Victorian writer Charles Dickens is not known as a romance writer but, despite the name of the novel and movie, he did a good job with this complex but ultimately happy ending story. Gillian Anderson of The X-Files plays a tragic figure in both the movie The House of Mirth, listed below, and this miniseries.

Based on the 1748, Georgian period, epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson, this is the original tale of fatal attraction and dangerous liaisons. Dark and foreboding, most of the characters are self absorbed or just plain evil. Clarissa attempts to be virtuous by she is naive and ultimately ill-used by all around her. This is not a romance, it is a tragedy in every sense of the word.

Based on the Victorian novel by George Eliot, it has several surprising twists and turns. The story features Jewish characters in a favorable light—uncommon for the period.

A bit darker than series one but still a superb Edwardian era story. Four stars

As mentioned above, both versions take liberties with the novel. This movie, with only 121 minutes, has to hurry parts but Emma (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Mr. Knightly have excellent on screen chemistry.

Based on the novels by C. S. Forester, 1899-1966, this is one of the best period naval stories I have ever watched. In the series we follow the life of Horatio Hornblower from a young, seasick, midshipman to an accomplished naval captain and war veteran.

The movie is based on the novel by American writer Louisa May Alcott. I have not read the novel but the story is good and can be enjoyed on its own.

Charlotte Bronte’s 1847 novel, Jane Eyre, is one of the most famous novels of Victorian literature. However, this 1971 adaptation starring George C. Scoot and Susannah York is not the best. Largely a sad story. Three stars.

Filmed on location in both England and Wales, this 150 minute collaboration between the BBC and A&E has resulted in an excellent adaptation of the novel by Richard Doddridge Blackmore. Blackmore’s novel was first published in 1869 and, except for one brief period about a year later, has never been out of print.

The novel by Jane Austen was published in 1814. This 1999 adaptation is a good, if somewhat loose, version of the story.

This excellent movie is adapted from the first book, released in 1970, and the tenth, in a twenty novel series by author Patrick O’Brian. He was working on a new novel in the series when he died in 2000. The movie, released in 2003 is very accurate to the time and generally follows the two novels upon which it is based. I think he would have been pleased.

Unrequited love and a family bent on self-destruction are the heart of this story. The movie is based on a novel by Marian Evans, better known as George Elliot. The story is of the lives of Tom and Maggie Tulliver, brother and sister, growing up at a mill along the river Floss around the 1820’s. This is a good story, but I consider several of the authors other novels to be superior to this story.

An excellent four-hour BBC mini-series adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's 1854 novel. Margaret Hale is forced to move with her parents from an idyllic country parsonage to the gritty industrial town of Milton after her father leaves the ministry. In Milton she meets the mill owner Mr. Thornton. This is a romance in the spirit of Pride & Prejudice. Also see Wives & Daughters. Five Stars for both!

Because of the rather complex family relationships in this movie, you need to watch it a few times or read Jane Austen’s novel. Both are good choices. Published posthumously in 1817.

Made in 1996, this superb 300-minute long A&E/BBC mini-series is an adaptation of Jane Austen's 1813 novel. Although the opening scene is not in the book, whole pages of text are presented verbatim. Five Stars!

This is a 1985 BBC mini-series. As with the 1996 version, the opening scene is radically altered from Austen’s novel, but again whole pages of text are presented verbatim. Regrettably, the acting is like that of a stage production with long lines of dialogue. They often stood tall and stiff with only slight interaction with the set and sadly limited facial expression or feeling. Three stars.

The BBC adaptation of the Jane Austen classic is equal to the excellent 1995 Hollywood version. Settings in this version are particularly nice. I recommend seeing them both.

The Victorian writer Thomas Hardy considered this novel to be one of his lesser works. It is a fairly simple story but, nonetheless, a fine period romance.

An excellent 375-minute long BBC mini-series adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's 1865 novel. She was writing this novel in 1865 when she died unexpectedly at the age of 55. The last few pages of the novel were completed from her notes. This is an excellent adaptation. A Victorian romance in the spirit of Jane Austen. Also see North & South. Five Stars for both!