classic 20th century british novels

There's E. M. Forster, who penned 'A Passage to India'. William Golding, the author of 'The Lord of the Flies'. Joseph Conrad, known for 'Heart of Darkness'. These authors all made significant contributions to 20th - century British literature with their unique styles and profound themes.

One of the most well - known is '1984' by George Orwell. It presents a dystopian society where the government has extreme control over people's lives. Another is 'To the Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf, which is a beautifully written exploration of family, time, and perception. And 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley, which also depicts a disturbing future society, but with a different take on control and human nature compared to '1984'.

One of the best 18th - century British novels is 'Robinson Crusoe' by Daniel Defoe. It tells the story of a man stranded on an island and his struggle for survival. Another great one is 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift, which is a satirical work. And 'Tom Jones' by Henry Fielding is also highly regarded for its vivid characters and complex plot.

Well, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a classic that still holds up in the 20th century. It's a great exploration of love and social class. Then there's 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. Although it has a sort of Middle - earth setting, Tolkien was a British writer and it was highly influential in the 20th century. Also, 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell is a must - mention. It uses animals on a farm to satirize totalitarian regimes.

Well, they typically had a focus on moral lessons. Writers were concerned with issues like virtue, vice, and the consequences of one's actions. Many of these novels were serialized, which influenced their structure. They would end each installment with a cliffhanger to keep the readers interested. The themes often revolved around love, family, and social mobility. Take 'Pride and Prejudice' for instance. It explored the concept of marriage within different social classes and how first impressions can be deceiving in matters of the heart.

In 19th century British dystopian novels, there were common themes like the loss of individuality. Take 'News from Nowhere' by William Morris. It envisions a future where there is a lack of personal freedom in a so - called 'utopian' society. The authors of these novels were concerned about the direction society was taking. They used their works to explore how things could go horribly wrong if certain trends, such as extreme capitalism or over - reliance on technology, continued. These novels were also a form of social commentary, highlighting the problems in the real 19th - century Britain.

Well, one characteristic is the focus on social satire. Writers like Jonathan Swift in 'Gulliver's Travels' used their novels to mock and criticize the society of that time. Another is the development of the novel as a form. It started to have more complex plots and characters compared to earlier literary works.

Well, 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte is one of the greatest. It has this intense, passionate story set on the moors, full of complex relationships. 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot is also very important. It's a complex work that delves deep into the lives of the people in a provincial town, exploring themes like marriage, politics, and social change. Then there's 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens, which exposes the harsh realities of the workhouse and the underbelly of society in a very engaging way.

Some notable early 20th - century British novels include those by Virginia Woolf. For example, 'Mrs. Dalloway' is a masterpiece. It explores the inner thoughts and experiences of its characters over the course of a single day in post - World War I London. The stream - of - consciousness technique she used was very innovative at that time.

One characteristic is the exploration of complex moral and social issues. For example, in some novels, the theme of class struggle was prominent as society was highly stratified. Also, the language used was often rich and elaborate, influenced by the literary traditions of the time. The plots usually revolved around the lives of the upper - class or those with some form of power, showing their vices and virtues.