A Novel Affair

Development of the Epistolary Novel

Blue-grey book laying on a wood table with spine facing out with the name 'Rosenmeyer' in gold, separated by two vertical gold bars, from the words 'Ancient Epistolary Fictions' in gold.
Spine of Ancient Epistolary Fictions by Patricia Rosenmeyer.

In this portion of the research, the publication and opinion of epistolary novels over time come to the forefront. This project compiles a comprehensive list of 138 epistolary works — 130 novels and eight ancient texts. By mapping the concentration of these 138 epistolary works over time, trends can be identified and analyzed to reveal not only the development of public opinion of epistolary fiction but also the developing culture of letter-writing itself.