THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH NOVELS

The English word "novel" comes from the Italian "novella", which has a new meaning and is the name of the prose. This type of story was very popular in the 14th century. Today the word "novel" is   used to describe a kind of fictional text. Its identity has changed and is   now considered a work of fiction with more than 50,000 words. The British were born in the 16th and 17th centuries and reached great heights during the era of the Pope and Dr. Johnson. The novels focus more on character development than plot. In any genre, this is a study of the human psyche.

                                       

A group of the first four novelists of the Augustus or New Classical era. They are Richardson, Smollett, Fielding and Stern, in whose hands the romance blossomed. This is why they are called the four wheels of the novel. The novel's ancestors were Elizabethan prose and French heroic novels, long stories of modern characters who behaved well. The novel became popular in the late 1700s due to a growing middle class that increasingly read and bought books. There are two main categories of fiction.

1) Fairy tale or romance:

 Her main interests depend on events and adventures.

 2) Novel:

It depends more on the character and the expression of intention. The novel is more complex than a fairy tale. In particular, there are the main elements of the novel. As such, it includes characters, settings, backgrounds, perspectives, plots, themes and language.

The English novel is an important part of English literature. There are many reasons that contributed to the development of the English novel. That is, the expansion of the readership, the growth of a new middle class, the differentiated position of women and economic reasons. People were wealthier than they could afford to buy books, and women had more time to read. Especially after the industrial revolution, they had a lot of free time at home. Publishing has become a lucrative business by spreading literacy and reading as a form of entertainment to the wealthy middle class. Professional writers began to appear. He did not have wealthy patrons, but he made a living by writing articles and books. Thus, we can mention the development of novels in English literature by taking the following steps. Thanks to him, we can clearly understand that he went through many stages in his history.

THE EARLY ENGLISH NOVELS

Early English novels involved complex middle-class characters who struggled with their morals and circumstances. Thus, Pamela, a 1741 series of fictional letters by Samuel Richardson, is considered the first true English novel. Other early novelists include Daniel Defoe, who wrote Robinson Crusoe (1719). Although their characters are not yet fully realized to be considered complete novels. Jane Austen is the author of Pride and Prejudice (1812) and Emma (1816), widely regarded as the finest English novels about good manners.

NOVELS IN 17 ^TH CENTURY

The seventeenth century offers many impressive historical events, including the English Civil War between the royalists supporting King Charles I and devout parliamentarians; Thirty years of war that engulfed Germany and its neighbors; American colonies from the Old World and immigration to Canada; The latest persecution of witches, especially hysteria in the Puritan colony of Salam; And great advances in science led by mathematicians like Culper and alchemists like Isaac Newton.

It is difficult for the rich of the seventeenth century to classify novels created in North America and to some extent in Europe, so all North American novels appear in the British Isles or Continental Europe categories depending on where the immigrant characters are. The only novel with a 17th century setting outside of Europe and North America (Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East) will be split into separate pages by the continent upon publication.

Some examples from 17th century novels. Such as Peter Ackroyd's Milton in America, William Harrison Ainsworth's Lancashire, Valerie Anand's faithful lovers and Charles, King Anthony Anglora.

  NOVELS IN 18 ^TH CENTURY

The 18th century novel was called a realistic novel. The heroes were real people with simple names and surnames. Was described in their daily writings; The settings were real geographic locations and the content was taken from real stories. Writers tried to get to know the middle class because they liked seeing themselves as protagonists in stories. The most famous writers of the time were Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, and Lawrence Stern. Some of them devoted themselves to writing because, as a result of the Test Act of 1673, being Roman Catholic or dissatisfied, they were barred from holding any important position in society and from becoming novelists or journalists. Was.

Daniel Defoe is considered the epitome of modern novels and the first writer of English literature, as well as the first journalist. He explained the preferences and interests of new, middle-class readers who can identify with themselves. All of the characters in this novel describe their personal hardships in a difficult world, from Molla Flanders, a prostitute, thief and lewd wife, to Robinson Crusoe, Colonel Jack, Captain Singleton and Roxanne.

Other prominent 18th century English writers are Samuel Richardson (1689-1761), the epistolic novel Pamela, or Prize of Merit (1740), and Clarissa (1747-1748), Henry Fielding (1707-1745) and Joseph Andrews (1742). Written by founder Tom Jones (1749); Lawrence Stern (1713-1768), who published Tristram Shandy between 1759 and 1767.

 ROMANTIC PERIOD

The expression Roman romance has several possible meanings. This refers to novels written during the Romantic era in literary history, which stretches from the late eighteenth century to the early Victorian era in 1837. But to complicate matters further, there are novels written in romanticism by novelists such as Walter Scott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and George Meredith. Furthermore, the phrase is used more often these days to refer to the popular style of mythic-fiction that focuses on romantic love. The Romantic era is especially associated with poets William Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, George Byron, and John Keats, although two great novelists, Jane Austen Stun and Walter Scott, also published in the nineteenth century.

 NOVELS IN VICTORIAN PERIOD

During the reign of Queen Victoria of England (1837-1901), the novel established itself as a major literary period. Victorian novelists portrayed virtuous middle-class heroes who reacted to society and learned from the wrong through a series of human errors. Sir Walter Scott published three-volume novels and wisely made them accessible to the general public, making them available in monthly installments. This marketing strategy leads to a sub-culmination of written innovation, which is getting more and more interest from readers every month. Among the famous writers of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens, who is considered one of the best English writers of the Victorian era, wrote A Christmas Carol (1843) and Louis Carroll. Also Charles Ludwig Dodson), who wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1864) and Through the Look (1871).

