Sentimental Novel in the Eighteenth Century

The sentimental novel was a popular literary genre in the 1770s and 1780s, and this volume explores its origins, aspects, and contexts in the eighteenth century, with close readings of novels by writers such as Samuel Richardson, Laurence Sterne, and Jane Austen. It demonstrates that the genre remains a vibrant and exciting area of study.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The sentimental novel, a literary genre that flourished in the 1770s and 1780s, continued to hold sway as the eighteenth century neared its end. This comprehensive volume delves into the realm of the sentimental novel during the eighteenth century, tracing its roots back to the so-called amatory fiction of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Chapters authored by esteemed scholars bring together diverse aspects and contexts of the genre, encompassing politics, slavery, women writers, and the Gothic, as well as examining the sentimental novel in America, France, and Germany. Through historically informed close readings of novels by writers such as Samuel Richardson (1689–1761), Laurence Sterne (1713–68), and Jane Austen (1775–1817), this volume showcases the enduring relevance and excitement of the sentimental novel as a field of study. It demonstrates that the genre continues to captivate readers and critics, far from being considered obsolete or of merely antiquarian interest.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108408554