Studying the Novel: 8th Edition

About the Author Jeremy Hawthorn is Emeritus Professor of English at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim. He has published widely on the novel – especially Joseph Conrad – and literary theory. Product Description Now in its eighth edition, Studying the Novel is an authoritative introduction to the study of the novel at undergraduate level. Updated throughout to explore more sub-genres of the novel, disability studies as a critical approach, and literatures of the apartheid in relation to world literature, the book also now includes a whole new chapter exploring the expansion and diversification of the canon studied to consider digital advances, the study of popular fiction genres, the graphic form, and children's literature. Providing a complete guide to studying the novel in one easy-to-read volume, the book covers: · The form of the novel · The history of the novel, from its earliest days to new electronic forms · Realism, modernism and postmodernism and contemporary fiction · Analysing fiction: narrative, character, structure, theme and dialogue · Critical approaches to studying the novel · Practical guidance on critical reading, secondary criticism, electronic resources and essay writing · Versions and adaptations Studying the Novel also includes a number of features to help readers navigate the book and find key information quickly, including chapter summaries throughout, novel excerpts to illustrate theoretical and analytical concepts, a comprehensive glossary of terms and an historical timeline on the development of the novel, while annotated guides to further reading and discussion questions help students master the topics covered. Review “This new edition of Studying the Novel is markedly the product of a life time of teaching and sustained reflection on the novel. It takes the reader from the basics of character, action, plot through to recent developments in critical approaches to the novel – narratological, textual, contextual, ideological; and from the ancestors of the novel through to world literature via computer games, interactive fiction and hypertext fiction. For this new edition, Hawthorn has added a new chapter on popular fiction (including children's fiction and the graphic novel) and new sections on the novel and disability and the novel and apartheid. Studying the Novel is written with Hawthorn's usual clarity and intelligence: it manages to provide helpful guidance for those just starting into the serious study of the novel (including 'How to take Notes' and 'Using Critics'), while remaining constantly thought-provoking for the more experienced student of fiction. It is appropriately aware of its own imagined reader, and richly furnished with a range of illustrative fictional examples. It is essential reading for anybody setting out to think critically about the novel, and the 'topics for discussion' after each chapter make this a very useful teaching tool.” ―Robert Hampson, University of London, UK“An outstanding overview of key issues in prose fiction, Studying the Novel covers a wide range of technical information with an approachable blend of clarity, sophistication, and concision. Examples from across centuries and cultures include important canonical works along with an expanded presentation of voices and concepts in World Literature and popular genres. Hawthorn's efficient survey of historical, formal, and critical approaches is especially useful for teaching, and the material on versions, adaptations, and translations, as well as the challenges and opportunities of digital media, provide students with a lexicon to articulate the impact of shifting generic grounds. This is a teaching resource I'll be turning to time and again.” ―Jana M. Giles, University of Louisiana at Monroe, USA