The novella is a rather unloved literary form in the UK, even though British writers have crafted some fine examples of the art. It seems to be the length at which I am most comfortable writing, though not one that publishers like. I have listed below, in no particular order, twenty-one of my favourite novellas.
- The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
- Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
- The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
- The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Ape and Essence by Aldous Huxley
- Sculptor’s Daughter by Tove Jansson
- Malone Dies by Samuel Beckett
- The Bomb Party by Graham Greene
- The Railway Accident by Edward Upward
- Why Was I Killed? by Rex Warner
- Things: A Story of the Sixties/A Man Asleep by Georges Perec
- Zazie in the Metro by Raymond Queneau
- Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
- The Cloven Count/Baron in the Trees/The Non-Existent Knight by Italo Calvino
- A Month in the Country by J L Carr
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
- The Abbess of Crewe by Muriel Spark
- The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark
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A fine example of the craft?
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I was interested to read the other day, an article in The Independent in praise of the novella, inspired by Ian McEwan’s recent comments about the virtues of the form. McEwan is lucky, of course. He has received praise himself for his alleged bravery in writing novellas. As my writing friend, Huw has pointed out, there’s not actually anything brave about this since, unlike a writer without a deal, McEwan’s publishers will put out what ever he happens to write. Ho hum…
I’d probably include The Death of Ivan Ilych by Tolstoy, and Anthem by Ayn Rand is compelling. Good list!
Hi Maddy, and thanks for your comments. I haven’t read either of those. I must go and seek them out!
I agree it is unloved. We recently posted something saying the same in fact. I’ll be sure to keep this list bookmarked as I to need to read more novellas.
Pleased to be of service. Happy reading!
A good list! I’d add Gustaf Sobin’s The Fly-Truffler and Maeve Brennan’s The Visitor. Why isn’t this form more popular, though? Readers always say they love to read novellas yet publishers are so wary of them — unless one is Ian McEwan of course. (I’ve written three, published one…)
tk
Well, indeed, Theresa – if you’re already ‘successful’ like McEwan, there’s no barrier to publishing novellas in the UK. Otherwise, no chance… Other countries are more unenlightened. I don’t know either of those titles – I shall investigate. Neither of my novellas has been published!