Based on some of your suggestions and the committee’s deliberations, we’ve narrowed down the November 2009 Circuit to one of these excellent Victorian writers. The links below go to Wikipedia if you’d like further information.
(A note on the suggestions: For this tour, we worked with those that we’ve received from the various comments circulating about this project. Please give more suggestions via the Suggest a Tour link so we’ll have more to work with for next tour!)
The survey will be open until Sunday, 27 September 2009 11:59 p.m. CST.
Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) wrote in a variety of genres (novels, short stories, plays, and non-fiction) but is best known for The Woman in White, a sensation novel, and The Moonstone, considered the first English detective mystery.
Under the pen name George Eliot (1819-1880), Mary Anne Evans wrote novels and poetry and is best known for Middlemarch and Silas Marner.
Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) wrote novels, short stories, and a biography of Charlotte Bronte, with North and South as possibly her best known novel.
Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) wrote primarily novels with a sprinkling of nonfiction, with the novels in his Chronicles of Barsetshire the best known.
Please let us know which author you’d like to see for the tour! Thanks for giving your input.
ETA: This survey is now closed.
#1 by Nymeth on September 23, 2009 - 10:42 am
I was going to vote for Wilkie Collins, but then I didn’t because we’ve already been seeing A LOT of him in the blogging world lately. Which is great, of course, but I thought it’d make more sense to promote a more neglected Victorian! So in the end I voted for George Eliot. I really want to read her, but she also intimidates me a little. I think a tour would be the encouragement I need!
#2 by Stephanie on September 23, 2009 - 10:43 am
I’m so excited for this! I’d love to see any of the first three win. I own books by all of them that I really should read!
#3 by Meghan on September 23, 2009 - 10:50 am
I voted for Anthony Trollope because I have one of his books that I’ve been meaning to read, but I’d love to participate in any of these authors’ tours.
#4 by Becky on September 23, 2009 - 10:57 am
I voted for Anthony Trollope because I have a big chunkster by him that I need to read before December 31rst. However, I’d be happy to participate for any of the four authors. Honestly, it was tough to choose just one. I’d love to read all four at some point.
#5 by Emily on September 23, 2009 - 11:09 am
I voted for Gaskell, since I think she’s the most neglected of the four (or at least, the one by whom I haven’t read anything!). I have a pretty full reading schedule until the end of the year, but I’d love to participate in this event at some point – maybe even in November if I can squeeze it in!
#6 by Heather J. on September 23, 2009 - 11:10 am
I went for Trollope as well – yay! But I’d be happy to participate in Gaskell’s tour as well. With either of those I’d be revisiting books I’ve already read since I can’t commit to any additional books in Nov.
GREAT WORK ON THE SITE!!!
#7 by Chris@bookarama on September 23, 2009 - 11:32 am
I keep intending to read Gaskell so she gets my vote.
#8 by Robin of My Two Blessing on September 23, 2009 - 11:45 am
I voted for wilkie collins since I have 1959 edition of The Moonstone inherited a few years back and have been meaning to read it.
#9 by Heather on September 23, 2009 - 11:59 am
My vote goes for George Elliot – I bought Middlemarch recently and haven’t touched it. It’s sitting on the shelf staring at me with disdain. I like long books but it’s definitely an intimidating read!
#10 by 3m.michelle on September 23, 2009 - 12:46 pm
I voted for George Eliot, but I might be interested in whoever wins, too.
#11 by Nymeth on September 23, 2009 - 1:46 pm
PS: I forgot to say that if Gaskell or Collins win, I’d definitely still love to be a tour stop!
#12 by Cara Powers on September 23, 2009 - 2:14 pm
The only reason I didn’t vote for George Eliot was that I’ve already read Middlemarch and Silas Marner. I haven’t read any of the other authors.
#13 by Laura's Reviews on September 23, 2009 - 2:49 pm
I love all four of these authors. I voted for Gaskell as I think she is the author that is most forgotten of the four. I have books by all for authors sitting on my TBR pile!
#14 by Steph on September 23, 2009 - 3:20 pm
I voted for Trollope, just because he intrigues me, but I would be happy to see any of these authors win. I probably find George Eliot the most intimidating of the bunch, so I probably need a kick in the pants to finally read her!
#15 by Teresa on September 23, 2009 - 4:00 pm
I voted for Eliot because I’m wanting an excuse to reread Mill on the Floss, but I love all four and would be happy to see any of them featured (although I think after Savidge Reads sensation season, many readers will be tired of Wilkie Collins).
#16 by bibliolatrist on September 23, 2009 - 4:40 pm
I voted for Trollope, but I’d be happy with any but Collins. (Not that I don’t love him, but I’ve already read both The Woman in White and The Moonstone.) I’m so pleased we’re doing this!
#17 by SFP on September 23, 2009 - 5:29 pm
I voted for Trollope simply because I just started reading him this year and he’s written so many books we could very well have a carnival with little or no duplication in titles.
I read a lot of Gaskell last year and remember seeing her name pop up on a lot of other blogs.
#18 by mee on September 23, 2009 - 5:33 pm
I voted for Collins because I’ve been meaning to read his books. Also the others intimidate me a bit.
#19 by Margot at Joyfully Retired on September 23, 2009 - 6:58 pm
I voted for Collins also, probably because I’d love to read the “first English detective mystery.” I haven’t seen him around the blogosphere nor have I read any of his books. He interests me but, on the other hand, I’ll participate no matter what the final choice.
#20 by Molly on September 24, 2009 - 7:44 am
I am so glad that I found this site!
I voted for Collins only because I have had The Moonstone on my TBR list for quite some time, and I know that another blogger, Savidge Reads, will be featuring his work about the same time.
However, I don’t see how we could wrong with focusing on any of the four listed authors – and I would be thrilled to participate no matter what!
#21 by softdrink on September 24, 2009 - 10:43 am
I voted for Collins only because I’m currently reading Woman in White. I’m all for convenience. 🙂
#22 by Karenlibrarian on September 24, 2009 - 12:53 pm
I was torn between Gaskell and Trollope, but I voted for Trollope because he’s written so many books that I want to read — this would give the blogging world some great exposure to his work. However, I’ll be happy with any of them.
#23 by JoAnn on September 25, 2009 - 7:19 am
Even though I love Collins and am reading The Woman in White right now, I voted for Gaskell. She’s the only one I haven’t read, and I need a push. Any of them would really be fine… the whole idea is exciting!
#24 by Kay on September 27, 2009 - 1:33 am
I voted for Wilkie Collins since one of the books I’m currently reading is The Moonstone (and I just might finish it ’til November)(I keep putting it aside in favor of e-books).
I am also interested in Elizabeth Gaskell though as I wanted to read more of her books ever since I first discovered North and South (ages ago).
Actually, truth is that I’d probably like to participate in the tour whoever is the author that gets chosen as I usually like classics so discovering some new authors (I’ve never read Eliot or Trollope) couldn’t hurt.
#25 by Dani in NC on September 27, 2009 - 4:30 pm
My vote went to Trollope. I looked up samples of each author’s work, and his seemed more readable for someone like me who is accustomed to modern prose.