Good British books to read ?

Question

British lit is at a different level, I much prefer it to colloquial American lit. Please any recommendations for an enjoyable read? (I like books with broad life themes like East of Eden, Life after God.)

thoughtful lit.

Modern lit too?

Answer 1

Yes, definately "Keep the Aphisdistra Flying" by George Orwell.

And one of the better contemporary novelists, Ian McCewan.
Check out his "Black Dogs", "Atonement" and "Saturday."

Also a forgotten writer, Henry Williamson. His best known work is "A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight."

Answer 2

British literature can definately be superior to American literature. Sometimes you get a brilliant American novel, but like you, I prefer British writing. There's the obvious Dickens, Austin, Bronte, but here's some other wonderful authors I've personally enjoyed:
William Makepeace Thackeray and Anthony Trollope
James Joyce, D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf
John Galsworthy and Arnold Bennett, Evelyn Waugh, William Golding, Anthony Burgess, Grahame Greene and Iris Murdoch.
Quite a few, but check them out. These writers are amazing.

Answer 3

The Buddah of Suburbia (Britain is a multicultural country. The book is written by an Anglo-Indian)
Anything by EM Forster (extremely british upper class and considered classics to boot)
Anything by Faye Weldon (british femminist literature with a sting)
Virginia Wolfe (particularly enjoyed Mrs Dalloway)
Martin Amis (dark, dark, dark - which is also a very British quality)

Answer 4

Tarzan is a good British book, as is the complete works of William Shakespeare, Oliver Twist, Alice in wonderland, the land before time, Sherlock Holmes mysteries, any mysteries which were written by Agatha Christi, and the King James version of the bible. i am also a fan of British literature, as you may have guessed.

Answer 5

Elizabeth Goudge- The Little White Horse

By the way, James Joyce is from Dublin

Answer 6

You definitely have to read Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy. Dark and gothic and brooding and heavy. And if you're interested the BBC also did a wonderful four episode adapatation back in 2000. Should be able to find it on DVD quite easily. But i would suggest reading the books first before watching.

Answer 7

W. Somerset Maugham is fantastic! I especially like "The Razor's Edge."
Evelyn Waugh, "Brideshead Revisited"
Graham Greene, "The Third Man" and lots of others.

Answer 8

Even though he gets a lot of criticism, and is often relegated to the kids' camp, I do enjoy Charles Dickens. His writing is inspired and colorful as well as fast-moving.

Also Agatha Christie for the plodding, yet delightful, Englishness of it all.

Answer 9

'Lucky Jim' by Kingsley Amis
Anything by Graham Greene
'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgiss

Answer 10

It was once stated as "Ten Little Indians," yet now i think of in keeping with risk that is been slightly re-worked and is stated as "and then there have been None," by ability of Agatha Christie (seek for the two titles)... secret. additionally "Appleby on Arafat" by ability of Michael Innes (secret), that's the 1st, i've got faith, of a chain of 'Inspector Appleby' mysteries, any of them solid. circulate to the library for a number of those British authors, as they may be confusing to hit upon someplace else. For books of magic: "The Hobbit" by ability of JRR Tolkien, and "The 5 toddlers and It" by ability of E. Nesbit... the two surprising and (the 2d is quite short) classic books by ability of British authors of circumstances long handed by ability of. great reads for adults and little ones alike! I point out "The Hobbit" as a e book that stands on my own yet there are different 'on my own' books by ability of Tolkien, besides as some greater by ability of E. Nesbit... seize them up! solid success on your task...