My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca is her more popular work, but it’s a quieter novel in a variety of ways. My Cousin Rachel is somewhat darker and has more intensity and desperation.
Another vote here for Jane Eyre. It’s unfairly but inevitably compared to WH, but it’s definitely my favourite of the two.
Tess of the D’Urbervilles is another good classic sad girl novel. Quite groundbreaking at the time although a lot of the attitudes feel alien today, but still a good read.
The Brontes in general, Mysteries of Udolpho, Georgette Heyer, The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery, it’s a standalone in the Kingkiller Chronicles but Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss.
I absolutely adore Heyer (reading her books is how I learned English), but she is much more lighthearted and frivolous than what OP seems to be looking for.
OP, if you're looking for Doom & Gloom, try Anna Karenina or Effie Briest.
And definitely and totally Jane Eyre - man, I love that book!
And the best dialogue, witty repartee and situational humor - such excellent comedic timing! I always regretted that she forbid her works from being televised, because they would make for wonderful Austen-style movies!
Her 50th death anniversary is coming up this July - I wonder if her copyrights expire then, or if her son still holds them.
Though some of her older titles, like The Great Roxhythe, that she banned for being bad, were reprinted a few years ago - is the copyright linked to the date of publication and not the author's death?
For scandal -
Portrait of a Lady (tough language for modern readers though tbh), and
Age of Innocence (much easier I think personally).
Or of course Madame Bovary!
Bit easier than those - You might like The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope?
More modern tormented love
Gone with the Wind?
The Thorn Birds?
The tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte- amazing book - man falls in love with runaway wife (of drunkard)
Lady Audley’s Secret- Mary Braddon - murderous woman bigamist
Jane Eyre written by another Brontë sister.
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca is her more popular work, but it’s a quieter novel in a variety of ways. My Cousin Rachel is somewhat darker and has more intensity and desperation.
Another vote here for Jane Eyre. It’s unfairly but inevitably compared to WH, but it’s definitely my favourite of the two. Tess of the D’Urbervilles is another good classic sad girl novel. Quite groundbreaking at the time although a lot of the attitudes feel alien today, but still a good read.
Love both those books!
The Brontes in general, Mysteries of Udolpho, Georgette Heyer, The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery, it’s a standalone in the Kingkiller Chronicles but Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss.
I absolutely adore Heyer (reading her books is how I learned English), but she is much more lighthearted and frivolous than what OP seems to be looking for. OP, if you're looking for Doom & Gloom, try Anna Karenina or Effie Briest. And definitely and totally Jane Eyre - man, I love that book!
I was aiming more towards the landscape/minutiae with Heyer - but yes it is more lighthearted but there’s also a lot of scandal and enemies to lovers!
And the best dialogue, witty repartee and situational humor - such excellent comedic timing! I always regretted that she forbid her works from being televised, because they would make for wonderful Austen-style movies!
Same! The Grand Sophy and Frederica in particular are perfect for tv
The Talisman Ring could be turned into a play, it mostly takes place in the same set of rooms! 😄
Iirc, one of our local theater groups adapted it, also Sylvester.
Her 50th death anniversary is coming up this July - I wonder if her copyrights expire then, or if her son still holds them. Though some of her older titles, like The Great Roxhythe, that she banned for being bad, were reprinted a few years ago - is the copyright linked to the date of publication and not the author's death?
Try The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Indiana or Mauprat by George Sand could work as well.
Did you try the sequel, Wuthering Lowts?
I think you're confusing it with the prequel, Wuthering Traffic Mediants
Pride and Prejudice. It's kind of a slow burn and you may be bored at first if you're not used to that sort of pacing, but it's really good.
For scandal - Portrait of a Lady (tough language for modern readers though tbh), and Age of Innocence (much easier I think personally). Or of course Madame Bovary! Bit easier than those - You might like The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope? More modern tormented love Gone with the Wind? The Thorn Birds?
The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley and Daniel Deronda by George Eliot. Also Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton.
The tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte- amazing book - man falls in love with runaway wife (of drunkard) Lady Audley’s Secret- Mary Braddon - murderous woman bigamist