The Greatest British "Romance" Books of All Time

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Romance

The Romance category of books typically involves stories that revolve around romantic relationships between two or more characters. These stories often explore themes of love, passion, and intimacy, and may include elements of drama, suspense, or humor. Romance novels can range from sweet and innocent to steamy and erotic, and may be set in a variety of time periods and locations. Overall, the Romance genre offers readers a chance to escape into a world of love and romance, where anything is possible.

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  1. 26. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

    The novel is a gripping tale set in Victorian England, revolving around two young women, a petty thief and a rich heiress, whose lives intertwine in unforeseen ways. The thief is part of a con to defraud the heiress of her fortune, but as the plot thickens, the lines between deception and truth, loyalty and betrayal, love and manipulation get blurred. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists and turns, exploring themes of gender, sexuality, and class, and keeps the readers on the edge till the end.

    The 695th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 27. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

    This classic play tells the tragic love story of two young individuals from feuding families in Verona, Italy. Despite their families' ongoing conflict, the pair secretly marry and vow to be together, no matter the cost. Their commitment leads to a series of unfortunate events, including misunderstandings, banishments, and ultimately, their untimely deaths. Their demise, however, reconciles their feuding families, leaving a poignant message about the destructive power of hate and the redemptive power of love.

    The 712th Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 28. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

    The book is a humorous and honest portrayal of a single woman's life in London. The protagonist, a 30-something year old woman, struggles with her weight, smoking, and alcohol consumption, all while trying to navigate her love life and career. The story is told through her personal diary entries, which include her daily calorie counts, number of cigarettes smoked, and other personal anecdotes. It's a modern take on romantic relationships and self-improvement, with a healthy dose of comedy.

    The 741st Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 29. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

    "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is a novel about a mysterious woman who moves into the dilapidated Wildfell Hall with her young son. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that she is running from an abusive, alcoholic husband and has taken on a new identity to protect her child. The narrative explores themes of gender roles, morality, and the societal constraints of the Victorian age, as well as the consequences of alcoholism and debauchery.

    The 827th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 30. The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald

    "The Blue Flower" is a historical novel centered around the life of Friedrich von Hardenberg, an 18th-century German poet and philosopher, known as Novalis. The story focuses on his philosophical development and his romantic relationship with a 12-year-old girl, Sophie von Kühn. It explores themes of love, philosophy, and the pursuit of knowledge, all set against the backdrop of the late Enlightenment period in Germany.

    The 912th Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 31. Pamela by Samuel Richardson

    "Pamela" is a novel that tells the story of a 15-year-old maidservant named Pamela whose employer, Mr. B, makes unwanted advances towards her after the death of his mother. Pamela is determined to protect her virtue and repeatedly rejects his advances. This leads to a series of events, including her attempted escape, kidnapping and imprisonment. Ultimately, impressed by her virtue and integrity, Mr. B reforms and proposes marriage to her, elevating her to a higher social status. The novel is a pioneering work in the genre of the novel and is noted for its detailed psychological insight into the characters.

    The 923rd Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 32. Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford

    Set in the 1930s, the novel revolves around the lives of British aristocracy, focusing on the love lives of young women in high society. The protagonist's cousin, Polly, shocks her family by choosing to marry a middle-aged, socially inferior man instead of a wealthy aristocrat. Meanwhile, the protagonist herself navigates her own romantic relationships amidst a backdrop of lavish parties, eccentric relatives, and societal expectations. The story offers a humorous and satirical look at the British upper class, highlighting their idiosyncrasies and the pressures they face.

    The 964th Greatest Book of All Time
  8. 33. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

    The novel follows the story of Fanny Price, a young girl from a poor family who is sent to live with her wealthy relatives at Mansfield Park. Despite being treated poorly by her relatives, Fanny grows up to be a virtuous and sensible woman. She quietly falls in love with her cousin Edmund, who is in love with a flirtatious and beautiful woman named Mary Crawford. The novel explores themes of morality, marriage, and the contrast between appearance and reality.

