Four Wheels of English Novel

 

The Four Wheels of the English Novel

 In the 18th century, the English novel took its true shape. Literary critics often call these four writers the “Four Wheels of the English Novel” because each one introduced a new direction, just like four wheels move a vehicle forward.

 1. Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)

Father of the Epistolary and Psychological Novel

Why is he important?

• Richardson was the first novelist to explore the inner mind of characters.
• He wrote novels in the form of letters. This is called an epistolary novel.
• Through letters, he showed characters’ personal feelings, emotions, and struggles.

His Style

• Emotional
• Moral and instructive
• Focused on female characters and their virtue
• Slow, detailed, and sensitive writing

Major Works

• Pamela (1740) – A story of a young maid who resists her master’s advances and is rewarded for her virtue.
• Clarissa (1748) – A long, tragic novel about a woman's fight for dignity.

His Contribution

• He developed the sentimental novel, focusing on emotions and psychology.
• He made readers feel sympathy for the characters.

Simple Remembering Line:

Richardson = Emotions + Letters + Inner Mind

 

2. Henry Fielding (1707–1754)

Father of the Modern Realistic Novel

Why is he important?

• Fielding created the modern novel structure—having a strong plot, narrator, characters, and moral vision.
• He introduced the comic epic in prose.

His Style

• Humorous and lively
• Realistic descriptions of society
• Clear narrative voice (author speaks directly to the reader)
• Well-planned stories

Major Works

• Joseph Andrews (1742) – A comic and moral novel; a reply to Richardson.
• Tom Jones (1749) – His masterpiece; a realistic story of growing up, love, mistakes, and learning.

His Contribution

• He shaped the novel into a well-designed story with:
• plot
• characters
• narrator
• social background
• He made novels entertaining but also thoughtful.

Simple Remembering Line:

Fielding = Realism + Humor + Strong Plot

 

3. Tobias Smollett (1721–1771)

Master of the Picaresque and Adventure Novel

Why is he important?

• His novels are full of action, travel, adventures, and unusual characters.
• His heroes are often rogues or wanderers who learn from life.

His Style

• Energetic, fast-paced
• Rough humor
• More events, less psychology
• Inspired by his experience as a sailor and doctor

Major Works

• Roderick Random (1748) – A young man’s adventurous journey through the world.
• Peregrine Pickle (1751) – A satire full of travel and drama.

His Contribution

• He developed the picaresque tradition in English—the novel of journeys, ups and downs, and survival.
• He gave English fiction speed, movement, and excitement.

Simple Remembering Line:

Smollett = Adventure + Travel + Picaresque

 

4. Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)

Creator of the Experimental and Sentimental Novel

Why is he important?

• Sterne broke all traditional rules of storytelling.
• He used digressions, flashbacks, interruptions, and playful narration.
• He is also seen as an early influence on stream-of-consciousness fiction.

His Style

• Highly humorous
• Emotional and sentimental
• Non-linear storytelling
• Directly talks to the reader
• Creative use of punctuation, blank pages, and visual tricks

Major Works

• Tristram Shandy (1759–67) – A novel that starts before the hero’s birth; full of digressions and fun.
• A Sentimental Journey (1768) – A mix of travel writing and emotional reflection.

His Contribution

• He introduced the idea that a novel can be creative, flexible, and unconventional.
• He made the novel more artistic and experimental.

Simple Remembering Line:

Sterne = Experiment + Humor + Sentiment

  

Quick Comparison Table

 

Novelist	Type of Novel	Key Features	Famous Work
Richardson	Psychological, Epistolary	Emotions, moral lessons, letters	Pamela
Fielding	Realistic, Comic Epic	Humor, strong plot, realism	Tom Jones
Smollett	Picaresque, Adventure	Fast-paced, travel, action	Roderick Random
Sterne	Experimental, Sentimental	Digressions, playful style	Tristram Shandy