Introduction to the Novel

Two weeks ago, we featured an interview the Stephen Moore about his new book The Novel: An Alternative History: Beginning's to 1600. The book is an ambitious attempt to correct the commonly held fallacy that the novel is a relatively recent literary genre with a tradition of realistic plots and straightforward storytelling. Moore argues that the novel has a long history defined by constant innovation and experimentation.

The introduction to the book (one of the best critical essays I've read in a while) is a vibrant, illuminating, call to arms in defense of all that is fun and inventive about the novel form, written with passion and intelligence. Anyone interested in novels, fiction, and literature in general should read it. Follow this link: Introduction to The Novel to a book preview and scroll down to get to the introduction.