sterne, hope, braddon

just whilst I think of it, three lovely novels which aren’t looked for various reasons:

 

Laurence Sterne, A Sentimental Journey – always in the shadow of Tristram Shandy, this is playful and sweet and as complex as that novel

 

Anthony Hope, Rupert of Hentzau – the sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda, another swashbuckling epic

 

Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley’s Secret – the secret is pretty obvious, but this is a charming piece of Victorian sensationalism