    The 975th Greatest Book of All Time
  9. 34. Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières

    Set on the Greek island of Cephalonia during World War II, this novel explores the lives of the island's inhabitants as they experience the war's harsh realities. The narrative primarily focuses on the love story between a local woman and an Italian captain, who is part of the occupying forces. As the war progresses, the characters are forced to confront their beliefs, their relationships, and their identities, all while grappling with the devastating impacts of the conflict.

    The 1003rd Greatest Book of All Time
  10. 35. The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye

    The novel is a sweeping epic about a British man, brought up as a Hindu during the British Raj. As an adult, he serves in the British army and falls in love with an Indian princess. The novel explores themes of identity, loyalty, and love against the backdrop of the political and social upheaval of late 19th century India. The man and the princess must navigate their complex feelings for each other, their conflicting loyalties to their countries, and the harsh realities of their time.

    The 1017th Greatest Book of All Time
  11. 36. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

    "The Shell Seekers" is a generational novel that follows the life of Penelope Keeling, a woman in her sixties, who reflects on her past while dealing with her three grown children, each with their own selfish motives. When Penelope discovers a valuable painting in her possession, her children's greed surfaces as they pressure her to sell it. Instead, Penelope embarks on a journey of self-discovery and reflection, revisiting her bohemian past, her wartime romance, and the beauty of her father's paintings. The novel explores themes of family, love, loss, and the importance of art and beauty in life.

    The 1092nd Greatest Book of All Time
  12. 37. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute

    "A Town Like Alice" is a novel about a young Englishwoman, who is captured by Japanese forces during World War II and forced to march with other women and children across Malaya. During her ordeal, she meets an Australian prisoner of war, whom she later seeks out in Australia after the war. With the help of an unexpected inheritance, she uses her entrepreneurial spirit to transform a desolate Australian town into a thriving community, similar to a quaint English village she once knew, hence creating a 'town like Alice'.

    The 1176th Greatest Book of All Time
  13. 38. Villette by Charlotte Brontë

    The novel follows the life of Lucy Snowe, a young Englishwoman with no family or prospects, who moves to the fictional French town of Villette to teach at a girls' school. As she navigates her new life, she becomes entangled in a love triangle with a fiery professor and a charismatic doctor. The story explores themes of isolation, independence, and the constraints of societal expectations for women.

    The 1180th Greatest Book of All Time
  14. 39. The Pursuit Of Love by Nancy Mitford

    The Pursuit of Love is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the romantic escapades of the eccentric and aristocratic Radlett family, primarily through the eyes of cousin Fanny. The story centers on Linda, the most beautiful and free-spirited of the Radlett daughters, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery through her various relationships and marriages. The novel explores themes of love, marriage, and the societal expectations of women during the interwar period in England.

    The 1256th Greatest Book of All Time
  15. 40. The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West

    "The Return of the Soldier" is a poignant story set during World War I, revolving around a British soldier suffering from shell shock-induced amnesia. Upon his return home, he does not remember his wife or his comfortable life of privilege, but instead, recalls his first love and the modest past they shared. The narrative explores the complex dynamics and emotional turmoil experienced by the soldier, his wife, his cousin, and his former sweetheart as they grapple with the consequences of war, memory, and class distinctions.

    The 1259th Greatest Book of All Time
  16. 41. Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner

    The novel follows the story of a romance novelist, who, after a love affair with a married man, is sent by her friends to a Swiss hotel to recover. At the hotel, she meets various eccentric characters, including a wealthy woman and her daughter, a mysterious, wealthy man, and a couple on their honeymoon. As she observes and interacts with these characters, she is forced to examine her own life and choices, ultimately deciding whether to accept a marriage proposal from a man she doesn't love or to continue living independently.

    The 1338th Greatest Book of All Time
  17. 42. Camilla by Fanny Burney

    Camilla, a young woman, navigates through the trials and tribulations of love, family, and society in 18th century England. Her journey is filled with misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and the complexities of human emotions. Throughout the story, she must grapple with her love for a man who is unaware of her feelings, her responsibility towards her family, and the expectations of society. The novel explores themes such as the importance of virtue, the pitfalls of vanity, and the complexities of human relationships.

