Shirley Hazzard wrote novels that are something special. She had a real gift for observing human relationships, and she wrote with such beautiful sentences. Her stories often explore love, loss, and the difficult choices people face.
For readers who enjoy books with a similar focus on character and beautifully written prose, and for those who appreciate stories with emotional depth, here are some authors you might like.
Readers who appreciate Shirley Hazzard might also enjoy the novels of Elizabeth Bowen. Bowen was an Irish writer known for her subtle exploration of human relationships and detailed portrayals of emotional landscapes.
Her novel “The Death of the Heart” centers on Portia, a sixteen-year-old orphan who moves in with her half-brother and his distant wife in London. Portia’s innocence and intense emotions contrast sharply with her relatives’ superficial adult world.
The tensions and misunderstandings in their relationships build slowly, leading Portia toward a critical moment of disillusionment. Bowen offers profound insights into matters of loneliness and belonging in quiet, precise prose.
Readers who enjoy Shirley Hazzard’s thoughtful observation, subtle character explorations, and precise prose may appreciate the novels of Penelope Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald’s “The Bookshop” captures quiet courage and resilience through Florence Green, a widow who opens a modest bookshop in a conservative seaside town.
Against local prejudices and small-town politics, Florence’s journey reflects deeper truths about ambition, stubbornness, and isolation.
Readers drawn to narratives of understated strength and sharp insight into human behavior will find Fitzgerald’s storytelling both engaging and poignant.
Books by Anita Brookner explore subtle emotions and quiet observations with depth and precision. If you appreciate Shirley Hazzard’s attention to personal relationships and thoughtful insights, you’re likely to enjoy Brookner’s novels.
In her novel “Hotel du Lac,” Brookner introduces Edith Hope, a writer who retreats to a quiet Swiss hotel after her life in England takes an unexpected turn. At the hotel Edith interacts with a variety of intriguing guests who prompt her to reconsider her past choices.
This reflective journey reveals insights into loneliness, love, self-understanding, and the expectations society places on women’s lives. Anita Brookner carefully examines Edith’s experiences and decisions in a subtle yet powerful way.
If Shirley Hazzard’s novels resonate with you, “Hotel du Lac” could provide a similarly satisfying read.
Henry James was an American-British novelist known for insightful explorations of human motivations, relationships, and moral conflicts within sophisticated social circles.
Readers who enjoy Shirley Hazzard’s subtle portrayal of personal relationships and moral ambiguity might appreciate Henry James’s novel “The Portrait of a Lady.” The book tells the story of Isabel Archer, a spirited young woman who inherits a fortune and travels to Europe.
She soon encounters complex romantic entanglements and must navigate difficult choices about freedom, marriage, and identity.
James carefully examines Isabel’s thoughts and dilemmas, building a richly layered picture of human nature, motivations, and the pressures placed upon women in 19th-century society.
Readers who enjoy Shirley Hazzard may also appreciate the novels of Elizabeth Taylor, an English novelist who explores human relationships with subtle humor and emotional depth.
Her novel “Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont” follows elderly widow Laura Palfrey as she moves into a modest London hotel to lead a dignified, independent life. Taylor skilfully captures loneliness, friendship, and the quiet bravery people display when facing life’s changes.
The novel gently portrays Mrs. Palfrey’s connection with a young writer named Ludo, whose friendship offers her companionship and dignity.
Taylor brings depth to ordinary experiences and finds significance in subtle moments, creating stories that remain with readers long after the last page.
Jane Gardam is an English author whose novels explore complex human relationships and emotional depth with sharp wit. Her thoughtful prose and crisp storytelling style strike a chord similar to Shirley Hazzard’s novels.
In “Old Filth,” Gardam introduces Edward Feathers, a retired lawyer famously known as Filth—an acronym for “Failed In London, Try Hong Kong.” The novel moves across continents and decades of memory.
Edward’s seemingly predictable life slowly reveals hidden sorrows from his past and experiences as a “Raj orphan,” sent back to England from colonial Malaya.
Gardam carefully unveils how the distant emotional attachments of childhood quietly shape and influence adulthood, creating a rich, absorbing portrait of loss, identity, and reconciliation.
Barbara Pym was an English novelist whose wry observations and subtle humor beautifully capture everyday moments and social interactions.
Her novel “Excellent Women” introduces readers to Mildred Lathbury, a single woman in post-war London who becomes frequently entangled in her neighbors’ lives.
Through Mildred’s eyes, we see quiet yet amusing portraits of society, relationships, and the gentle absurdities of daily life. Pym’s writing style is clear, insightful, and gently ironic.
If you enjoy Shirley Hazzard’s perceptive explorations of human emotions and interactions, Barbara Pym may offer stories that resonate with your reading tastes.
