Miss Miles: Or, a Tale of Yorkshire Life 60 Years Ago

Apparently there's some controversy over whether Taylor wrote the book or whether Bronte did. I'm no Bronte scholar, but the style didn't particularly remind me of Bronte (and I've read all of her novels, some multiple times), and the subject matter was far more overtly feminist than Bronte ever allowed herself to be. The novel traces the lives of four women - Sarah (the "Miss Miles" of the title), Maria, Dora, and Amelia - focusing particularly on their efforts to gain economic independence and thus on women's role in society. Perhaps fewer heroines would have improved the plot, as it was a little confusing to be constantly switching viewpoints and plot threads. However, it was extremely refreshing to read a Victorian novel that actually showed women out earning a living for themselves (or trying - one of them fails and pays the price).