It is a truth universally acknowledged ... that Jane Austen remains one of the century's best-loved authors: for a reason. The Bennet sisters' quest for suitable husbands most epitomizes her writing -

Meddler/matchmaker Ms. Woodhouse is as strong a heroine as Lizzy & Elinor, but quirkier & less mature. Pity Harriet Smith for such a friend! Mr. Knightley is a bit too, err, saintly for me, but hey...

Roughly 40 years later: The Brontë sisters (Charlotte was the most prolific of the 3). By far her best(-loved) is the story of plain-looking & passionate governess Jane Eyre & somber Mr. Rochester.

Lesser known than her sisters, Anne Brontë wrote 2 novels, the strongly autobiographical story of governess Agnes Grey and this poignant attack on Victorian morale & women's perceived role in society.

Breathtakingly ahead of her time, Eliot's penultimate novel explores the individual's place in society and, in the title character's uncharacteristically sympathetic portrayal, 19th cty. Jewish life.

Poignant imagery, the epitome of woman's victimization by 19th century society and questions of fate, chance and responsibility: The story of tragic heroine Tess is Thomas Hardy at his very best.

Another great parable on the inescapability of fate and the consequences of our actions, and of rural late 19th century British society. Exquisite writing and a complex title character.

Dickens's most beloved short story: The tale of miserly old Scrooge, whose ways are reformed by the midnight visits of 3 ghosts at Christmas time.

Dickens at his (clandestinely) autobiographical best, some of literary history's creepiest villains & women's role in society - my fav. besides "Oliver," "Christmas Carol" & "Bleak House" (see below).

Extremely complex and ambitious; Dickens's parable on neverending lawsuits and the effects of money, greed and other base instincts on the nature of society. An absolute must-read.

The final instalment of Trollope's Barsetshire novels; in its sardonic quality and indictment of materialism a companion piece to the above 2 works by Trollope and Dickens.