What is your favourite classic British novel?

Question

And, what great hero(ine) of literature do you mostly identify with, and why?

My favourite novel is George Eliot's "The Mill on the Floss" and I think I identify with Maggie Tulliver because I often find difficulty in doing what I have to while I want to do something else-duty Vs desire.

Answer 1

Agatha Christie : 'The body in the library'.

I love this one because it depicts class difference so well while still keeping you in suspens!

Agatha Christie has to be my heroine of literature because she was so 'Before her time' with situations, psychology and travelling. She was indeed an accomplished traveller, taking part in research and studies in the Middle East and in her days ... It as quite something. Also because many famed modern authors, and although using newer styles of their own, I'm referring to Lynda La Plante, Martina Cole, Minette Walters, to name only a few of them, all learnt a great lot from Agatha! Also and many people don't know but approximately 10 years ago, a little boy was admitted to hospital suffering from poisoning of some kind (England). His life was saved because one of the nurse on the team relaised what poisonous leaves he had ingested ... She had just read an Agatha Christie book mentionning the poisoning and reactions of her 'Body' before he died! So her books actually saved a life as well!!!

My ambition is to become the next Miss Marple in a few years time!!!I wouldn't if it wasn't for Agatha Christie.

Answer 2

Neil Gaiman for fantasy novels. Try Coraline, Stardust, Neverwhere, Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett), American Gods...

If you like sf the list is endless: Try John Wyndham's Day of the Triffids (also made into a film) or Stephen Baxter.

Answer 3

It's a toss-up between Pride and Prejudice and A Tale of Two Cities. I like Austen's other books better than the bulk of Dickens' work, though, so maybe P&P takes the cake.

As for heroines, I've always liked Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, but I think I'm more like her literary "sister" Emily Byrd Starr (from L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon trilogy.)

Answer 4

Alice in wonderland; just because it's nice. Or maybe the lion The Witch and the Wardrobe.- they're just nice books.


In Xanadou did Kubla khan
A Stately Pleasure dome decree
Where Alph the Sacred River Ran
Through Caverns measureless to man
Down to a Sunless sea.

Answer 5

I like Dorothy L Sayers and Josephine Tey. Dick Francis is good, too.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories are classics!

Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine.

I don't really identify with anyone in particular....

I am sure a lot of people will say Charles Dickens, but he is not one of my personal favorites.

Answer 6

A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens. The 1951 film version of this book was titled SCROOGE with Alister Sim playing the lead role of Scrooge. He was absolutely superb in this role, nobody will ever do it better, and the other actors were superb too.

Answer 7

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is brilliant, and Lizzie Bennet, the heroine, is a fiesty woman. Also, Jane Eyre is definitely worth a read. She's also a great heroine.

Answer 8

The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy

Answer 9

Charlotte Bronte - Jane Eyre

I identify with Jane just with the way that she was raised in the novel. I am not going into my past, but there are very similiar lines there.

Answer 10

Wuthering Heights.
It's beautifully written and stands the test of time.
I don't treally identify with any hero or heroine from literature. I guess we're all unique