Books from Charles Dickens’ era are characterised by heavy descriptors and metaphors, this English is often considered ‘posh’ and Victorian novels take an avid reader to get accustomed to.
Having said that, when I was first learning English, I got very attached to this era of books and while it did help my English and made me advanced as a reader and writer, I suffer from eccentric-speak and people think I sound too ‘formal’ 😅 —
This is not an ‘easy book’, if you prefer less purple phrases/prose, look for more modern books, things that are tailored to young adults for example.
100% agree with this — and by extension, this exact trait but in a historical fiction setting where the attitude is completely alien to the era.
For example, Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. Female MC looks down on the ‘other girls’ except for - surprise, surprise- her cousin who is woefully supportive of her super advanced world views. And the Male MC who is somehow also about ‘power to women’ despite this being set in the late Victorian era.
It doesn’t make sense, it also makes the MC unlikeable because she’s essentially got a superiority complex and deems any other woman who adheres to societal norms ‘dumb’ or empty headed but somehow we’re supposed to believe that MC is also humble and all about fighting the patriarchy? 🤔