THE ENGLISH NOVEL 65 
Though in the works of the writers just mentioned, almost all 
the characteristics of the novel are to be found, it was very tardy in 
making its appearance. Writers were slow to adopt a new form 
until they were sure they would find a public. It was the decline 
of the theatre during the early part of the 18th century that cleared 
the way for the novel It was a form of literature that had all the 
interest of the drama but imposed only the most slender tax on the 
reader’s imagination, and was therefore predestined to success. 
The first English novelist was Samuel Richardson, who used the 
method of telling a story by means of letters. Though this is the 
least popular of all methods, in his hands it was quite successful. 
Richardson added to fiction four distiact portraits, and his influence 
was distinctly felt in Continental literature. 
Fielding presented, in his novels, a gallery of portraits far 
exceeding, in variety and reality, the work of any former English 
narrator. He waged war always against hypocrisy and shams. He 
made distinct advance in the art of novel-writing; he could conduct 
a complicated plot artistically, and he could be convincing without 
hampering artistic freedom. 
To the same group of 18th century novelists belong Smollett, 
Sterne, and Goldsmith. This period of the novel’s history is 
brilliant in the extreme and shows that this new form of literature 
had now a place of its own. No novelist until Scott can compare 
with the best writers of this period. 
From the 18th century novelists to Scott we have arather feeble 
and uninteresting period forming the earliest stage of the Romantic 
revival. “Terror” novels came first, introducing the supernatural in 
the most weird and exaggerated form. After those came ‘ Novels of 
Purpose” used to propagate various individual theories upon politics, 
religion, marriage, and education. The impetus given to speculation 
by the French revolution at this time influenced considerably this 
particular form of novel. ‘lhe next group is ‘‘ Novels of Domestic 
Satire” the names of Miss Burney, Jane Austen and Maria Edgeworth 
being the most prominent in this school. Domestic life was the 
theme which gave them opportunity, particularly Jane Austen, for 
delicate satire and fine character drawing. 
