The Victorian era, spanning from 1837 to 1901, was a period of significant development in literature. One of the most notable characteristics of novels from this time is their substantial length. Authors such as Charles Dickens produced works that were not only rich in narrative complexity but also expansive in their sheer number of pages. They are known affectionately as door stoppers, or triple deckers.
I took a course in college in the Victorian novel on my way to my English Literature degree and have been reading them ever since.
So, let’s explore how the size of the Victorian novel affects the reader, and perhaps encourage you to jump in and give one a try.
The lengthy format was partly a result of the publication methods of the time, where novels were often serialized in magazines and periodicals. This serialization meant that authors had the space to develop their stories over months or even years, and readers engaged with these narratives incrementally. When you’re paid by the page, well, you can finish the thought.
But these serializations were the media of the age in those pre-radio, pre-TV, pre-Internet years. New editions would release on Saturday, for example, and the family would gather round, reading aloud, hanging on the adventure. Only later would they be bound into the books you and I see on the shelf of a bookstore. Not always, sometimes they first appeared as a book, but the media landscape promoted serialization.
One of the first impacts of the Victorian novel’s size on readers is the sense of intimidation and expectation that comes with handling such a large book…600-800 pages being common. For modern readers, used to shorter, more concise work, the prospect of delving into a novel that spans hundreds of pages can be daunting. It’s also true, I believe, that the general impatience with which we live our lives today makes slowing down extremely difficult.
I have read that Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past, a trilogy that proceeds at an agonizingly slow pace, is sometimes used by therapists to teach their patients, patience (good pun, that).
This initial reaction can affect the reader’s willingness to start the book, leading to avoidance.
However, for those who do decide to take on the challenge, the expectation is that the novel will provide a thorough and immersive experience. The size implies a comprehensive exploration of themes, characters, and settings, promising a depth that shorter novels simply can’t match.
Once readers begin the journey through a Victorian novel, the length often facilitates a deeper level of engagement. The sprawling narratives allow for intricate development of characters and plots, providing readers with the opportunity to become deeply acquainted with the world the author has created. Charles Dickens, for instance, is renowned for his detailed character sketches and elaborate storylines that span multiple volumes.
This extensive engagement can lead to a more profound emotional investment in the characters and their outcomes. Readers find themselves living alongside the characters, experiencing their joys and sorrows over an extended period. The size of the novel allows for a pacing that mirrors real-life experiences, where events unfold gradually and with nuance.
The substantial length of Victorian novels also impacts readers’ habits. Unlike shorter works that can be consumed in a single sitting or over a few days, Victorian novels require sustained attention and commitment. Readers must carve out time from their schedules to dedicate to reading, often developing a routine that accommodates the novel’s demands.
This shift in reading habits can foster a sense of discipline and patience. The reader learns to appreciate the slow burn of a lengthy narrative, where the rewards come from gradual progression rather than immediate gratification. This can be a refreshing change in an age where quick consumption of information is the norm.
For us, this adds an additional layer of appreciation.
You need to, and learn to, slow down.
However, I can attest that the rewards for persevering are substantial…a sense of accomplishment and a deeper understanding of the novel’s themes and characters. The immersive experience offers a richer, more satisfying literary journey.
Where to start? I have read all of Dicken’s 15 novels. The humor of Pickwick Papers is something I go back to from time to time. A light easy way to start. If you didn’t work through David Copperfield in high school (a staple), that’s not bad. Bleak House is more challenging but worth it. And of course A Tale of Two Cities. Throw a dart, you can’t go wrong.
In recent years, I’ve become a big fan of Anthony Trollope, a Victorian most people have never heard of. His legacy has labored in the shadow of Dickens but it is well past time for him to get his due. For example, he was not offered in my college catalog of courses. His expansive treatment of women was well ahead of his time. I belong to the Trollope Society and visited his memorial in Westminster the last time we were in London. I’m working through all 40+ novels (I’ve done eight so far), and would suggest, How We Live Now.
Thackeray is known for Vanity Fair and for good reason…Class, society and corruption. George Elliot (a woman) deserves reading. Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Romola, Felix Holt, the Radical, Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda. You’ve heard of most them, I’d probably start with Silas Marner.
In regard to format, some may prefer an ereader version. My Oxford editions of Trollope are a thick brick and can be difficult to get comfortable with, not to mention the small print (they still run to 500 or more pages). I actually have all of Trollope in two different hard cover editions and the Delphi ereader complete works (Delphi is pretty good, cheap, and they offer most all classic authors). Typically I rotate back and forth between ereader and hardcover because I still love the feeling of a book in my hands. And with readers, you can adjust the print to your comfort level.
In an era of split-second shoot-from-the-hip and often inane and ignorant commentary filling social media, it’s a welcome relief to turn back the clock and get into one of these.
It can become habit forming and if so, a very great gift.
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