The 8 types of novels (and their characteristics)
Reading increases self-esteem, reduces stress and develops intelligence. Also, whatever they say, getting lost in reading a good novel is one of the more honest and lasting pleasures that exist. But what do we call a novel?
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What is a novel?
E.M. Forster defined it as a work of fiction, written in prose and of a certain length. Without a doubt, a somewhat elusive definition. According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, the novel is any "prose literary work in which a feigned action is narrated in whole or in part." Here the difference between novel and short story is left a little up in the air, since the latter would also fall within this definition.
In summary, we will say that the novel is a narrative genre in prose and fiction, which differs from the short story, among other things, by its length. The following features are essential for a literary work to be considered a novel:
It must be written in prose. The narrator may possess different degrees of knowledge (narrative distance), points of view (first or third person) or it can be expressed through letters (epistolary novel), the key is that it is not written in verse.
Extension is important. A work is usually considered a novel when it has more than 50,000 words. Although halfway through we find the short novel that takes place between 30,000 and 50,000 words.
The content must be fiction. There are semi-fiction novels such as the historical novel, inspired by real characters and events, but a non-fiction work is not considered a novel. In short, not all fiction is novels, but all novels are fiction.
Types of novel classified by genre
Gender means a concrete style in art (music, painting, literature) and conditions the author in what he writes and how he writes it. Genres set the tone for different types of stories and each has its own rules to follow. For example: the length, the type of characters, the settings, the themes, the point of view and the plot; the tone and atmosphere created by the author should also fit his genre.
1. The fantastic novel
In these stories the author takes us through imaginary kingdoms, knowing myths and experimenting magic spells. They are often set in the Middle Ages. The creation of fantastic worlds opens up the possibility of creating a metaphor for the real world and the present. Thus, we can immerse ourselves in a fictional world very different from ours, mythical, legendary and wonderful, where magic, fairies, dragons, monsters and all kinds of beings have a place supernatural.
In this way, the authors of fantasy literature speculate on the human race giving priority to the action (often of an epic type) over the plot or the evolution of the characters. Clear examples of this style are: The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling, the Chronicles of Narnia saga by C.S.Lewis and a closer work such as Chronicles of the Tower of Laura Galician.
2. The science fiction novel
As in the fantasy genre, science fiction is based on imaginary worlds to capture reality and the present, but unlike this, its contents are nourished by facts, theories and scientific principles as a basis for creating scenarios, plots, characters or arguments. For this reason, although the stories told by these types of novels are imaginary, they are usually possible from a scientific point of view or, at least, plausible. This type of novel began to emerge at the end of the 19th century, when the rise of technology and the incorporation of new discoveries to everyday life such as electricity, space exploration, medical breakthroughs and revolution industrial.
Within this genre we can distinguish between two different types of novels: utopian ones, which seek describe a perfect society, like Tomas More's Utopia, and dystopian women, who warn us about a possible apocalyptic future on the basis of critically analyzing the society of the moment in which it is written; clear examples are: A Brave New World by Huxley, 1984 by George Orwell or Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Other more current examples are: Hyperion by Dan Simmons or Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.
3. Horror novel
They receive this name because they focus on creating feelings of fear or terror in the reader. Frequently, the authors of this type of stories achieve their purpose by rejoicing in the use of elements of supernatural horror or gore, although they are not essential; lately scary stories proliferate with the label of psychological terror, where the author shows us the most hidden fears of the protagonist.
They have their origin in the Gothic novels of the XIX century; have some point in common with fantasy, science fiction or crime novels, but the horror genre requires a deeper insight into the psychological aspect of the characters, creating tension at the right time, scenes that brim with tension, and suspending situations where the unspoken can be more disturbing than the unsaid. shown.
Good examples of this type of novel are: Another Twist by Henry James, Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley and The Dead Man's Suit by Joe Hill.
4. The detective or detective novel and the crime novel
In the detective novel we find plots dominated by action, where there is a crime to be solved that involves the protagonist, so general a policeman or detective and often focus on forensic evidence and evidence gathering, interrogations of suspects leading to a unexpected and surprising resolution.
