The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-10-23
Written for the MANNING TINES.
The Early English Novel.

Written for the MANNING TINES.
The Early English Novel.
While the literature of the eigh.
teenth century was regarded as peculi.
arly of a prosaic character, it was q
period remarkable for the literary
development Of prose fiction. Crit
cism was active, the form in which
thought was expressed was especially
regarded, and English prose was be-
coming clear and simple. 1t was an
age congenial to prose-practical and
common sense appeals were most pop
ular with the reading public; intel
lectual activity was taking new
range-the ''sublimities" Of poetical
sentiments were being succeeded by
historical, didactic, and narrative char
acteristics-and the prevailing fiction
was the distinctions of the romance
and novel p1ose epic of literature.
No poems or histories Of the same
period have delineated the manners
customs, virtues, and vices of the age,
as graphically, or exerted such an in
huence on the people, as the early
English novel
Swift was the great prose satirist Of
this age, but to DeFoe belongs the
distinction of being the founder OF
the modern novel. His prose style
was forcible and powerful m infu-
ence, while the realism of his imagi-
native works was wonderful He had
the cart of forging a story and i'm
posing it on the world for truth" by
minuteness of imagined circum-
stances. The Journal of the Plague
in London was long regarded as a
history of facts, and Robinson Crusoe
as narrative of personal adventure.
But the true idea of the novel, the
development of a story round the
passion of love to tragic or joyous
conclusion, is embodied in the inven-
tion of new species of writing by
Richardson. He ranks first as the
sentimental novelist, in the romance
Of domestic English life and manners,
not Influenced by any foreign prece-
dent or style. In his three novels,
Pamela, Clarissa Harlowe, and Sir
Charles Grandson, he enlisted the
passions on the side of virtue, relig-
ion, and truth, concentrating all the
interest of his story around the hero
or heroine; painting characters of
nature" with rare fidelity and art, in
dependent of external scenes, or tran
sient digressions, or historical descrip-
tons. His sphere of action was cir
cumscribed, but the pathos and ''elab-
crate intensity which penetrated into
the subtle windings of the human
heart made his novels immensely
popular and fascinating at home, and
gave them wide spread reputation
and appreciation abroad.
The great humorists of English lit
erature are Fielding, Smollett, and
Sserne. Fielding, the 'prose Homer
of human nature" made his successful
literary venture by burlesque work,
Joseph Andrew, directed against the
reiterated virtue, morality, and Ffcant",
Gas be regarded it) of the~lw0rSs|o OF
Richardson. >
bigearicature, he found he had
invoked an original genius and style.
He confined himself not so much to
delineation of characters, as to dis
sertations and descriptions OF hu-
mors, places, and society, foreign and
domestic. The style and construction
of his books are artistic, harmonious,
picturesque, and amusing; displaying
a thorough knowledge of his subject,
his descriptions taking wide range
and variety of incidents. While his
books are censured for their coarse
ness, and laxity Of morals and princi-
pies, yet, for the kindly humor, cheer
full satire, and perfect touches of ma
ture, Jonathan Wild and Tom Jones
are regarded as master pieces.
Smollett was versatile in his ge-
MUS and literary flights; as a novelist,
his success began with Roderick Ran
DOM OF Humphrey Cinker, Thack-
cray says: '1t is the most laughable
story that has ever been written since
the goodly art of novel writing be-
gan" The works of Smollett are
more historical and accurate in obser-
vation, dealing with personal adven-
lures and descriptions, but in style
and construction they are inferior to
those of Richardson and Fielding.
"His novels are series of striking,
grotesque, farcical, and occasional pa
thetic scenes, which have little other
bond of union than the fact Of their
being threaded on the life of single
person" They are amusing, partak-
ing Of his irascible and scornful ma
ture; and humorous, from the stand
ard of coarse farce, if possible shade
lower than the subtle comedy Of
Fielding.
Of this trio, Sterne is the man of
sentiment, pre-eminently. He was
unique and eccentric, natural hui
morist, but pathetic and lachrymose
in his writings. There is no contin-
uous chain OF plot to his stories, the
connection is only maintained by the
unity and consistency of his charac-
ters. The wit, and humor, and beau
ties Of fancy, whatever they may be,
&c Tx:s4.a,.. CLnn2,, ona Tho Sonti