The Reading Revolution and the Emergence of New Literary Genre: The Novel

Summary

The reading revolution that took place during the 17th and 18th centuries spurred the creation of new readership, leading to the demand for cheaper and topical books. This resulted in the emergence of new literary genres, such as the novel, which catered to the reading public’s demands. The period also saw the rise of lending libraries and reading circles to deal with high book prices, enabling greater accessibility to books for all social classes.

Table of Contents

• The Reading Revolution and the Emergence of New Literary Genre: The Novel
• The Emergence of Reading Circles and Lending Libraries
• The Novel and its Popularity in the Literary Realm
• The Controversy Surrounding Women Novelists
• The Culture of Reason and the Triumph of Rationality

Q&A

Q: What led to the emergence of new literary genres during the reading revolution?

A: The reading revolution resulted in the creation of new readership, who demanded cheaper and topical books. This led to the evolution of new literary genres, such as the novel, to cater to the public’s demands.

Q: What efforts were made to deal with high book prices during this period?

A: To deal with the challenge of high book prices, readers formed reading circles, and lending libraries emerged. Larger towns even had more permanent clubs with their premises and management committees.

Q: Why did the novel become so popular during the 18th century?

A: The novel became popular because it catered to the reading public’s demands. It was cheaper and more accessible than other genres and could address contemporary issues. It also appealed to a wider audience, including women and children.

Q: Was the popularity of women novelists welcomed during this period?

A: The emergence of women novelists was not welcomed by some intellectuals who believed that popularization often preceded vulgarization. However, England had many influential female novelists composing works of equal standing and sales with most male colleagues.

Q: Was the reading revolution limited to the literary realm alone?

A: No, the reading revolution brought about significant changes in the musical realm as well. The symphony benefitted from it, and the period from the 1760s to the end of the 18th century saw the symphony become a prominent form of music in Europe.

The Emergence of Reading Circles and Lending Libraries

As literacy rates increased and popular education became a priority during the 17th and 18th centuries, the challenge of high book prices surfaced. To address this challenge, readers formed reading circles and book clubs. The larger towns even had more permanent clubs with their premises and management committees. This practice was widespread among the middle class and allowed them access to a more extensive range of books at a minimal cost.

The emergence of lending libraries in the eighteenth century further aided accessibility to books for all classes. These libraries charged a modest subscription fee and became quite popular in England and America. They were instrumental in making books available for people who could not afford to buy them. These libraries opened up reading materials to the masses and thereby democratized reading.

The Novel and its Popularity in the Literary Realm

The reading revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries led to the development of a new readership, which demanded cheaper and topical books. The publication of Samuel Richardson’s Pamela in 1740 gave birth to the novel, which became one of the most popular genres during the period. The novel addressed contemporary issues and could reach a wider audience compared to other genres. In contrast, more expensive literary works were accessible to only the elite. The novel was cheaper and more accessible and could be read leisurely. It had a larger appeal, including women and children, and its readership was both the learned and the unlearned.

The Controversy Surrounding Women Novelists

The emergence of women novelists, who had equal standing and sales as their male colleagues, was not welcomed by some intellectuals who believed that popularization often preceded vulgarization. However, the novel’s popularity soon overshadowed the criticism. Jane Austen, in the early 19th century, became one of the most successful novelists of her time.

Women’s gains in the literary realm changed the perception of women’s role in society. Women authors reflected both men and women and gave a voice to the voiceless. They brought about a change in the portrayal of women in literature and challenged traditional gender roles.

The Culture of Reason and the Triumph of Rationality

The culture of reason marked a significant shift in the intellectual atmosphere during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was a movement towards rationality, critical thinking, and scientific reasoning. The publication of Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws and Diderot and D’Alembert’s Encyclopédie catalyzed this movement and had a tremendous impact across Europe.

With the emphasis on scientific reasoning and critical thinking, the public became an arbiter of taste, leading to the emergence of critics to mediate between the artists and their audience. The culture of reason marked the triumph of rationality and made a profound impact on the growth of literature, music, and art.

Conclusion

The reading revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries brought about significant changes in the literary realm, leading to the emergence of new genres such as the novel. It democratised reading, and entrepreneurial spirits began to benefit from the creation of new readership. Women authors challenged traditional gender roles and gave a voice to the voiceless while the culture of reason championed rationality, leading to a new way of reading, listening, writing, thinking, and living.