Charlotte Brontë was an esteemed English novelist who contributed significantly to classic literature. She is best known for Jane Eyre, a profound novel about an independent woman's experiences in Victorian society.
If you enjoy reading books by Charlotte Bronte then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Brontë's insightful exploration of society and memorable characters could find Elizabeth Gaskell equally engaging. Gaskell was a Victorian novelist and biographer, famous for her strong storytelling and well-developed heroines.
Her novel North and South follows Margaret Hale, a young woman who relocates from a tranquil village in southern England to an industrial northern town called Milton.
Margaret faces the harsh realities of factory life, meets the hardworking mill-owner John Thornton, and soon finds herself caught between conflicting values and loyalties.
The book blends emotional personal relationships and striking social issues, showing Margaret’s resilience and growth in a rapidly changing world.
If you enjoy Charlotte Brontë's strong characters and thoughtful storytelling in novels like Jane Eyre, then her sister Anne Brontë might also appeal to your reading tastes. Anne wrote novels that challenged social conventions.
Her book The Tenant of Wildfell Hall follows the story of Helen Graham, a woman who courageously leaves her troubled marriage and tries to build a life on her own terms.
The book portrays Helen bravely facing societal judgment and striving for independence, themes that may resonate if you appreciate Jane Eyre’s determined spirit and moral strength.
Anne Brontë presents a realistic picture of Victorian life, directly addressing social issues like alcoholism and the limited options available to women in difficult marriages.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Brontë’s emotional depth and intriguing characters often find Emily Brontë equally fascinating. Her classic novel Wuthering Heights tells the intense story of Heathcliff and Catherine, two people bound by a fierce love since childhood.
Set against the bleak yet beautiful Yorkshire moors, their relationship turns destructive and tragic, affecting generations. Emily Brontë expertly explores themes of passion, revenge, and longing through vivid characters and complex relationships.
Those who appreciate strong emotion, memorable characters, and thoughtful storytelling will find Emily Brontë’s novel captivating.
George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, an English novelist who crafted realistic stories filled with vivid characters and emotional depth. If you enjoy Charlotte Bronte, you might appreciate Eliot’s Middlemarch.
Set in a provincial English town during the early 1800s, the novel follows Dorothea Brooke, a thoughtful young woman who dreams of finding purpose beyond ordinary domestic life.
Dorothea marries Edward Casaubon, an intense, scholarly older man whose cold nature and unresolved ambitions come to shape her journey in unexpected ways.
Eliot creates an entire community full of unique characters, moral dilemmas, and tangled relationships as she explores themes of love, ambition, and societal expectations.
Anyone who finds meaning in Bronte’s deep, thoughtfully drawn characters may find Middlemarch equally rewarding and insightful.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Bronte’s novels may also appreciate Jane Austen’s storytelling. Austen is a classic English novelist known for clever dialogue, detailed social settings, and a focus on women’s lives and relationships in early 19th-century society.
One novel worth exploring is Pride and Prejudice. It follows the spirited Elizabeth Bennet, who must navigate love, misunderstandings, and social expectations after she meets the proud and enigmatic Mr. Darcy.
It’s a story filled with humor, romance, and sharp observations about class and character in a way that echoes the thoughtful layers found in Bronte’s work.
If you enjoy Charlotte Bronte’s atmospheric storytelling and emotional depth, Mary Shelley might be another author to explore. Shelley is most famous for her classic gothic novel Frankenstein.
It follows Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant young scientist who succeeds in creating life only to be horrified by his own creation. As Victor rejects the creature, it struggles to find companionship and acceptance, seeking understanding in a world full of fear and suspicion.
Shelley’s story explores themes of isolation, ambition, and what it really means to be human—all wrapped up in a chilling yet emotional narrative.
Thomas Hardy was an English novelist whose works often explore themes of love, social class, and the challenges faced by women in Victorian society. If you enjoy Charlotte Bronte’s novels, consider Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
This book follows the story of Tess, a young woman from a poor rural family who encounters hardship, betrayal, and heartache after meeting the wealthy Alec d’Urberville.
The novel portrays Tess’s emotional journey with sensitivity and depth and examines the injustices faced by women at the hands of society. Hardy’s vivid portrayal of the English countryside and his complex, emotionally-driven characters may appeal to readers of Bronte’s novels.
Books by Elizabeth Barrett Browning offer a heartfelt exploration of love, passion and identity. A good place to begin is with her poem collection Sonnets from the Portuguese, a series of beautifully intimate poems dedicated to her husband, Robert Browning.
