Showing titles in Victorian

In "The Hand of Ethelberta", Thomas Hardy explores the complexities of love and class in Victorian England through the story of a young woman who rises from being a governess to marrying into the aristocracy. With his signature wit and insight, Hardy delves into themes of social mobility, gender roles, and the power of love to transcend societal expectations. The audiobook brings this delightful tale to life, immersing the listener in the richly detailed world of 19th-century England.

"Two On A Tower", a novel by Thomas Hardy, tells the story of an astronomical artist, Lady Constantine, and her love affair with a young astronomer. This tale of love, sacrifice and societal constraints is brought to life in the audiobook, accompanied by beautiful descriptions of the celestial world.

In "The Mayor of Casterbridge", Thomas Hardy tells the gripping story of Michael Henchard, a man who, after selling his wife and daughter, rises from poverty to become the wealthy and respected mayor of his town. But when his past comes back to haunt him, he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions. This classic tale of redemption and tragedy is sure to captivate listeners with its rich characters and powerful themes.

"The Well-Beloved" is a beautifully crafted novel by Thomas Hardy, exploring the complexities of love and desire. Set in the scenic Isle of Slingers, it tells the story of a sculptor, Jocelyn Pierston, and his obsessive search for his perfect muse, who he calls his "well-beloved". As he searches for this elusive figure, he faces a series of trials and tribulations, each leading him closer to his ultimate desire. This poignant and lyrical tale is a must-read for any lover of classic literature.

Kelly Collins wants nothing more than to return to her quiet life in the countryside. When the fate of her family and home are in jeopardy, she has no choice but to travel to London in search of her wayward fiance. But the man she finds in London is not the boy she remembers from her youth. He arouses feelings in her she never imagined. Before long, it isn't just her home, but also her heart, that is at risk.

1875. With their father missing and their mother suddenly passing, Esme and Gabriel are forced to track down their estranged grandfather in Lincolnshire. Cold and unwelcoming, he is reluctant to take them in, but aware of his standing as the village vicar, he knows must protect his reputation, and allow the children to stay with him. Esme's relief at finding refuge soon turns to despair when Gabriel is sent to boarding school, leaving her alone in their grandfather's unhappy home. But the house isn't as empty as it first appeared.

Born into poverty and hardship, Ruby Skinner's decision to approach the unscrupulous East End villain, Donald McCoy, for help, ends in disaster. In a desperate bid to move her ailing mother to the fresh air of the countryside, she realises that she has made a huge mistake, which will shape the rest of her life. Robert Thornton, a wealthy business man, also had the misfortune of suffering from the under hand dealings with McCoy, and when curiosity forces him to pursue Ruby Skinner, the barriers which divide the social classes of the 19th century are put to test by the power of love.

Rose Wickes-Barnes has a plan to establish herself as an independent woman of good standing. Move away from Gold Sky. Join one of New York City’s most prestigious theater companies. Establish herself in society as an up-and-coming costumer with said theater company. Thusly, she aims to enjoy the fruits of her labor just as any woman should. What she never anticipates is a scandal, paparazzi storm, and subsequent whirlwind marriage.

Lady Olivia Stone—Liv to her intimates—finally has the control she's longed for. She's hand raised her beloved horse from foal to filly and is ready to enter her in the St. Ledger Stakes. But her father is right about one thing: she needs a proper trainer to take her over the finish line. However, Brandon Casey is not what she had in mind. Until she meets the man ready to challenge—and inflame her—at every turn.

The Pennycomequicks by Sabine Baring-Gould is a captivating tale of a wealthy family whose fortune is in decline. Set in Victorian England, this audiobook takes the listener on a journey through the joys and sorrows of the Pennycomequick family, who must navigate their changing financial circumstances while dealing with their own personal demons. The story is rich in detail and full of complex characters, each with their own struggles and desires.

