Here are some prominent writers associated with this transitional period:
* Charles Dickens: His novels, though filled with social commentary and gritty realism, also contain elements of romanticism, such as sentimentalism, idealized characters, and a focus on the power of imagination and hope.
* William Makepeace Thackeray: Like Dickens, Thackeray explored social issues with a realist lens, but his work often included cynical humor and a critical view of human nature, hinting at the darker side of the Romantic period's idealism.
* George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans): Eliot's novels deeply examined social issues, particularly the lives of women and the constraints of Victorian society. Her works blended realism with psychological insights and a focus on ethical dilemmas.
* The Brontë Sisters (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne): Their novels, particularly *Jane Eyre* and *Wuthering Heights*, showcased both the romantic yearning for love and freedom and the harsh realities of their time, including social inequality and the limitations placed on women.
* Nathaniel Hawthorne: Hawthorne, an American writer, used allegory and symbolism in his works to explore themes of sin, guilt, and the Puritan past. This blend of realism and symbolism is a hallmark of the period.
These writers, and others like them, helped transition literary styles by taking the emotional intensity and focus on the individual of Romanticism and grounding it in the social and political realities of the time. They used realism to explore the complexities of human nature and the challenges of living in a rapidly changing world.