These three classic authors are certainly not “Under the Radar” but these works are not as widely read as their other major works like Jane Eyre, North & South, and Pride & Prejudice.
As much as I love Jane Eyre and I consider it to be my favorite novel, Villette really is Charlotte’s master piece. It’s exquisitely written, dark, moody, witty, more mature. Charlotte’s writing is at it’s prime. It’s obvious that Charlotte was really not in a good mental space when this was written; by this time, she’d lost all of her siblings. Villette is even more autobiographical than Jane Eyre, as it tells the tale of Lucy, a governess left in the world with no family and no friends and she pines for a man that does not reciprocate. Villette is not a happy novel, though Charlotte still manages to sprinkle in these really funny lines. There are also these beautifully written passages of Lucy at her lowest, yet she still clings to her faith. She refuses to give up. This really is a stunning piece of literature that Bronte fans and fans of the classics would really enjoy. It’s perfect for the cold months, as there is so much imagery of the cold sea and winter months. It’s especially perfect for those literary nerds that get giddy over long, descriptive passages that elude to other pieces of fiction and scripture and atmospheric writing. Ever since I read it last November, I’ve been thinking about this novel and I’m eager to reread it.
“…so that he saw her, touched the hem of her garment, was enough. Surely, in time, such deep love would beget love.”
Mary Barton is Elizabeth Gaskell’s first novel that she wrote after the lost of her son, as a way to cope. The novel mainly centers around the beautiful Mary Barton, who is a poor working girl. Her beauty attracts the attention of a wealthy factory owner’s son. Her childhood friend, Jem, is also deeply in love with her. Mary’s youth and immaturity blinds her to who is actually the better man. However, this just isn’t a story center around these romances - in true Gaskell style, she dives into the social conditions of the time, specifically the conditions of the poor, and the tensions between workers and their masters. Fans of North & South who haven’t read this yet will appreciate the parallels - I’m actually under the impression that Gaskell took some of the elements in this novel and explored them more deeply in North & South. Fans of Dickens will appreciate the darker, moodier, and dramatic feel that is somewhat Dickensian. In fact, Dickens was a huge fan of this novel. Also, people who are interested in debates of capitalism vs. socialism will find this interesting, as Gaskell presents subtle cases for both, which is not shocking, as the Communist Manifesto was published during the same year (1848).
“I make no apologies for my heroine’s vanity - If there are young ladies in the world at her time of life, more dull of fancy and more careless of pleasing, I know them not, and never wish to know them.”
Sanditon is fairly well known amongst fans of Jane Austen, but it’s still not as widely read as her main novels. Sanditon is an unfinished work, so when it’s published, two of Austen’s novellas are often included in the volume - The Watsons and Lady Susan. Both of these short stories are brilliant, but Lady Susan is a real treat. It’s so funny and Lady Susan is the worst; a text book narcissist. If you’re a fan of Austen and haven’t read these shorter works yet, you really should. It’s everything that one loves about Austen in a bite-sized length - romance, wit, discussions on class and really good banter.
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