Charles Dickens was an English novelist famed for his memorable characters and vivid storytelling. His classic novels, including Great Expectations and Oliver Twist, offer sharp social commentary of Victorian society.
If you enjoy reading books by Charles Dickens then you might also like the following authors:
Thackeray is a great choice if you enjoy Dickens' social satire and observation of human behavior. In his famous novel, Vanity Fair, Thackeray humorously explores society's flaws, greed, hypocrisy, and ambition through a large cast of vividly drawn characters.
His style is witty and gently mocking, drawing readers into the drama and comedy of the struggles people face in climbing social ladders.
If Dickens' depth of character and moral complexity draw you in, George Eliot will please you as well. Eliot's writing offers a rich exploration of human psychology and the ethical dilemmas ordinary people face, set against vivid social backdrops.
Her novel Middlemarch skillfully portrays the intersecting lives, desires, and struggles of a vibrant cast of characters in a small town. Eliot writes sensitively and insightfully, capturing subtle truths about human nature.
Anthony Trollope shines if you enjoy Dickens' ability to depict society with humor and warmth. Trollope has an easy-going, conversational style, portraying the everyday concerns and ambitions of Victorian England.
His novel The Warden, the first book in his popular "Chronicles of Barsetshire" series, humorously and humanely tackles small-town politics, human folly, and the quiet dramas of ordinary life.
Readers appreciating Dickens' compassionate portrayals of characters across different social classes will find themselves at home with Elizabeth Gaskell.
Her novel North and South explores industrial Britain's social divides, capturing both struggles and tenderness in relationships across class boundaries. Gaskell's style is empathetic and realistic; her vivid storytelling brings complex social issues close to the heart.
If you are drawn to Dickens' talent for exciting plot twists and suspense, Wilkie Collins is an excellent author to explore. Collins is a master of mystery and gothic atmosphere.
In his novel The Woman in White, he creates a memorable tale full of suspense, dark secrets, and intriguing characters. Collins' writing keeps readers eagerly turning pages, deeply caught up in unfolding secrets and thrilling mysteries.
Thomas Hardy writes novels that explore rural life and class struggles with sensitivity and realism. Hardy's characters often deal with fate, missed opportunities, and tragedies in their day-to-day lives, similar to Dickens.
In his famous work, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Hardy tells the tragic story of Tess, a young woman whose life takes a painful turn after unexpected hardships expose harsh truths about society.
Victor Hugo brings readers vivid, emotionally charged stories filled with deep social concern. His books embrace complex plots, memorable characters, and moral messages much like Dickens does.
Les Misérables is Hugo's classic novel depicting poverty, injustice, and redemption, following the struggles of Jean Valjean, a noble-hearted ex-convict fighting to forge a decent life amid social inequality and oppression.
The Brontë Sisters—Charlotte, Emily, and Anne—craft engrossing stories about family dynamics, love, and personal struggles set within vividly drawn landscapes. Their novels often highlight strong emotions and memorable characters, aspects readers love in Dickens.
Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is especially beloved, depicting the emotional journey and growth of a resourceful orphaned governess confronting hardship and passion while searching for dignity and independence.
Fyodor Dostoevsky writes deeply psychological novels examining moral dilemmas and complex ethical questions. Like Dickens, Dostoevsky develops sympathetic characters caught in difficult social conditions, forcing them into harsh choices and intense self-scrutiny.
Crime and Punishment shows Dostoevsky in top form, with Raskolnikov wrestling with guilt and conscience after committing a murder, exploring profound themes of morality, redemption, and human nature.
Honoré de Balzac's novels provide sharp, realistic portraits of French society in the 19th century, including individuals at every social level. Balzac pays close attention to human motivations and social pressures, much like Dickens.
His masterpiece, Père Goriot, offers a powerful depiction of greed, family betrayal, ambition, and tragic disappointment through an elderly father's sacrifices for his ungrateful daughters.
If you love Dickens' memorable characters and complex storytelling, John Irving might be for you. Irving's novels often combine humor, tragedy, and a rich sense of humanity, as in his famous novel The World According to Garp.
Like Dickens, Irving creates vivid fictional worlds and explores human experiences with tenderness and depth.
George Gissing captures Victorian society with realistic detail similar to Dickens, but with a sharper, more critical edge. His novel New Grub Street is particularly good at portraying the struggles of writers, poverty, and society's attitudes toward success and failure.
Readers who enjoy Dickens' examination of social class and hardship should definitely give Gissing a try.
Before Dickens, Henry Fielding paved the way for novelists who blend humor, sharp social commentary, and spirited storytelling. His style is witty, lively, and critical of society's hypocrisy.
Fielding's famous novel Tom Jones is a great choice if you enjoy Dickens' entertaining plots and lively characterization in richly depicted worlds.
Sarah Waters writes engaging historical novels full of detail and vivid depiction of setting, much like Dickens. Her novel Fingersmith draws readers into Victorian London with richly layered characters and a plot full of twists and turns.
Waters examines themes of identity, deception, and morality in a way that fans of Dickens' intricate storytelling and vibrant settings will enjoy.
Michel Faber has a knack for bringing the Victorian era to life, with writing that is detailed, atmospheric, and emotionally powerful. His novel The Crimson Petal and the White explores the bleak yet fascinating underbelly of nineteenth-century London.
If you enjoy Dickens' vivid settings, his thoughtful treatment of heavy social issues, and community of memorable, believable characters, Faber's work will resonate with you.