Novels are fictional narratives presented in book form, written and entirely fictitious. The main differences between a short story and a novel are length and plot development. Novels have been part of human culture for over a thousand years, with the earliest example being an 11th-century Japanese book called The Tale of Genji. Novels have become the most common form of published literature, with sub-genres covering any type of subject. Novels have had a significant cultural impact, influencing society and drawing crowds for events such as book releases. The internet has also helped reshape this type of writing, with e-books and graphic novels gaining popularity.
A novel is a fictional piece of prose that is typically written in a narrative style and presented as a hardcover book. Novels tell stories, which are usually defined as a series of events described in a sequence. The novel has been part of human culture for over a thousand years, even if its origins are somewhat debated. Regardless of how it began, the novel rose to prominence and has remained one of the most popular and cherished examples of human writing and culture. Its form and presentation tends to change with the times, but it remains an essential part of the literary cultures of almost every society in the world.
Required items
Novels are different from stories, poems, and narratives in a number of key ways. Although presented in book form, they are much more: in most cases, any bound paper constitutes a book. All novels are books, then, but not all books are novels.
Most literary scholars define novels by what they contain and how they are presented. First, a novel must be written rather than told through an oral account. Many ancient stories have been passed down from generation to generation through storytellers, and while many of these may have been long enough or complex enough to be novels, they don’t qualify unless recorded in some permanent way.
The work must also be entirely fictitious. Personal reflections, recounting of real events, or historical accounts do not qualify; not even myths, which tend to have their basis in reality or theology. As long as it is written and is entirely a work of the author or the authors imagination, it usually qualifies. There is no universally established guideline for a novel’s length, point of view, or even for establishing a moral or philosophical point. Most of the time though, the plot has to be quite complex and there have to be different angles to the narrative. The main differences between a short story and a novel are the length and development of the plot. As a general rule, works up to 100 pages are short stories; the longer works cross the border into new territory.
The only exception to this rule is the short story, which is usually considered a work of fiction that falls somewhere between a short story and a novel. There is no set rule for when a work transitions between these stages and much is left to the reader’s discretion. Novels are typically shorter than regular novels and often contain only a few characters, but not always. The distinction is usually quite fluid.
Early examples
An early Sanskrit story called Dasakumaracarita may be the earliest example, although an 11th-century Japanese book called The Tale of Genji is more commonly accepted as the origin of modern novels. This short story was written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu, a member of the lesser court. It traces the female heroism and achievements of the main character, whom many have dubbed “a Japanese Don Juan”. It is perhaps in this work that novels earned their reputation for being, at times, a little silly and meaningless, despite numerous examples over the centuries of superlative writing in the style.
Distribution and influence
Early novels existed as single releases: wide distribution was impossible until the use of printing presses became common worldwide. However, even large-scale printing did not make these works immediately popular. Over the centuries, the novel stumbled with great growth and decline in popularity. Many modern examples of so-called great masterpieces were written during the 19th and 20th centuries, when novels finally gained a permanent position as an acceptable form of literature. Since that time, they have become the most common form of published literature, far surpassing the plays, poetry, and non-fiction works that once dominated the literate world.
Meaning and cultural power
Novels are often loved for their creation of spectacular worlds, empathetic characters, and carefully researched subject matter. They are often seen as a boundless realm of exploration and creativity, with sub-genres springing up to include just about any type of subject that can be written about. They occur in many genres, from science fiction to business to female interest and legal thrillers.
The abolitionist novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin is sometimes cited as a major influence in drawing the United States toward the Civil War. In the late 19th century, it was not uncommon for people to fill shipyards and newsstands with crowds for the next chapter of Charles Dickens’ latest serial. In the early 1910s the success of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series sparked hundreds of bookshop opening nights and lavish parties around the world at the first release of each book.
Longevity and evolution
This literary style remains affordable despite the range of things that can be included. Unlike the skyrocketing costs of special effects and computer graphics required to make a fantastic film, filmmakers need only imagination and talent to create expansive worlds and detailed characters in words alone.
In many ways, the internet has also helped reshape this type of writing. So-called “e-books” have provided a convenient mechanism for distributing material electronically, and a number of writers also publish their work on the web in personal blogs or web pages. Graphic novels, i.e. novels composed almost entirely of detailed images or illustrations, have also found great popularity.
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