Recommendations from our site
“This is a classic of the Victorian historical novels, and is universally accepted to be one of the very best. I wondered if it was almost too traditionally packaged—it does feel very close to an original Victorian-era novel, but it also includes sexuality and more complex character psychology and moral ambiguity. So it was a bridge for me from Victorian literature to the Victorian historical novel. So it’s a very traditional novel, but with subtle modern elements slowly creeping through. And it opened the door for me to enjoy the more experimental historical literature that I went on to read.” Read more...
Historical Novels Set in the Victorian Era
Virginia Feito, Novelist
“I could have included any of Sarah Waters’ books here—they’re all extraordinary—but Fingersmith has remained my favourite because it’s a glorious mystery, it has a fantastic, gripping plot, and also one of the best twists in the business… Sarah Waters manages to create these amazing Victorian characters, but she makes them fresh and new, and I think that is a real achievement in a historical novel.” Read more...
The Best Historical Crime Novels
Anna Mazzola, Novelist
“Fingersmith is an astonishing piece of work. Sarah Waters creates a fabulous sense of place, the violence of those Victorian institutions, the impossibility of a women ever getting out again if she was confined. It’s a novel that requires a lot of its reader—who is tricking who, who is the most morally bankrupt. It’s an extraordinary novel. I don’t think any modern writer does the underbelly of the Victorian period better than Sarah Waters.” Read more...
Historical Novels with Strong Female Leads
Kate Mosse, Novelist
