What is the purpose of the genre of the novel? Why should we read it? How should we read it? This course will answer this question by exploring three of the greatest representatives of a singularly wonderful period of the English novel: the Nineteenth Century. We will establish ourselves with the brilliance of Jane Austen and her creation of Emma, a “heroine whom no one but myself will much like”. Charles Dickens will serve as our escort into the world of the Victorians through David Copperfield and its eponymous hero, whom Dickens described as his “favourite child”. From Dickens we will turn to his witty and prolific contemporary, Anthony Trollope, and explore the complexities of British Victorian religious belief and social structures at mid-century. For each novel, we will both study its literary, social, and historical context and conduct close readings of the text. Jointly, the novels will permit us to explore the shared themes that define the genre and the period. In addition to cultivating artistic appreciation and a love of reading, this class facilitates the development of the literary-critical skillset, the disciplined use of the imagination, and a strong knowledge of historical and literary context.