NOVELS IN 19 ^TH CENTURY

The first half of the 19th century was influenced by the Romanticism of the past. Now the emphasis was not on intellect and emotion but on nature and imagination. There is a tension between the romantic novel and the emphasis on the Gothic supernatural. Famous romantic novels include "Jane Eyre" (1874) by Charlotte Bront, a sample of several successful novels about rule and mysterious men: "Wothering Heights" (1847) a Gothic romance by Emily Bront; "The Scarlet Letter" (1850), and "The House of the Seven Gables" (1851), Gothic, romantic tales of stoning and accusation by Nathaniel Hawthorne; And "Moby Dick" (1851) Herman Melville's work on the nature of good and evil.

An important aspect of 18th and 19th century novels is that the novelist addressed the reader directly. For example, an author may interrupt a narrative to judge one character or compassion or to praise another and to inform or remind the reader of another issue.

REALISM AND NATURALISM

The rise of industrialization in the 19th century led to a trend towards writings depicting realism. Rejecting the earlier style of idealism and romanticism, novels began to portray characters who were not entirely good or bad. Realism rapidly evolved into naturalism that portrayed harsh conditions and pessimistic characters who were powerless by the forces of their environment. Naturalist novels include "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852) by Harriet Beecher Stowe, a major catalyst for the American Civil War; "Tom Sawyer" (1876) and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1855).

 MODERN NOVELS

The twentieth century is divided into two phases of literature. These are modern literature (1900-1945) and modern literature (present since 1945). This is called postmodernity. Characters in modern and contemporary novels question the existence of God, the supremacy of the human mind, and the nature of reality. The novels of this era reflect great events such as The Great Depression, World War II, Hiroshima, Cold War, and Communism. Ulysses (1921) by the Irish novelist and writer James Joyce; "Quiet on the Western Front" (1929), The most famous novel by the German writer and journalist Erich Maria Remarque against World War I and the novel by the American writer and short film Sound and Fury (1929), which depicts the decline of the South after the Civil War.

The major novelists writing in Britain in the early twentieth century were an Irishman James Joyce (1882–1941) and two immigrants, the Americans Henry James (1843–1916) and Paul Joseph Conrad (1857–1924). The modernist tradition, in the novel, emphasizes "always the more minute and analytical expression of mental life",”, Beginning with James and Conrad, such novels as“ The Ambassadors ”(1903),“ The Golden Bowl ”(1907) and“ Lord Jim ”(1900). Other important early modernists were Dorothy Richardson (1873–1957), whose novels point to the roof (1915). Consciousness is one of the oldest examples of technique and section 2 of D.Kh. Lawrence (1855-1930), who wrote with an understanding of the social life of the lower and middle classes, as well as individual life that could not be adapted to society. The rules of their time

Another important modernist of the 1920s was Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), an influential feminist and leading stylist associated with stream of consciousness techniques. Her novels include Mrs. Deloitte (1925), Two Lighthouses (1927) and Waves (1931). His famous collection of essays includes A Room of his Own (1929); "If fiction is to write fiction, then a woman must have money and her own room."

 POST MODERN NOVELS

Realism and naturalism paved the way for postmodern novels with more reflective characters. Modern postmodern novels include magical realism, metaphysics, and comic books. He claims that man has a superior power and rulership of the universe. This cannot be explained by logic alone. Modern novels demonstrate the fascination of language, low reliance on traditional values ​​and the experiments described in history. The Color Magenta (1982) by Alice Walker; Cold Blooded (1966) by Truman Capote; the popular science novel Roots by Alex Haley (1976); Erica Jong's Fear of Flight (1973); and the main novel by the magic realist One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) by Gabriel García Márquez.

Thus we can say with certainty that the development of the novel is not an accidental event in the history of English literature. Therefore, it has evolved step by step through the above period. Also we have to mention the best novels of the 21st century and its authors as we try to examine its development. For example, we can call the following writers the greatest novelists of the 21st century.

Kia Abdullah, Paul Adams, Guy Adams, Poppy Adams, Richard Adams, Lewis Allen, Karim Alrawi, John Andrews, Lindsay Ashford, Will Ashone, Darren Adabayo, Katherine Ariad, etc., as well as the following novels are a good novel. They are 1Q84 by Haruki Marukami, 2666 by Roberto Bolao, Storm of Swords by George RR Martin, Gund Team Tour by Jennifer Egan, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, The Bonisters Daughter by Amy Tan and Magic by White. Helen Oyemi

And again, this will mean that we have to spend on these processes. In fact, since the 6th-7th centuries, people have been writing fiction. A very important example is the Daskumakarita Dandina, written in the 7th century. However, many of these early writings do not have all the features of the novel that is known today and is often considered the forerunner of the modern novel.

TYPES OF NOVELS :

1)      Classic Novels :

      Example:  Jane Eyre by Charlotte  Bronte

                         Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

                         Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen

                         Moby Dick by Herman Melville

 

2)      Romance Novels:

Example:      The note book by Nicholas Sparks

                      The next Always by Nora Robers

                      The kiss by Danielle Steel

3)      Mystery / Thriller Novels:

Example:     Sweet Dreams by James Patterson

                    Kind of Blue by Miles Corwin

                    The girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

 

4)      Horror Novels:

Example:    The Union by John Saul

                   The final Winter by Lain Rob Wright

                    The Devil Tree by Steve Vernon

Therefore, the English novel is an important part of English literature. The novel is a detailed text of fiction. It can be distinguished from short stories and medium length narratives such as novels. Novels can be humorous, satirical, tragic, or romantic; There are periodicals, psychology, Gothic novels, "Buildingsroman", etc.

-H. JANNATHU BEGUM (BA)