of unease and immediately makes the reader curious about this strange world. It's a great start to introduce the dystopian setting of the novel.

One of the best opening sentences is from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'. This immediately sets a complex and thought - provoking mood, making the reader wonder about the contrast it presents. It draws you in and makes you curious about the story that will unfold in these two very different 'times'.

The opening sentence 'The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.' is excellent. It immediately makes the reader think about the concept of the past and how it might be different. It can lead to all sorts of stories, whether it's about a character's personal past or a historical setting.

One good opening sentence could be 'The night was as dark as a bottomless pit, and the only sound was the howling wind that seemed to carry a thousand secrets.' This kind of opening immediately sets a spooky and mysterious mood, drawing the reader in and making them curious about what will happen next in the story.

They create intrigue. For example, a good opening might pose a question in the reader's mind. If a novel starts with 'The door was ajar, and a strange noise came from within.', it makes the reader wonder what's behind the door and what the noise is.

Sure. 'All children, except one, grow up.' This opening of 'Peter Pan' is very engaging. It singles out one child and makes the reader curious about who that child is and why they don't grow up like the others.