Development of the

Modern Novel

Henry James

Art of Fiction (1884)

James argued for an aesthetic status for fiction
Fiction could create reality and add to its
significance
Argued that fiction was not simply a description of
life but could compete with it

James made the art of the novel more conscious

in both ways as a writer conscious of his craft
and by making his characters finely aware and
responsible

He made his readers aware of the immense

complexities of his characters minds

William James (Principles of Psychology, 1890)

Thought is a stream, an unconscious flow, rather
than a matter of deliberate units of attention. The
process can best be described as a stream of
thought, of consciousness, of subjective life.

By plotting the journeys of the mind in as real

terms as literal or physical journeys, James
changed the terms of where reality could be
located.
The attempt was not only to make fiction art, but to
make the art of fiction a better measure of reality.

Joseph Conrad

Different from James in his political engagement

Prioritised sensory vividness in detail and political
commentary on the evils of imperialism,
exploitation and aggression
Believed that the power of the written word lay in
making the reader feel, hear and above all, see

This seeing would produce a feeling of oneness,

of solidarity, which would, in turn, counteract the
problems of evil in the world.

Thus fiction would not only reflect the modern

world, but also shape it.

Other writers (Edith Wharton) explored the modern

world through the pressures and forces of
materialism.
These writers wrote and shaped their fiction on
response to modern realities of psychology,
imperialism and materialism, they also hoped to
impact these realities through their fiction. This
imparted to MF a unique dialectical characteristic
of new realities shaping new technique which in
turn shapes new perceptions/realities.