In the 19th and early 20th centuries, English literature was dominated by the works of authors such as Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, and E.M. Forster. These writers created some of the most enduring and beloved heroines in literary history, including Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Elliot, and Catherine Earnshaw. These characters navigated complex romantic relationships, often marked by societal constraints, familial expectations, and personal struggles.