O'Neal Library Blog: Lesser Known Classics

Press release from the O'Neal Reader:

Emmet O'Neal Library

January 21, 2022

The next meeting is next Thursday, January 27th, for one
of the great classic novels of Chinese literature, Monkey
King: Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en. 
Register to attend: https://www.oneallibrary.org/event/6044738.  

On February 24th , get ready to
get fabulous with one of the most unforgettable characters in contemporary
fiction, Patrick Dennis’s Auntie
Mame.  Register to attend: https://www.oneallibrary.org/event/6049840.

We all know some of the famous authors from years ago, like
Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and the Brontë sisters. But what of the less
well-remembered authors — like Anne Brontë, whose two novels would never
be as popular as her sisters? And what of the other writers, who may have been
famous in their own day, but who are less remembered now? For the curious, here
are 11 titles that you might not recognize — but that are definitely worth a
second look.

Agnes
Grey by Anne Brontë

Published in 1847, Anne Brontë’s first novel pulls heavily
from her own experiences as a governess. It follows Agnes Grey, the daughter of
a clergyman, who takes up a position as a governess. Despite her hopes, the
upper-class families Agnes Grey works for treat her poorly — experiences that
reflected the hardships faced by governesses in Victorian England.

The
Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

When Helen Graham arrives at Wildfell Hall with her young
son, her presence draws the attention of the nearby villagers — especially
Gilbert Markham. But Helen’s past holds dark secrets, including a cruel husband
she’s running from. Through letters and diary entries, Anne Brontë’s compelling
final novel explores alcoholism, abuse, and the desire for independence.

The
Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington

A Pulitzer Prize winner, this 1918 novel centers on
generations of the aristocratic Amberson family, including the young, spoiled
George Amberson Minafer. And as industry begins to thrive, George, grandson of
the family patriarch, struggles with his family’s changing place and influence
in their Midwestern town.

Hester: A Story of Contemporary Life by Margaret
Oliphant and Wilson Oliphant (not
in the JCLC system, but available via Interlibrary Loan)

Years ago, Catherine Vernon saved the family banking
business from ruin. Now a powerful figure in the town of Redborough, she’s
responsible for many of her relatives, including the young and independent
Hester. But Catherine and Hester clash, and the rift between them grows when
Hester forms a connection with Edward, Catherine’s younger cousin who she views
as a son. This prolific Scottish author penned more than 100 novels in
her lifetime in addition to numerous short stories, essays, and articles. Click
here to see the author’s work that is available in the library system.

The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (not
in the JCLC system, but available via Interlibrary Loan)

One of the bestselling US books during 1924, The
Home-Maker offers a thought-provoking look at gender roles and societal
norms that remains relevant today. When her husband, Lester, gets into a
serious accident, housewife Evangeline Knapp becomes the family’s breadwinner. Click
here to see the author’s work that is available in the library system.

There Is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset (not
in the JCLC system, but available via Interlibrary Loan)

Set in Philadelphia and New York, this engaging 1924 novel
explores race, love, and ambition. There Is Confusion details the
lives of three Black children — Joanna Marshall, Maggie Ellersley, and Peter
Bye — as they grow up, chase their dreams, and navigate challenges in the early
20th century.  The
author’s novel “Plum Bum” is available in the library system.

The
Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Published in 1868, The Moonstone is considered one
of the earliest English detective novels, with Dorothy L. Sayers calling it
“probably the very finest detective story ever written.” As different
characters narrate, readers are pulled in to a captivating mystery: the theft
of a diamond that’s rumored to be cursed. 

Evelina
by Frances Burney

Described by Virginia Woolf as “the mother of
English fiction,” Frances — or Fanny — Burney established herself as a popular
writer in the late 18th century and counted Jane Austen among her
readers. In Evelina, an epistolary novel, she satirizes society as her
young title character experiences London for the first time and draws the eyes
of several suitors.

Fantomina
by Eliza Haywood

Considered an influence on authors like Jane Austen and Fanny
Burney, writer and actress Eliza Haywood gained popularity and produced an
extensive volume of work. In Fantomina, she tells the story of a
young woman who disguises herself in different personas to keep the attention
of a man named Beauplaisir.

Ruth
Hall by Fanny Fern

Fanny Fern — the pen name of a popular newspaper columnist —
drew heavily from her own life when writing Ruth Hall. Through vignettes,
Fern weaves together the story of Ruth as she navigates her marriage, the death
of her husband, and her struggles with her family.  

Deerbrook by Harriet Martineau (Not
in the JCLC system but available via Interlibrary Loan)

A well-known sociologist, Harriet Martineau gained
popularity in the 1830s through her volumes of Illustrations of Political
Economy. Their success, Smithsonian magazine says, “not
only secured herself a steady income but also cemented her status as one of
Britain’s most popular intellectuals.” In her first novel, Martineau paints a
vivid picture of Victorian England through the lives of the recently orphaned
Ibbotson sisters — Hester and Margaret — who go to stay with their cousins in
the village of Deerbrook. The
Special Collections reference department of the Birmingham Public Library
Central branch holds some of her sociological work.

This press release was produced by the O'Neal Reader. The views expressed here are the author’s own.