Pride and Prejudice - top of best women's literature?

Not even top of Jane Austen's best books, in my opinion. Bring it on for "NORTHANGER ABBEY!" What a corking read! Best novel ever written by a British woman: "Middlemarch"! Perhaps men aren't allowed to vote, though. d.beswetherick.

I agree, Northanger Abbey or Mansfield Park. Middlemarch is up there. I'm still contemplating my top one. JKR has four entries in the top 50!

I would vote for Precious Bane by Mary Webb...its been on the radio recently too.

I'd go for Emma every time. Also really glad to see Fingersmith in there as I think it's a great book. No Agatha Christie, though, or Angela Brazil or Catherine Cookson or Georgette Heyer - all of which I agree with but how different it would have been 20 years ago.

Wuthering Heights is my favourite, also To Kill a Mockingbird. Glad to see Jean Rhys on the list, but where is Colette (did I miss her?) Cheri is a wonderful book.

"Fanny Hill" by Erica Jong that was an enjoyable bawdy adventure.

I'd put Joanna Traynor's Sister Josephine and Laura Hird's Born Free on the list. And Shena Mackay is often neglected - The Orchard On Fire was great.

Didn't see: Ayn Rand Margaret Drabble Iris Murdoch What sort of list is that?

I did ask once before way back and although not complaining I didn't get any response so just once more seeing as this thread is about books with fresh brains and all that. I read a very interresting book a few years ago now about the Irish potatoe famine which the story was built around, can't tell you much else except the story was great, not a lot of help I know but living! in hope! is what its all about...

I think Murdoch was on there with "The Sea, the Sea." d.b.

Hopes dashed once more not that it matters I'm quite use to it...