First published 1968
Jonathan Raban dissects the methods contemporary novelists use to construct their fiction. He examines how writers shape narrative structure, develop characters, and employ point of view to create meaning. Raban analyzes the technical choices authors make when they build scenes, control pacing, and manage the flow of information to readers. He explores how modern fiction writers handle dialogue, description, and the balance between showing and telling. The book demonstrates how successful novelists manipulate time, space, and consciousness within their work. Raban provides writers and readers with practical insights into the mechanical aspects of storytelling that operate beneath the surface of published novels.
Genres: 20th-century, non-fiction, criticism, academic
Vibes: academic, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: educational, informative
Period: 20th-Century
203 pages · Hardcover · Edward Arnold