Exploring – and, sometimes, unearthing – the literature of Victorian Christians for today’s Christian reader seeking intelligence, Biblical and theological substance, a little bit of drama and a lot of wit. You won’t find any of these authors on your Bible bookstore shelves, and more’s the pity.
Nadine holds an M.A. in English Language and Literature.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane only achieves happiness by acting in accordance with both the law of God and the Spirit of God – by walking in both obedience and love.
Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The question especially close to Barrett Browning’s heart in Aurora Leigh is the role of the artist – the contemplator of God, his creation and the people he populated it with. How productive is art, and by extension, faith, in a hungry and starving world?
The Fisherman’s Lady by George MacDonald
The mystery of Malcolm’s birth and the intrigue of the horrific “wizard’s chamber” make this tale a thoroughly enjoyable, unputdownable read, brimming with potential for a great Christian movie, if anyone’s listening.
The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope
Whoever originated the writerly advice, “Show, don’t tell,” a commonly touted golden rule of fiction writing, apparently never read a Victorian novel. The Victorians are master story tellers, and the intense, psychological study of character is one of the defining features of Victorian novels.
Lady Susan by Jane Austen
Lady Susan (1871), one of Jane Austen’s lesser known writings, was one of only two works by Austen to reach publication during Queen Victoria’s reign. Lady Susan’s pretenses fail and her daughter Frederica’s innocent humility succeeds because of the higher moral order that Austen believes in, where bad is punished and good rewarded.
Nature Reveals the Glory of God in Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore
For John, the world is a gift from a joyful creator, a gift sometimes incomprehensible but evidencing vestiges of a creator who, in his omniscience, does comprehend all things, and who, through his good gifts, displays his trustworthiness.
Email Nadine here, or leave a comment below.
Christian Victorian Literature 
What an interesting blog! I am enjoying it a lot! Great job!
Thank you!
Hey Nadine, thanks, that will be great, but it seems like that is not working for me, when I click on your name nothing happens, maybe something is wrong with the settings on the blog? I could post my email address here and then you could delete the reply if that would work instead? Let me know, I am excited to see the list, thanks -Jeremy
Jeremy, I added a contact box above where you can email me your address. Hope that works!
Thanks, just sent it!
Although Eliot is one of my faves, she was an atheist. Alcott was a transcendentalist, I believe. I also haven’t really given much thought to non-British writers yet – maybe one day. There are actually some great Canadian Christian writers. You might want to look up Ralph Connor, a presbyterian minister and novelist from the turn of the 19th century. “The Man From Glengarry” was a great read along the lines of “Anne of Green Gables” and “Little Women” but with overt Christian themes.
I think Eliot became disillusioned with her faith while translating a biography of Christ called “The Life of Christ.” But apparently Thomas Cooper, a Christian, wrote a refutation of it in a book entitled “The Bridge of History Over the Gulf of Time,” so you may want to check that out. It is definitely on my list of books to read.
I will check out that Cowan and Guinness book – thanks for the rec. I need a bigger book budget! My amazon wishlist is like 50 pages.
Very cool, I will look up those writers. Like you am I more interested in overtly Christian writers from the era but am unfamiliar with many. Would you be able to send and/or post a list of some of the Christian titles you are planning to read? I am trying to compile a good reading list before I start graduate school in the fall. Thanks again!
Jeremy, if you click on my name you should be able to email me. Then I can send you a list.
Thanks again! Feel free to share my blog with other lit lovers. 🙂
Hi Nadine,
My name is Jeremy. I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy the blog. The insights and analysis are excellent. I like all of the novels you mention on it, and will be getting around to reading a couple of them soon as well.
I also wanted to ask if you could recommend any other 19th century novels with Christian themes, and any good Christian writers from that era as well. It would really be appreciated.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Jeremy
Thanks Jeremy. It’s awesome to see people enjoying the blog.
There are several more novels by Elizabeth Gaskell, all of which I plan to review (keep in mind she is Unitarian). Anthony Trollope has written dozens as well. There are also of course the Bronte sisters, although I haven’t read too much about Emily and Charlotte’s faith yet. I have a long list of potential Christian authors to review that I haven’t really read yet and don’t know too much about. But if I know people are reading my blog that gives me more motivation to get through them faster.
If you haven’t already, click on “Introducing” at the top of the blog and you will see all the novels I have covered so far.
How did you come across my blog?
Nadine
Hey Nadine,
Thanks for getting back to me. Actually I came across the blog sort of by chance. I was Google searching for Christian reviews of classic literature and found your site. Your perspectives are really good and spot on. I like that you are hitting on some novels that (as you mention) are not quite as well known in Christian circles. I actually knew a lot about Gaskell and like her work, but was not as familiar with Anne Bronte and will definitely be reading Agnes Grey.
Some other authors that may interest you could be Luisa May Alcott (Little Women), and George Eliot (though her religious views were sometimes shaky). A really great book that you might want to check into sometime is “Invitation to the Classics” by Louise Cowan and Os Guinness, I own it and its got some nice commentaries of classic novels from Christian perspectives.
I can’t wait to see what you review next as I really think you are filling a void with this blog. There just is not much Christian commentary on novels from this era from what I have been able to find, and I am glad that I found this site.
Jeremy
Me again! I tried messaging you privately but I just thought Id say Im following you on bloglovin! I don’t know what its like really but apparently its a good place to follow lots of different blogs- I’ve “claimed” my blog on bloglovin (not sure what that will do) but I was wondering whether you have done that? lol hope your having a good week! forgetmenots 🙂
Thanks for the tip Pinks Daisy – I will check it out.
Pinks Daisy – Thanks, I will check it out. I love niche blogs – especially about the Victorian Era!
Thank you! We were obviously born in the wrong era 🙂 take care.
Hello! I love your reading list and your blog looks great 🙂 My blog is the Victorian meaning of flowers- so you might be interested to look at that if you want! 🙂 I am also a Christian too! keep up the blogging!
sorry it would help if I actually let you have a look at my blog -http://forgetmenots121.blogspot.co.uk/
This looks like a great blog, I can’t wait to read your first post!