The twentieth-century English novel encompasses a vast body of work, and one of the most important and most widely read genres of literature. Balancing close readings of particular novels with a comprehensive survey of the last century of published fiction, this Companion introduces readers to more than a hundred major and minor novelists. It demonstrates continuities in novel-writing that bridge the century's pre- and post-War halves and presents leading critical ideas about English fiction's themes and forms. The essays examine the endurance of modernist style throughout the century, the role of nationality and the contested role of the English language in all its forms, and the relationships between realism and other fictional modes: fantasy, romance, science fiction. Students, scholars and readers will find this Companion an indispensable guide to the history of the English novel.

Chronology; Introduction Robert L. Caserio; 1. The art of English fiction in the twentieth century Dorothy M. Hale; 2. The British Empire and the English modernist novel Jed Esty; 3. Realism and rebellion in Edwardian and Georgian fiction Maria Di Battista; 4. The Great War in English fiction Paul Edwards; 5. Post-War modernism in the 20s and 30s Rod Mengham; 6. Regionalism in English fiction between the Wars Matthew Hart; 7. Ireland and English fiction Anne Fogarty; 8. Feminist fiction Kristin Bluemel; 9. Working-class fiction across the century John Fordham; 10. World War Two, the welfare state, and post-war 'humanism' Marina MacKay; 11. The Windrush generation Timothy Weiss; 12. History in fiction James Acheson and Robert L. Caserio; 13. Postmodernisms of English fiction Andrzej Gasiorek; 14. Detectives and spies Allan Hepburn; 15. The Post-Consensus novel: minority culture, multiculturalism, and transnational comparison Rebecca Walkowitz; 16. An absurd century: varieties of satire Reed Way Dasenbrock; 17. The other side of history: fantasy, romance, horror, and science fiction M. Keith Booker; Guide to further reading; Index.