The Nineteenth Century Novel: A Critical Reader provides a fascinating selection of ninteenth century essays and reviews on twelve important novels of the period. They are placed alongside modern critical essays specially chosen for their diverse readings of particular novels. By bringing together a range of critical material written across two centuries, the volume offers: * an insight into the changing reception of realist fiction * the problematic nature of realism * discussion of how debates about the meaning and funuction of realism shaped the kind of fiction that was written in the nineteenth century Useful headnotes and and introduction are included explaining the issues and ideas which preoccupied nineteenth century authors as they sought to develop and refine 'the art of fiction'.