Choosing the greatest novel ever written is often a matter of personal preference; what some might think is the best and most ingenious novel that they've ever read in their lives is nothing more than a mediocre piece of literature for others. There are, however, a few novels written in English that are universally loved and praised by many readers and literary critics and are often referred to as some of "the greatest novels of the English language."

Middlemarch (George Eliot, 1874)

Dorothea, an intelligent and pious woman, decides to marry a middle-aged, pompous, and selfish man named Edward and then has to deal with the consequences of her choices, ultimately realizing that a boring, uneventful, and unadventurous life is not a life worth living.

Great Expectations (Charles Dickens, 1861)

Pip, an orphan and a blacksmith's apprentice from a village in Kent, suddenly becomes a part of London's high society when a mysterious sponsor decides to pay for his education and transform him into a gentleman.

To the Lighthouse (Virginia Woolf, 1927)

The Ramsey family, along with some of their friends, decide to visit their summer home in the Isle of Skye, in Scotland, where they discover the true meaning of life and the importance of family.

Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë, 1847)

A seemingly plain and unremarkable young governess, orphaned and abused as a child, manages to find love by using her wit, courage, and kindness to overcome all of life's challenges and ultimately gets her happy—or, rather, bittersweet—ending.

Vanity Fair (William Makepeace Thackeray, 1848)

Two best friends, the stubborn and poor Becky Sharp and the kind and rich Amelia Sedley, learn how to navigate life, love, friendship and family.

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (Mary Shelley, 1823)

An ambitious scientist by the name of Victor Frankenstein decides to "play God" and challenge fate by creating a humanoid creature and ends up paying the price for his choices and actions.

It's notable to mention that Jane Austen's classic romance Pride and Prejudice and George Orwell's dystopian fiction 1984 are also often considered some of the greatest novels in English literature.

Which is the best English novel?

I rate Daphne Du Maurier'sRebeccaas my favourite English novel. The characterisation of Mrs Danvers is supremely evil.

Great Expectationswould have to rate as a very close second for its detail and fast-paced action.

Which is the best English novel?

Is there another similar discussion post to this?  I just know I wrote an answer yesterday in which I said Pride and Prejudice...  Hmm.

Well, I would say Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  This is a novel that addresses social class, women's roles, love, relationships, and still maintains an amazing level of pure readability for the sake of enjoyment.  Of all the classics, this is a novel that continues to be admired as not only an amazing piece of writing and fiction, but also for the sheer love that readers have for it.  I've read (and reread...and reread) this book and still love it.

Which is the best English novel?

My vote also goes to Heart of Darkness, despite the third poster's trouble with the book. I'm with poster #4. This novel is captivating in so many ways and so fully articulate of a challenging and mysterious subject - the limits of morality. I've never read a book like it. 

Which is the best English novel?

I'm partial to Great Expectations. I love Charles Dickens' plotting and characterization, and he can write incredible sentences. He gets a little melodramatic at times, but he has a sympathy for the common people that few writers can match.

Which is the best English novel?

I have said before that Heart of Darkness would be my choice. It squeezes more commentary about humanity into a short novel than any other book I can think of. The use of darkness as metaphor, the consistently foreboding mood, and the memorability of Kurtz as a character make it the best in my book. If I were forced to choose a best English language book, I'd probably choose something diffferent, but Heart of Darkness is my favorite English book. 

Which is the best English novel?

First, I would suggest that this question be moved to the Discussion Board. I am sure many editors will have to chime in on this one given the different tastes of literature.

I have to say that my all-time favorite English novel is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The novel was written during one of my favorite periods, the Romantic Period, and includes characteristics of the Gothic as well.

As for the story itself, it speaks of actions and consequences, life and death, love, family, and sparks a huge question about science and religion. Overall, I believe the ambiguous nature of the Creature's physical appearance can speak to all readers given the Creature's physical appearance can change from reader to reader.

Outside of that, many different criticisms can be applied to the text. Also, many different filmatic adaptions have been made on the ideas and characters created in the novel. Much can be criticized in this regard as well.