The Origins of the English Novel, 1600-1740

McKeon's landmark work examines the emergence and development of the novel in England during the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The book traces how epistemological and social changes during this period shaped the formation of this new literary genre. The analysis focuses on major authors including Bunyan, Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding, while incorporating perspectives from lesser-known writers of the era. Through extensive historical research, McKeon demonstrates the connection between cultural shifts in how truth and virtue were understood and the novel's rising prominence. The book explores the relationship between romance and realism, aristocratic and bourgeois values, and absolutist versus relativist approaches to both knowledge and status. McKeon structures his argument around what he terms "questions of truth" and "questions of virtue" in early modern England. This comprehensive study suggests that the novel arose as a way to mediate competing forms of authority and authenticity in a rapidly changing society. The work remains influential for its examination of how literary forms emerge from and respond to specific historical conditions.

Readers describe this as a dense academic text that requires significant background knowledge of literary theory. Students and scholars note its thorough research and theoretical framework linking social change to the novel's development. Likes: - Detailed analysis of how class mobility and epistemological shifts shaped the novel - Integration of historical context with literary evolution - Coverage of lesser-known early novels Dislikes: - Complex academic prose that some find "nearly unreadable" - Assumes familiarity with literary theory and historical context - Length and repetition of arguments - Limited discussion of female authors Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (52 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (6 reviews) Sample Review: "McKeon's arguments are brilliant but the writing is so dense it took me three attempts to finish. Not for casual readers." - Goodreads reviewer Multiple readers suggest starting with Ian Watt's "Rise of the Novel" before attempting this more advanced theoretical work.

The Rise of the Novel by Ian Watt This foundational study traces the relationship between eighteenth-century philosophical realism and the emergence of the novel through examinations of Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding.

Novel Relations: The Transformation of Kinship in English Literature and Culture by Ruth Perry The text examines how changes in family structure and marriage in 18th century England shaped the development of the novel form.

Before Novels: The Cultural Contexts of Eighteenth-Century English Fiction by J. Paul Hunter This work explores the popular literary forms, social contexts, and cultural practices that contributed to the novel's development in England.

The Novel and the Sea by Margaret Cohen This study reveals how maritime ventures and nautical writings influenced the technical and narrative innovations of early English novels.

The Origins of the English Marriage Plot by Lisa O'Connell The book connects Anglican marriage reforms to the development of marriage-focused plotlines in early English novels from 1680-1740.

🔖 McKeon argues that the rise of the novel wasn't a sudden literary invention but evolved from a crisis in both truth-telling and social categories in 17th century England 📚 The book challenges Ian Watt's influential theory that the novel emerged primarily from the rise of the middle class and philosophical individualism 📖 McKeon examines how "romance" transformed from a term meaning "false history" to becoming a distinct literary genre focused on love and adventure ✍️ The work spans analysis of over 50 different texts, from well-known works like Robinson Crusoe to obscure pamphlets and historical documents 🎓 Published in 1987, this book grew out of McKeon's PhD dissertation at Columbia University and has become a cornerstone text in the study of novel origins