The Novel; what it is

In this brisk, conversational essay the writer turns a reflective eye on the very shape of the modern novel. He sketches how stories have become a marketable luxury—intellectual entertainment that satisfies neither hunger nor trade, yet promises profit to authors and publishers alike. By juxtaposing the lofty ambitions of Henry James with the adventure‑filled pages of Rider Haggard, he shows how wildly different works can still share a common commercial destiny.

Beyond the economics, the piece probes the uneasy marriage of art and instruction, coining the term “purpose‑novel” for works that aim to moralise as well as amuse. The author questions whether such didactic ambitions betray an unwritten contract with the reader, and he invites us to consider what we truly demand from fiction. Listeners who savor thoughtful literary discussion will find this historical perspective both sharp and surprisingly relevant.