Seconding Carmilla. There's never not a good time to read about lesbian vampires.
The Beetle by Richard Marsh is glorious nonsense.
East Lynn by Ellen Wood is a fave, as is anything by Braddon but especially Lady Audley's Secret.
I'm also quite partial to Thomas Hardy as a novelist and would always recommend the Mayor of Casterbridge to anybody.
You just said novels, but there's a load of fin de siècle short stories that are great too, especially the ones by female authors and I think there's a collection called the Daughters of Decadence that has quite a few in. I'd have to check my library when I get home for more details on that one :P
Oh and Cranford! Cranford and the other parts of that world are great (especially My Lady Ludlow which always gives me TOO MANY FEELINGS ABOUT A SPINSTER I LOVE)
And just to reiterate, I cannot stress how awesome Carmilla is.
fabulous set by Lady <3
The Beetle by Richard Marsh is glorious nonsense.
East Lynn by Ellen Wood is a fave, as is anything by Braddon but especially Lady Audley's Secret.
I'm also quite partial to Thomas Hardy as a novelist and would always recommend the Mayor of Casterbridge to anybody.
You just said novels, but there's a load of fin de siècle short stories that are great too, especially the ones by female authors and I think there's a collection called the Daughters of Decadence that has quite a few in. I'd have to check my library when I get home for more details on that one :P
Oh and Cranford! Cranford and the other parts of that world are great (especially My Lady Ludlow which always gives me TOO MANY FEELINGS ABOUT A SPINSTER I LOVE)
And just to reiterate, I cannot stress how awesome Carmilla is.
fabulous set by Lady <3