Vivacious, bold, beautiful Madison Hutton is an instant success when she arrives in London for her debut season. While she has caught the eye of many an eligible bachelor, her head is not so easily turned. Madison is looking for one thing: a true love marriage. When she meets Henry, a dashing young marquess, she thinks she has found her perfect match.

When Evie Henshawe agreed to sit as an artist’s model for the eccentric Marquess of Ashcombe, she was expecting to lose her clothes and her reputation. She wasn’t counting on losing her mind—or her heart. As a second son, Ash was never meant to be a marquess. Bookish, circumspect, and devoted to his art, he’s a visionary, not a landlord. Horrified by the realities of the Industrial Revolution, he buries himself in the past and uses his resources to build a Gothic Revival Camelot in north London, a place where he can disappear into his dreams.

When The Doctor's Wife was first published in 1864, Mary Elizabeth Braddon was well known for her scandalous bestseller, Lady Audley's Secret. Adultery, death, and the spectacle of female recrimination and suffering are the elements that combine to make The Doctor's Wife a classic women's 'sensation' novel. Yet it is also Braddon's most self-consciously literary work and her rewriting of Madame Bovary. Like Emma Bovary, Braddon's heroine, Isabel Gilbert, is trapped in a marriage to a man incapable of understanding her imaginative life.

We see another facet of Mary Elizabeth Braddon's amazing talent in Dead Love Has Chains, written in her seventies. Focusing on character and human psychology rather than detection and crime, this is one of her most interesting novels. Pregnant and unmarried Irene Thelliston is sent home from India to live with her Aunt in Ireland. On her sea voyage she reveals her secret to Lady Mary Harling who swears to keep her confidence. Several years later to the horror of Lady Mary she becomes engaged to her son Conrad who has his own rather questionable past.

Sheffield, 1867. It's the height of a long-running and violent campaign known as the Outrages, where murderous acts are carried out on behalf of a rogue union leader. Louisa Leigh, a former maid-of-all-work, is trapped into prostitution and desperate for money to escape. She befriends Ginny Hinchcliffe, a young widow who will do whatever it takes to break free from a life of servitude to her in-laws. The two women become entangled with Joe Crookes, henchman to the man responsible for the Outrages.

Elisabeth Stiernfors er lovet bort til den usympatiske baron von Strauss. Men da den fattige huslærer Mathias Storm forelsker sig i hende, må Elisabeth træffe et svært valg. Hendes eneste fortrolige er kammerpigen Vera, og et stærkt men også kompliceret venskab spirer frem mellem de to. Men hvad vil der ske med Vera, når Elisabeth gifter sig? Samtidigt kæmper Elisabeths storesøster, Cecilia, for at få sit nye liv med ægtemanden Jacques Rousseau til at fungere. Men da et barn efterlades på deres dørtrin, og Jacques forbyder Cecilia at hjælpe barnet, må Cecilia træffe en skelsættende beslutning.

An innocent trip to the book store propels Lady Harriett Beresford into danger when a stranger—warning of peril from the Fat Man—collapses on her doorstep. Dead. She rushes to find aid, and when she returns, the dead man is gone, and no one believes her account....

Greer Buchanan, a Scottish soldier for King James, arrives in London as it prepares for the festive twelve days of Christmas. Tasked by his king to stop Queen Elizabeth I from being assassinated, Greer heads to Whitehall Palace only to be misdirected to the Bear Garden where a rescue effort is underway.

What is it about her that attracts disaster? Lady Cecily Garrity is starting to believe that she is cursed. Left devastated after her husband's sudden death, she has made one wrong choice after another. And now her little farm—and her sanity—are falling to pieces. 

Josephine Claremont hides her real name—and all the struggles she's endured—behind a beautiful stage name and debonair lifestyle. As the premier actress in London, she is welcomed in all society homes even though she doesn't belong in the haute ton. She is the queen of the demimonde and is determined to maintain that position—even if a dashing viscount is oddly intent on winning her heart.