Written initially as a private expression of her emotional journey, these sonnets capture love deeply and honestly, reflecting the author’s personal and powerful experiences.
Readers who value the intense emotion, thoughtful character portrayals, and keenly observed personal conflicts found in Charlotte Bronte’s work will appreciate Browning’s lyrical voice and sincere approach to human relationships in this poetic collection.
Readers who enjoyed Charlotte Brontë's heartfelt storytelling may find Louisa May Alcott equally captivating. Alcott is best known for her classic Little Women, a story about four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—growing up together in New England during the American Civil War.
Each sister faces her own struggles, romances, dreams, and setbacks. Jo March, who is spirited and independent, has a passion for writing and often challenges the expectations of the society around her.
Alcott’s warm, thoughtful characters and detailed portrayals of family bonds give readers a look into the experiences of women in a different era. Anyone moved by the strength and depth of Brontë's heroines will likely appreciate the sincerity in Little Women.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Brontë's novels might also appreciate Wilkie Collins, a Victorian author known for suspenseful and atmospheric storytelling. His novel, The Woman in White, is widely considered one of the first mystery thrillers.
It follows Walter Hartright, a young art instructor who encounters a mysterious woman dressed entirely in white on a quiet moonlit road.
Hartright soon becomes caught in a web of unsettling secrets, mistaken identities, and a deep conspiracy surrounding the captivating Laura Fairlie. Collins layers mystery, suspense, and intrigue to reveal hidden motivations and shocking family secrets.
Fans of rich characters, intense mysteries, and vivid Victorian settings will find much to appreciate in Collins’ work.
Daphne du Maurier shares Charlotte Bronte’s talent for tense psychological drama and mysterious plots. Her novel Rebecca is a perfect example. It is the story of a young woman who marries Maxim de Winter, a wealthy widower.
She moves into his grand estate, Manderley, but soon realizes the memory of Maxim’s first wife, Rebecca, haunts everyone who lives there. Rebecca’s lingering presence creates secrets and tension in every corner of the house.
Daphne du Maurier builds a sense of unease and suspense throughout the book, making it a dark mystery you won’t forget.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Brontë might also appreciate Frances Hodgson Burnett. She wrote stories that explore deep emotions, character growth and vivid settings.
Her book The Secret Garden offers an unforgettable tale about Mary Lennox, a neglected, spoiled girl sent to an old manor in England after her parents’ deaths. There she discovers a hidden garden abandoned for years.
As Mary works on reviving the garden, she herself begins to change along with the garden’s renewal. The story depicts friendship, healing, and transformation with graceful simplicity, inviting readers into a meaningful and heartwarming narrative.
Ellen Wood was an English novelist popular in the Victorian era, known especially for her absorbing stories of family drama and hidden secrets. If you enjoyed Charlotte Bronte, you might appreciate Wood’s novel East Lynne.
This novel spins an emotional tale of Isabel Vane, a woman whose life takes dramatic turns after she makes one tragic decision. Betrayal, mistaken identities, and intense emotions fill pages that follow Isabel’s struggle for redemption and forgiveness.
Wood creates characters whose realistic flaws and heartfelt trials echo the style and themes that Bronte explored in her work. Anyone who values complex relationships and rich storytelling could easily find themselves absorbed in Ellen Wood’s novels.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Brontë might appreciate the novels of Susan Ferrier, a Scottish author known for her sharp wit and vivid portrayal of society.
Her book Marriage explores the contrasts between city life in London and rural Scotland through the experiences of two very different sisters.
Ferrier combines humor with social commentary, highlighting the vanity and superficiality of high society in a way that is both entertaining and insightful. Fans of Brontë will find Ferrier’s strong yet relatable characters and lively storytelling deeply engaging.
Books by Margaret Oliphant offer readers rich storytelling and vivid characters, qualities readers of Charlotte Brontë often enjoy. In her novel Miss Marjoribanks, Oliphant brings readers into Victorian society through the eyes of Lucilla Marjoribanks.
Lucilla returns to her hometown after finishing school determined to brighten local life with her lively personality and ambitious social schemes.
Her humorous interactions and clever maneuverings among her neighbors reveal sharp insights into human nature, society, and relationships.
Readers who appreciate the depth and warmth of Brontë's novels might find Oliphant’s realistic yet humorous take on Victorian social life refreshing and engaging.