What are some of the best opening sentences of novels?

One of the best is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. It immediately sets a tone of contrast and historical context, making the reader wonder about the times being described.

The opening sentence of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' is also remarkable. The unexpected 'clocks were striking thirteen' creates a sense of unease and immediately makes the reader curious about this strange world. It's a great start to introduce the dystopian setting of the novel.

The opening sentence 'The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.' is excellent. It immediately makes the reader think about the concept of the past and how it might be different. It can lead to all sorts of stories, whether it's about a character's personal past or a historical setting.

One of the best opening sentences is from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' This sentence immediately sets the tone for the story which is largely about marriage and social status in the 19th - century English society.

The opening of 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen - 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' It's a great opening as it gives a sense of the social values and expectations of the time, and also intrigues the reader about the relationships to come.

One famous opening is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' from Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This sentence immediately sets a contrast and draws the reader in, making them wonder about the times being described.

The novel '1984' by George Orwell begins with 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' This opening immediately sets an off - kilter and somewhat dystopian mood. It makes the reader aware that things in this world are not quite as they should be, and draws them into the story to find out more about this strange place where the normal rules seem to be broken.

Here's another one: 'The door slammed shut behind her, and she knew she could never go back.' This opening sentence gives a sense of finality and a feeling of a new beginning. It makes the reader curious about the character, why she can't go back, and what lies ahead for her.

One effective opening sentence could be 'In a world where magic seeped through every crack in the ancient stones, a young orphan named Elara awoke with a strange mark on her hand.' This immediately sets a magical and mysterious tone, introducing a character and a hint of something unusual.

One good opening sentence could be 'In the bustling city square, their eyes met for the first time, and in that instant, a spark of something indescribable was kindled.'