Books by Edith Wharton often explore themes of society, personal conflict, and the boundaries set by tradition. If you enjoy Shirley Hazzard’s insightful studies of human relationships and societal pressures, you might appreciate Wharton’s novel, “The Age of Innocence”.
Set in the refined yet rigid world of Old New York, this story revolves around Newland Archer, a lawyer torn between passion and convention.
Archer’s engagement to the seemingly perfect May Welland is quietly disrupted when he encounters her cousin, the captivating and independent Countess Olenska, whose unconventional behavior challenges his ideas about duty and desire.
Wharton captures the subtle tensions beneath polite society, creating characters whose inner lives feel alive and authentic.
Margaret Drabble is a British novelist known for insightful characters and thoughtful explorations of relationships, identity, and society.
Her novel “The Radiant Way” follows three friends over several decades, from hopeful post-war youth into the more uncertain years of middle age.
The story depicts friendship, marriage, careers, and shifting political landscapes, all anchoring readers in vivid portrayals of everyday moments and revelations.
Fans of Shirley Hazzard may appreciate Drabble’s precise observations and skill at capturing the subtle tensions beneath ordinary life.
Readers who appreciate Shirley Hazzard’s nuanced storytelling may also find themselves drawn to Susan Minot. Her novel “Evening” explores the memories of Ann Lord as she nears the end of her life.
Confined to bed, Ann recalls a weekend from her youth, a wedding that sparked a romance she cherishes decades later. Minot beautifully captures the intensity of youthful love and its lasting imprint on our lives.
Her precise and elegant prose skillfully portrays Ann’s shifting recollections, revealing emotional depths and poignant insights into love, memory, and regret.
If Shirley Hazzard’s thoughtful exploration of relationships resonates with you, Susan Minot’s portrayal of Ann’s life may offer a similarly rich and memorable reading experience.
Readers who appreciate Shirley Hazzard’s exploration of character relationships and emotional depth will likely enjoy Rosamond Lehmann. Lehmann brings subtlety and insight into human connections, as seen in her novel “Invitation to the Waltz”.
Set in the English countryside, the book follows Olivia Curtis, a sensitive young woman preparing for her first dance. Lehmann captures Olivia’s mix of excitement, nervousness, and awkward discoveries about herself and those around her.
The narrative beautifully portrays the complexity of coming-of-age experiences with a quiet, authentic charm.
If you enjoy Shirley Hazzard’s thoughtful exploration of relationships and human emotions, you might appreciate the work of E. M. Forster. Forster crafts novels with subtle humor and insightful observations about society and class.
His book “A Room with a View” follows Lucy Honeychurch, a young woman on holiday in Italy. During her trip, Lucy meets the unconventional George Emerson, who challenges her traditional views and expectations.
Once she returns home to England, Lucy struggles between her growing feelings for George and her sense of duty to marry a more acceptable suitor.
Forster vividly portrays Lucy’s inner conflict and the strict social expectations of Edwardian England in a way readers of Hazzard could certainly enjoy.
Books by Colm Tóibín often explore themes of identity, family, and displacement with subtlety and emotional depth. Readers who appreciate Shirley Hazzard’s nuanced storytelling may find Tóibín’s novel “Brooklyn” especially rewarding.
Set in the 1950s, it follows a young Irish woman named Eilis Lacey who moves to America in search of a new life. She navigates homesickness, first love, and the complexities of belonging in two worlds.
Like Hazzard, Tóibín quietly captures the internal worlds of his characters with clarity and sensitivity.
If you enjoy Shirley Hazzard’s thoughtful explorations of memory, loss, and human connection, you might appreciate Kazuo Ishiguro’s subtle yet profound narratives.
Ishiguro’s “The Remains of the Day” follows Stevens, an English butler whose unwavering dedication to duty shapes his entire life and worldview.
When he embarks upon a road trip across England, Stevens begins reflecting on his years of service to Lord Darlington and the distant, fragile relationship he had with Miss Kenton, the housekeeper.
Through Stevens’ quiet memories and introspections, Ishiguro paints a vivid portrait of missed opportunities, suppressed emotions, and personal sacrifice against the backdrop of a changing world.
Mavis Gallant was a Canadian writer celebrated for her sharp eye and insightful storytelling. Her collection “Paris Stories” showcases a vivid gallery of characters caught in everyday struggles, particularly expatriates living far from home.
In stories like “The Ice Wagon Going Down the Street,” Gallant captures the quiet tensions and understated moments that define people’s lives.
Her keen understanding of human emotion and the complexities of displacement would appeal greatly to readers who appreciate Shirley Hazzard’s thoughtful explorations of identity and belonging.