Classic examples of this genre are: the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan doyle (fifty-six stories), starring Sherlock Holmes, such as: The dog of Baskerville; The name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, although centered in a historical setting, also has a somewhat atypical detective. Clear examples are also the novels of Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen.
Among the detective novels is the subgenre of the crime novel, where the resolution of the crime or mystery goes to the background to focus on more social issues. The level of violence tends to be more intense in this type of literature, it is starred by more decadent and darker characters, dominated by human weaknesses. The atmosphere is usually suffocating, with corrupt powers, justice cannot be trusted and ethics is deteriorated.
Essential authors in this genre are: Dashiel Hammet, author of The Maltese Falcon; Raymon Chandler, whose novels stars Detective Philip Marlowe, such as The Eternal Dream; and Patricia Highsmith, author of the novels starring the murderer Tom Ripley. Closer, also representatives of the crime novel, we find Andra Camilleri or Manuel Vázquez Montalbán.
5. The adventure novel
Dominated by action, the adventure novel takes us on a journey without having to move more muscles than is necessary to read: scans, survival, searches, kidnappings, returns, dangers, confrontations... The tension is constant and the protagonist is exposed to a constant danger of death, the rhythm is frenetic and the reader only finds rest after the climax and reaching the resolution.
Some examples are: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Da Foe, Gulliver's Travels by Johnatan Swift or the six novels of the saga The Adventures of Captain Alatriste, written by Arturo Pérez-Reverte.
6. The historical novel
Although their protagonists, settings and time in which their plots are developed really existed, in this type of novels the author makes a fictional pact with the reader, which should allow a some plot freedom, while assuming a commitment to the story, adding fictional characters or compatible events, without missing the reality of the facts.
This type of narration requires a documentation work prior to the writing of the novel, in order to capture with the greatest possible fidelity, not only the historical facts, but also aspects related to daily life, in favor of verisimilitude and the atmosphere: customs, clothing, transport, furniture ...
Some examples of this genre are: Ben-Hur by Lewis Wallace or Sinuhé the Egyptian by Mika Waltari, which recreate Antiquity; Joan of Arc by Mark Twain, Ivanhoe by Walter Scott, who recreate the Middle Ages; The young woman with the pearl by Tracy Chevalier or The three musketeers by Alexander Dumas, which take place in the Modern Age; The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez recreates the 19th century and Mario Vargas Llosa's La fiesta del Chivo, the last 20th century.
7. The romance novel
The current romantic novels retain some things in common with the old "romances": the idea of romantic love as the final goal, conflicts that hinder the love of the protagonists and a great emotional intensity. Nowadays, however, they focus more on telling a romantic and / or sexual love story between the characters. They usually have a happy and optimistic ending.
Throughout the 19th century the romantic genre found good representatives in the figures of Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, among others; Emily Brontë with Wuthering Heights, and Charlotte Brontë with Jane Eyre.
Chick-lit novels are currently considered the most popular example of the romance genre. Usually set in urban settings and starring young, single women, independent, hard-working, fighting, almost always stressed and, above all, eager to find the love of his life; they are fresh, irreverent and flee from taboos.
They are clear examples: Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones diary and Candace Bushnell's Sex and the City, both adapted for film and television.
8. The erotic novel
The erotic novel highlights the potential of desire, the forms of sexuality and the right to pleasure; it thrives on moral transgression, irreverence, the liberation of prejudices and taboos; provokes and excites sensuality creating a metaphor of love.
We are talking about eroticism, not pornography, therefore, it's about seducing without showing, to awaken the imagination and tell the hidden passions of the human being in the most elegant way. Good examples of this type of literature are: Fanny Hill by John Cleland, Lolita by Nabokov and, more Recent, The Ages of Lulú by Almudena Grandes and The Sexual Life of Catherine Millet, by Catherine herself Millet.
- You may be interested in: "The 10 best erotic and romantic books (that you must read)"
On this occasion we have presented the main types of novels classified by their genre, although there are infinite possibilities and subgenres that we will deal with on another occasion.
