I've noticed one little author pop up in discussion over the challenge, and she's caused a little bit of doubt for those readers creating their lists. In fact, when I named the first level Sense and Sensibility, I was already aware that I was playing against the rules a little.
Jane Austen was born 1775 and died 1817. Her novels were published between 1811 and 1818. All of Austen's works, therefore, came before the Victorian period. However, say 'Victorian literature' and one of the first figures to pop into peoples' minds is Jane Austen. How so?
Austen was a pre-Victorian, writing books on social satire. Her acute awareness of the social ins and outs of the 19th century is what she is famed for. What is Victorian literature if it does not feature an exploration of its society? Jane Austen's novels became popular and acted as a catalyst for the huge literary boost that was the Victorian age. Basically, it's all her fault. So that's why Jane Austen is considered a Victorian writer. Really, she's a 19th century writer, but she kicked it all off with a style and substance that hadn't been found before. Thanks to Austen and the Victorians, we are lucky to have the literature we have today. Can you imagine being stuck with the Romantics?!
