Aspects of the Novel

E. M. Forster, one of England's most distinguished writers, delivered a series of lectures at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1927. The lectures were compiled in a collection of literary essays sharing what Forster believed were the seven important aspects of fiction: story, people, plot, fantasy, prophecy, pattern, and rhythm. With engaging, witty, and conversational commentary, Forster advances his theory that studying great authors is the best way to discover styles of writing. He uses literary examples to make his points, including Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Marcel Proust. This is not a how-to guide to novel writing but an exploration of the elements that make a novel successful.