English Novel in History, 1895–1920

This effort provides the first detailed and fully comprehensive analysis of early twentieth-century English fiction. Trotter examines the whole spectrum of fiction, from the innovations of Joyce's 'Ulysses' through to mass-market genres such as detective stories and spy-thrillers.

Written especially for students and assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, David Trotter's "The English Novel in History 1895-1920" provides a comprehensive introduction to early 20th-century fiction This study embraces the whole range of early 20th-century fiction, from avant-garde innovations to popular mass-market genres. Separate sections are devoted to James, Conrad, Kipling, Bennett, Lawrence, Lewis, and Joyce. It establishes a classification of literary styles in the period. Based on this classification, it offers an account of the subject-matters which preoccupied writers of all kinds: gender, race, nationality, sexual psychology, production and consumption. "The English Novel in History" aims to redefine our understanding of literary Modernism, and should be useful reading for all students of modern English literature.

David Trotter