    The 1615th Greatest Book of All Time
  18. 43. The Man of Feeling by Henry Mackenzie

    "The Man of Feeling" is a sentimental novel following the life of Harley, a man of extreme sensitivity and emotional depth. The book explores Harley's experiences as he navigates through a society marked by greed and corruption, often finding himself at odds with the harsh realities of the world due to his compassionate nature. As he interacts with various characters, he experiences a range of human emotions, from love and joy to sorrow and despair, reflecting the complexities of human nature and the struggles of living in a materialistic society.

    The 1624th Greatest Book of All Time
  19. 44. Shirley by Charlotte Brontë

    Set in the industrializing England of the Napoleonic wars and Luddite revolts against mechanization, this novel centers on the contrasting lives of two women: the strong-willed Shirley Keeldar, who inherits her uncle's estate and assumes a traditionally masculine role as its manager, and the more timid Caroline Helstone, who lives with her uncle, a local clergyman. The narrative explores themes of gender, social class, and industrialization, as it follows the personal and romantic trials of these women. Their stories intertwine with the local mill owner, Robert Moore, who seeks to modernize his mill despite worker unrest, and the impact of these changes on the broader community. The novel examines the role of women in society and the ways in which they navigate the challenges of love, friendship, and societal expectations during a time of cultural and economic upheaval.

    The 1707th Greatest Book of All Time
  20. 45. Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

    The novel is a suspenseful tale of a young Englishwoman who becomes a governess for a wealthy French family, only to find herself embroiled in danger and intrigue. Upon arriving at the grand estate, she is charmed by her nine-year-old charge and his enigmatic uncle, but soon uncovers a web of secrets that threatens the boy's life. As she navigates a world of deceit and hidden motives, she must use her wits and courage to protect her charge and unravel the mystery surrounding the family, all while confronting her own feelings of love and the haunting shadows of her past.

    The 1808th Greatest Book of All Time
  21. 46. The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans

    A devastating horse riding accident leaves a young girl, Grace, and her horse, Pilgrim, physically and emotionally traumatized. In a desperate attempt to heal them both, Grace's mother seeks out a man with a unique gift for communicating with horses. As he works to heal Pilgrim, the horse whisperer also helps Grace and her mother confront their own pain and begin to rebuild their shattered lives.

    The 1821st Greatest Book of All Time
  22. 47. As You Like it by William Shakespeare

    This classic play is a pastoral comedy set in the Forest of Arden, where the banished Duke Senior and his followers live in exile. The plot revolves around various forms of love and mistaken identities. The main character, Rosalind, is the Duke's daughter who disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede to escape her uncle's court. She falls in love with Orlando, who is also in exile, and through a series of comedic and romantic events, they end up together. The play is famous for its exploration of love, freedom, and life in nature.

    The 1954th Greatest Book of All Time
  23. 48. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster

    This novel explores the clash of cultures between conservative English society and passionate Italy through the experiences of a young English widow, Lilia Herriton, who impulsively marries a younger Italian man, Gino Carella, while vacationing in Tuscany. The Herriton family, particularly Lilia's brother-in-law Philip, travels to Italy in an attempt to prevent the marriage and later to regain custody of Lilia's child after her death. The narrative critically examines the restrictive morals and prejudices of Edwardian England while highlighting the destructive effects of blind adherence to societal conventions.

    The 2124th Greatest Book of All Time
  24. 49. The Echoing Grove by Rosamond Lehmann

    The novel delves into the complex emotional landscape of two sisters, Madeleine and Dinah, whose lives are entwined by love, betrayal, and a shared affection for the same man, Rickie. Set against the backdrop of England from the 1930s to the post-war era, the narrative explores the depths of their relationships, the pain of infidelity, and the impact of personal loss. As the story unfolds, it reveals the inner turmoil and evolving dynamics between the characters, offering a poignant examination of the human heart and the enduring consequences of passion and choice.

    The 2241st Greatest Book of All Time
  25. 50. Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare

    This classic play revolves around two pairs of lovers in the city of Messina. The first pair, Hero and Claudio, are young and innocent, while the second pair, Beatrice and Benedick, are older and more cynical about love. Throughout the plot, the couples face various challenges including deception, public humiliation, and the faked death of Hero. However, with the help of their friends and family, they overcome these obstacles and the story concludes with a joyful double wedding.

    The 2274th Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download