London, UK (20 Dec 2023) — Charles Dickens features twice, joining six other authors in the The Loveliest Book Group Pantheon Class of 2023, announced today in London. British classics David Copperfield and A Christmas Carol join Great Expectations – inducted in the inaugural class earlier in the year – to lift Dickens’ to the most entries (3) in the London-based book group’s highest order.
Six other authors join Dickens in this year’s class, including fellow British favourites Sarah Waters and Jonathan Coe. Norman Collins’ charming and evocative novel, London Belongs to Me, is also in this cohort of entries, bringing the overall total of Pantheon titles to 23.
The LBG Pantheon was created this year to recognise books and authors with ideas worth sharing. Each year in December, the book group’s membership consider all the books read by official selection, nominate and then vote. Only titles which receive unanimous assent are lifted into the Pantheon. Read more about the criteria and process.
Here’s a full list of the Loveliest Book Group Pantheon Class of 2023:
| LBG Library | Title | Author | Date Read (Host) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | What a Carve Up! | Jonathan Coe | Nov 2007 (EmmaJ) |
| 69 | Will You Please Be Quiet Please? | Raymond Carver | Jan 2010 (John) |
| 81 | David Copperfield | Charles Dickens | Sep 2010 (John) |
| 103 | The Night Watch | Sarah Waters | Aug 2012 (EmmaJ) |
| 109 | Therese Raquin | Emile Zola | Feb 2013 (Sue) |
| 118 | Stoner | John Williams | Nov 2013 (Sue) |
| 120 | A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens | Jan 2014 (Anthony) |
| 150 | London Belongs to Me | Norman Collins | Sep 2016 (DKB) |