When it comes to thinking about the most influential authors in the history of literature, you certainly will think of British authors like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare.
However, British literature goes well beyond these names. Indeed, in the modern era, there are plenty of amazing contemporary British novels – all written by fantastic authors.
If you have been wondering who these authors are and what these novels are that we cannot live without – then join me as I explore the 12 contemporary British novels that we all need.
About Contemporary British Novels
When I say contemporary, I’m referring to novels that were written after the Second World War.
While for some of you, this will not be your idea of contemporary, this is the generally agreed premise.
It’s important to clarify this. British literature spans centuries, so I need to provide a clear timeline.
There are many contemporary British authors and while many of their novels will share some of the themes of previous novels, the writing style and overall tone are generally different.
Of course, the specific style and tone depends on the author.
For example, two popular contemporary British authors like David Mitchell who wrote Black Swan Green, and Richard Osman, who wrote the Thursday Murder Club series – whilst are authors in the same era, their writing style is much different.
This is always intriguing to me. With any author, it’s usually possible to see their history and influences shine through into their literature, and it allows us to view a window of their experiences through their writing.
Finally, contemporary British literature usually uses different language than previous literature.
What I mean here is the use of new words that are now in the dictionary through contemporary and popular use.
I’ll kick this list off with an extremely popular British author; Julian Barnes, who is a winner of the man booker prize, and this book is a best seller!
This book is certainly one that is surrounded by contemporary issues. It follows the story of Tony Webster, who thought he’d finally created a new life for himself.
He had a new career path that provided excellent retirement, a home, and children of his own.
However, he must revise his place in this world when a mysterious legacy is presented to him. This leads the reader on an amazing journey of mystery and intrigue.
This is extremely emotional, psychological, and enthralling and you will want to read all of this book in one single sitting.
Pros
Thrilling
Excellent pacing throughout
Contemporary issues explored
Cons
Sometimes can confuse you and you have to re-read chapters
This is a book that I am apprehensive to speak too much about, as I’m a little wary I might spoil the plot.
However, what I can tell you is that the story revolves around a young Nigerian girl called Little Bee.
She’s a sixteen year old refugee orphan, and her life has been plagued with horrific events and trauma.
Her life later is turned upside down though when she meets a wealthy British woman, and you read on to discover a whole lot more about their characters.
You learn of their pasts and their present, and the way that Chris wrote this novel allows for plenty of character development, which is done in a fantastically paced way.
I’ll also say that despite the very depressing start to this book (on the beach), the novel does progress into a much more upbeat tone. Please continue to read this book and do not be put off by the early stages – they are necessary though.
JoJo Moyes is a best-selling author, whose fame absolutely took off when her literature debuted in the United States.
This story is an extremely beautiful romance novel that captures the hearts and minds of the readers.
The novel follows Louisa Clark, who lives a pretty normal and straightforward life.
A typical family with a steady relationship, living in a small village – which she’d never really ventured away from.
However, her life becomes much more interesting and spontaneous.
She takes a job working for a man called Will Traynor, who is an ex Master Of The Universe. He is wheelchair bound though, following a terrible accident.
His character arc went essentially the opposite of Louisa’s. He went from living life one hundred miles an hour to being essentially homebound.
Despite his treatment and attitude toward Louisa, he does confide in her eventually.
After he explains his need to live life to its fullest once again, Louisa strives to make this happen and shows him life is much more than what he is living – simultaneously discovering the same answers, moving away from her life of normality and stagnation.
If you’re a fan of John Greene’s “The Fault In Our Stars”, you’ll adore this novel.
Pros
Relatable story
Rollercoaster of emotions
Easy to read
Cons
Not for people who aren’t fans of emotional literature
I will be honest with you, this novel is very dark and touches upon many issues that can trigger traumas and stressful situations.
However, the way in which Ian McEwan explores these issues through his characters is very humbling.
Set shortly before the horrific events of the Second World War, the story is about a number of characters, but primarily Briony Tallis, Cecilia Tallis, and Robbie Turner.
Thirteen year old Briony witnesses flirtation between her older sister Cecilia and the son of a servant Robbie – and she doesn’t understand what is going on.
A horrible crime occurs, and the story follows the attempt towards redemption through the horrendous chaos of the Second World War – all the way through to the conclusion of the 1900s.
It’s a masterpiece of a novel that is heartbreaking and explores multiple areas of contemporary importance.
It’s a very gripping, mysterious, and psychologically dark novel thriller that follows the life of a reclusive writer called Leonora.
She is invited to a camping trip in the wooded, English countryside – and despite her reservations, she decides to go on the excursion.
To start with, Leonora’s psychology gets the better of her, with horrible memories from her past.
Meanwhile, friends both old and new begin to unravel some dark secrets, and this culminates in a realization between every member of the party – they are not alone on this trip…
This a literary debut from Ruth Ware but one that stands up as one of the most entertaining reads you could pick up, and as a result, she has won multiple awards.
Pros
Thrilling
Suspenseful
Psychologically absorbing
Cons
You have to read until the end to fully comprehend what is happening!
From the mind of an author who is extremely set in contemporary society, but with a very knowledgeable background of history – David Mitchell explores a set of disparate characters but all of which have common goals and thought processes.
It’s difficult to explain the plot of this book. It has somewhat of a convoluted timeline, which makes sense when you reach the end.
However, the jump between countries and time can get a little confusing at times.
Despite this, the novel explores some contemporary societal areas like same-gender relationships, mental health, and education.
It’s certainly a book that you would need to read to understand fully – and the pacing, intertwined with Mitchell’s dry, witty humor is very enjoyable.
Sarah Waters provides the reader with a truly magnificent tale of early 20th century London with this novel.
In fact, it is such a successful book that it was shortlisted for the man booker prize a total of three times!
At a time when ex-service staff are disillusioned by post-World War One England and houses are missing some who never returned, you explore the story of Mrs. Wray and her family who take in lodgers.
However, they were unaware of how much their lives would be changed with these new people in their lives.
Pros
Grounded in real-life events
Humbling examination of ex-servicemen and their families
Zadie Smith manages to highlight the diverse nature of England in the post-war era with this fascinating story.
While the story centers around two friends, it is the supporting characters and their cultural backgrounds that make this story so intriguing.
This is a best-selling novel that encapsulates the difficulties that some people face in England, dealing with race and religious issues.
Pros
A powerful take on race
A real story with relatable characters
Easy read
Cons
Characters aren’t relatable for everybody
Themes
Race and racism
Diversity
New cultures
The Bottom Line
Contemporary British novels are among some of the best types of literature ever written, and as I have shown – there’s a huge variety of reasons why this could be the case. I hope I’ve helped you to pick out some of the best books to read at home!
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ll now answer some of the most frequently asked questions about contemporary British novels.
What Are The Major Characteristics Of Contemporary British Literature?
While every author will be different and every novel will have its own themes, it is noticeable that contemporary British literature explores formalism, absurdism, individualism, and symbolism.
In fact, these characteristics are also seen in other contemporary media and entertainment.
Is The Harry Potter Series Contemporary Literature?
Harry Potter is children’s fiction, despite its popularity with many adults and its often dark nature.
Despite being modern, it is not grounded with the same contemporary characteristics that these novels in my list all share.
Why Do We Love Contemporary British Literature?
There are many reasons why we cannot live without some contemporary British novels. Arguably, the main reason is that we can relate so much more with the characters than we can in other fiction.
However, some people love this fiction because of the author’s writing style and character creation.
There’s no right or wrong answer to this question and it comes down to you to answer why you love contemporary British literature so much!
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
