My Favorite Book of the Year: 1899-1890

And finally we are leaving the 20th century behind and traveling back into the 19th. It also happens to be my favorite century to learn about historically, especially with the Victorian Era in England and mass travel and exploration abroad. But if this is the first part of this series you read, here’s a list of the previous decades.

My Favorite Book of The Year: 2019-2010
My Favorite Book of The Year: 2009-2000
My Favorite Book of The Year: 1999-1990
My Favorite Book of The Year: 1989-1980
My Favorite Book of The Year: 1979-1970
My Favorite Book of the Year: 1969-1960
My Favorite Book of the Year: 1959-1950
My Favorite Book of the Year: 1949-1940
My Favorite Book of the Year: 1939-1930
My Favorite Book of the Year: 1929-1920
My Favorite Book of the Year: 1919-1910
My Favorite Book of the Year: 1909-1900

Now let’s get into the decade of the Gilded Age, wars like the Spanish-American War, and the Klondike gold rush.

1899

This book is about a man’s descent into madness while he is on a journey, told as a story within a story. It’s a really quick read, and a fascinating and visceral story.

1898

You will definitely see a lot of H.G. Wells’s books on these lists, because I love him. This one follows a man as the world is taken over by aliens who destroy and kill everything. I read it recently, and I absolutely loved it!

1897

This is one of my favorite horror novels, and an amazing classic in general! It’s a book I would recommend everyone read. I read it twice in my life, and I look forward to reading it again someday.

1896

I warned you that H. G. Wells might appear a bit on this list. This one is about a young man who is stranded on an island where a mad doctor experiments on animals and humans. It’s a bit disgusting and horrifying, but a fascinating book.

1895

Last month I kind of binged the plays of Oscar Wilde, reading five for them. While I really enjoyed all his plays, this one was my favorite. It’s all about two young men who fall in love with women who both insist they will only marry men named Earnest. Of course hilarity ensues in this social satire.

1894

This is such a rich and beautiful novel, set in the backdrop of ancient Rome, about a centurion who falls in love with a mysterious Christian lady. This is a difficult read with an extensive vocabulary, but it is well worth reading. Let’s just pretend the horrible movie adaptation from the 50’s was never made of it.

1893

I have read a few short stories by Kipling, but this is the first longer book (it’s more of a novella than a novel) I’ve read by him. Most people probably know the story, but I really enjoyed reading the book, going into the minds of animals.

1892

Andrew Lang was an editor of a whole series of fairy tale compilations during this decade, all having to do with colors (like The Blue Fairy Book and The Red Fairy Book). I’ve read this one and The Pink Fairy Book, and I love these books. They compile fairy tales from all over the world, and a lot of them are tales I’ve never heard before despite loving fairy tales for years.

1891

I read this is a child for school. It tells the tale of a young squire who seeks to redeem his father’s honor. I remember loving it when I was younger, but it’s been years since I read it. I really should give it a reread now as an adult.

1890

This is a great book, a warning against youth in exchange for goodness. It follows a young man who has a painting done of him and soon realizes that the painting ages while he does not, and he quickly begins living with no care for himself and anyone else. I really enjoy this book, even if it is pretty dark.

So, there you have it. I don’t know how much longer I’ll go on with this series, but as long as I’m enjoying writing it and you enjoy reading it, I’ll keep doing it.

Have you read any of these books, or want to? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments, follow my blog for more musings and, as always,

Best wishes in your life full of adventure,

Madame Writer