The epistolary novel: its origin, development, decline, and residuary influence.

276 Pages·1963·21.732 MB·English

by  Godfrey Frank Singer

THE EPISTOLARY NOVEL

THE EPISTOLARY NOVEL
ITS ORIGIN , DEVELOPMENT, DECLINE, AND
RESIDUARY INFLUENCE
GODFREY FRANK SINGER
NEW YORK
RUSSELL RUSSELL · INC
&
1963
;
-
sco 3 FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1933
? REISSUED , 1963, BY RUSSELL & RUSSELL , INC.
L.C.CATALOG CARD NO :63- 9508
PRINTED IN THEUNITED STATESOFAMERICA
300ass
-
18
To
J. . . . .
S AND L F S
r
with heartfelt thanks fotheir great
generosity and many indulgences

FOREWORD
THAT the English novel first grew into solid form in the
eighteenth century is a fact too well established to need
more than passing mention . In the course of that century
various types of the novel, various schools ” of writing grew
up,someofwhich have been segregated and described in de
tail in various critical works. Of utmost importance among
these groups,both in achievement and as a " type” of fiction ,
is the novel cast in letter form . It is the purpose of the fol
lowing dissertation to presentas complete a survey as possi
ble of that form of fiction . That it was of great importance
will be seen from a consideration both of its quality and of
itsquantity.In order toshow the continuity ofthat form and
to take cognizance of its periodical mutations,Ihave used
and examined several hundred novels,constituting amajor
y
it ofthe novels in that form now extant.This has notbeen
done with any hope ofdiscovering lost masterpiece.s Ithas,
however,revealed many sensible,pleasant,and workmanlike
books,which hardly deserve the oblivion into which they
have fallen.For the vivid flashes which they not infrequently
cast upon the manners ofthe period alone they would be
worthy ofattention. Taken together with the great mass of
writing in the same form during aperiod offully half a cen
tury they present to the thoughtful mind an exceedingly
interesting spectacle ofthe working out ofa literary cycle
according tothe laws ofnature and to thematerials of itsown
composition
.
y
Much ofthesurvey has been made possible bapossession
ofthe books themselves.It isappropriate,however, to men
tion at once the palpable indebtedness to the invaluable
suggestions found in theworks ofD.r Charlotte Morgan and
Professor Helen Sard Hughes n the history offiction before
i
the publication ofPamela with the attention which they have
vii
viii FOREWORD
given to the forms and movements of seventeenth -century
and early eighteenth -century prose. Such hints have been
further supplemented by references to the Reviews of the
period and have sometimes had additions from the long and
curious lists of other books on sale by the publisher, which
are occasionally found attached to his several volumes .
This work was undertaken at the suggestion of Professor
John C.Mendenhall who, patient and analytic critic that he
is,has given the friendly guidance and unflagging assistance
necessary to the very existence of this study. To him ,to Dr.
Ralph B. Allen , for help with proof, to Dr. Beaumont S.
Bruestle , for help with the index, to certain members of the
Department of English ofthe University of Pennsylvania who
have guided mystudies and fostered my appreciation during
many years, and to my friends my gratitude can hardly be
expressed with adequacy . Without their support this study
could never have achieved even such slight merit as it may
possess . Let this be in no smallmeasure such praise asmay be
due;theshortcomings aremy own.
. . .
G F S
Philadelphia , November 10, 1932.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Foreword
CHAPTER
I The Development of the Literary Epistle
II
The Letter-Writer
III
The Vitalization of the Letter
IV The Fictional Outposts and the Pre-Richardsonian
Letter Story
V Samuel Richardson and His Development of the
Epistolary Novel
VI TheEpistolary Novel from Richardson to 1800 99
6
VII TheEpistolary Novel in England since 1800 15
e
VIII Epistolary Fiction (Particularly th Nove)l in
Franceand Italy 181
IX Epistolary Fiction in America 195
Conclusion
215
Bibliography
217
Index
256