Product Description

How do literary critics distinguish between ‘story’ and ‘plot’, between a symbol and an image, or between ‘tone’ and ‘mood’? How do we define ‘realism’, ‘modernism’, and ‘postmodernism’? What do narrative theorists mean by ‘frequency’ and ‘distance’? In the revised, expanded and updated fifth edition of this standard introduction to the novel, these questions and many others are answered in a way that is readable and entertaining without being simplistic. Two new chapters which deal with fiction and the electronic media, and film adaptations of fictional works, are added. Discussion of cyberfiction has been included, the treatment of the novella has been expanded, and more tips on writing essays and answering exam questions are provided.

Widely acclaimed for its erudite yet accessible explanations, Studying the Novel is an invaluable guide to the essential concepts and approaches for all students of the novel. It assumes no previous academic study of the subject.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102500 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
Wonderful introduction to the novel...strongly recommended for 1st year English students. The book provides an excellent beginners' guide to the different 'types' of novels and is an excellent easy reference to the study of English Literature. Hawthorn uses everyday language to explain a lot of the very difficult concepts that need to be mastered by the new university student or anyone hoping to read further about the intricacies of the novel. This book is invaluable: of the many, many books I bought during my three years at University, this was the one that I was most glad I read. Angela Simpson, Birmingham, UK on amazon.co.uk First published in 1985, [the third edition] continues to be a text which could usefully be recommended to all students of literature...a model of succinct explication. The Lecturer An approach to studying the novel that is both erudite and easy to follow. Teaching English A model of compact exposition. The Times Educational Supplement

Review
'This jewel of a book by Jeremy Hawthorn makes up for its Lilliputian size by covering writing concepts for students and avid readers. Includes ideas not found outside of advanced graduate school or masterwork courses.' wordsmitten.com

'First published in 1985, Studying the Novel continues to be a text which could usefully be recommended to all students of literature ... a model of succint explication.' The Lecturer

'A model of compact exposition' The Times Educational Supplement

'An approach to studying the novel that is both erudite and easy to follow' Teaching English

[...] This is a book to be recommended to any undergraduate student of literature. It could underpin first year literature courses'. Colin Bulman, University of Huddersfield (Colin Bulman, University of Huddersfield )

About the Author
Jeremy Hawthorn is Professor of Modern British Literature at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Customer Reviews

A fairly user-friendlyguide to studying the novel
I read a great deal of fiction, and wanted something that would give me more insight about how fiction - and novels in particular - work. I wanted something that assumes no background knowledge (my being a scientist by training) yet wasn't too simplistic. This book almost fitted the bill. It covers the history of the novel, different types of genre, criticism, how to read and write critiques, and how to analyse fiction (e.g. in terms of plot, dialogue, symbolism, and so on). There is also a reasonable - and for a change, accessible - coverage of postmodern approaches to the novel. The book is geared towards first-year English literature students but that wasn't a problem for me. My reservations about the book are: (a) occasionally I found things weren't explained in enough detail, or assumed too much prior knowledge; (b) most of all, I would have liked many more examples.

Wonderful introduction to the novel
This is strongly recommended for first year English students.

The book provides an excellent beginners' reference guide to the different 'types' of novels and is an excellent easy reference guide to the study of English Literature.

Hawthorn uses every-day language to explain a lot of the very difficult concepts that need to be mastered by the new university student or anyone hoping to read further about the intricacies of the novel.

This is probably too detailed for the A-Level student and certainly there is not enough depth for the graduate student, but for the rest this book is invaluable.

Of the many, many reference works I bought during my three years at University, this was the one that I was most glad I read.

Great book!
I am starting the Open University's A210 "Approaching Literature" and this books delivers what I need in order to start working on novels - clear, concise, and most of all very useful for students in Literature!

Highly recommended.