A History of the Novel in Britain by Philip Hensher.
In this historical telling of an art form that’s seen a slow decline in popularity, Hensher details the evolutionary scramble that motivated writers and publishers to do justice to the medium’s name: find something novel.
Hensher rehashes centuries of publishing-house drama with an investigative eye, evaluating famous and forgotten works with equal scrutiny. The novel is “600 pages of deep pleasure,” The Guardian wrote, “an excuse to revisit old literary loves and be reminded of the ones that have slipped from view.” Pre-order A History of the Novel in Britain from your local bookstore.