Genre - Novels 2

What distinguishes a novel from any other type of book? Well there are a few criteria any publication needs before it can be considered a novel. Let’s take a look at the first: A novel is a work of fiction. That does not mean, however, that it cannot be embellished by a sprinkling of fact. Historical novels are a good case in point. They can help us to understand what life was like in the past in a way not possible in textbooks. The same is true of works written long ago – no author can teach us so much about Victorian life than the great Victorian writer Charles Dickens.

The English language has been blessed with many great novelists and we regret not being able to include questions about all of them. Fortunately we have been able to include such distinguished names as Kingsley Amis, DH Lawrence, Stella Gibbons, Compton Mackenzie, John Steinbeck and Ian McEwan. So have a go at this, the second of our four quizzes on novels, and see how well you know their works.