Reading the Eighteenth-Century Novel is a lively exploration of the evolution of the English novel from 1688-1815. In it, a range of major works and authors are discussed, along with important developments in the genre, and the impact of novels on society at the time.

The text begins with a discussion of the "rise of the novel" in the long eighteenth century and various theories about the economic, social, and ideological changes that caused it. Subsequent chapters examine ten particular novels, from Oroonoko and Moll Flanders to Tom Jones and Emma, using each one to introduce and discuss different rhetorical theories of narrative. The way in which books developed and changed during this period, breaking new ground, and influencing later developments is also discussed, along with key themes such as the representation of gender, class, and nationality. The final chapter explores how this literary form became a force for social and ideological change by the end of the period. Written by a highly experienced scholar of English literature, this engaging textbook guides readers through the intricacies of a transformational period for the novel.

David H. Richter is Professor of English at Queens College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, USA. His publications include Fable's End (1974), The Progress of Romance: Literary Historiography and the Gothic Novel (1996), Ideology and Form in Eighteenth-Century Literature (1999), The Critical Tradition (3rd edition, 2006), Falling into Theory (2nd edition, 2010), and The Blackwell Companion to Literary Theory (Wiley Blackwell, 2017).