Defining Books of the Decade, Part 4: 1840s

The is part four of a series of discussions that will go by decade all the way up to the present. This is meant to be an in-depth discussion, so please be open and honest about what you think. You can talk about any or all books you've read from the featured decade, why you did or didn't like them, and any other points you want to make about the books or the era as a whole.

My favorite book of the 1840s has been A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I think the story's themes of generosity to the less fortunate are timeless and apply year-round, and Ebeneezer Scrooge is one of my favorite characters in all of literature. The story's impact on the Christmas tradition is also very interesting to read about. Some other major works of the decade include The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, and "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Part 1, 1810s

Part 2, 1820s

Part 3, 1830s