The Unappreciated Female Writers Who Invented the Novel | It’s Lit

The guy typically credited with inventing what we know as the modern novel was Miguel de Cervantes with his cumbersome 800+ page book, Don Quixote. But what if I told you that the real antecedent for the modern novel was created by… ladies.

Before the rise of what would become the modern novel, there was Amatory fiction. Amatory fiction was a genre of fiction that became popular in Britain in the late 17th century and early 18th century. As its name implies, amatory fiction is preoccupied with sexual love and romance. Most of its works were short stories, it was dominated by women, and women were the ones responsible for sharing and promoting their own work.

Hosted by Lindsay Ellis and Princess Weekes, It’s Lit! is a show about our favorite books, genres, and why we love to read. It’s Lit has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Hosted by: Lindsay Ellis
Written by: Princess Weekes
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Stephanie Noone
Editor: Nicole Kopren
Writing Consultants: Maia Krause, PhD
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Executives in Charge (PBS): Brandon Arolfo, Adam Dylewski

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[sterlingherrera]

I have also seen credit given to Murasaki Shikibu (another woman) with The Tale of Genji, in the 11th century. In terms of genre it’s basically an epic romance, but its narrative structure is a bit odd compared with how we conceptualize novels nowadays. I actually read it back in undergrad, it’s not like any other book I have read. And, like the novels mentioned in the video, it is pretty open in terms of sexuality, in its own way.

It became a foundational work of Japanese literature, studied by Japanese literature scholars since it was first published, basically. It also is important for historians and anthropologists because of how it paints a picture of Japanese court life during the Heian Period.

[hannahchristinah]

Carmen San Diego taught me that 'The Tale of Genji' (also written by a woman, Murasaki Shikibu) was the first novel.

[arghavansa.]

You don't understand how much I need that Meg shirt though.

[shadowscribe]

She's using her book to debase my image! This character is totally me!
So... you're confirming on a public stage this character and her actions is indicative of your conduct?
YE-wait... I retract my complaint.

[Vaati]

Aphra Behn, my gal! The first term paper I wrote for university was about Oroonoko!

[declanrhys]

I always thought murasaki shikibu created the first novel, by modern definitions. It would be so incredible to see her historical distinctions be showcased and praised more.

[mjlamey]

Slightly disappointed we didn't get to hear about Aphra Behn's career in espionage.

[tecpaocelotl]

Don Quixote was the deadpool of his time. Making fun of chivalry books of its time.

[rociomiranda]

Don Quixote is a very wise and funny book, if you read it at the right age. It's a rich painting of 16th century Spain. Glad to have you back, Lindsay.

[elinorcackett]

I studied these women for my undergraduate degree. Pretty fun stuff and very critical of gender roles.

[ArtichokeHunter]

It's interesting, I don't know if it's just that theatre history is taught more inclusively than novels are in places I've studied, but I feel like Aphra Behn is studied a lot as a playwright, just not so much as a novelist. (It seems like she also wrote a lot more plays than novels.)

[violetlight]

I'm kind of upset now that I earned an English degree and am only just now hearing of these authors.

[SoqueFilms]

This is great but I wish you had mentioned that some of their writing went beyond Amatory fiction. Aphra Behn's novel(la) Oroonoko is both one of the first novels and is a slave rebellion narrative more than a love story. It surely is one of the earliest examples of abolitionist fiction to come out of the African/American slave trade. Also, she was a spy which is kind of awesome.

[falgalhutkinsmarzcal]

My problem with Woolf was that she was a condescending classist (referring to Joyce's work as "mongrel" and "underbred".)

[the_epicfangirl]

Lindsey I love you, but when are you and Princess going to tag team a video again? That’s still my favorite video!

[elif]

All this reminds me fanfic from audience to the writers to the dismissals.

[emmacouperus]

Don't forget about non-English women writers from around the same time period, like for instance:
Madame de Lafayette (her novels The Princess of Cleves and The Princesse de Montpensier are available in English translation at Gutenberg)
Mademoiselle de Scudery (wrote one of the longest novels ever written, at 2.1 million words. I think some of her work can be found at the Internet Archive. She's also the main character of an early 19th century detective tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann and a main character in an early 20th century novel by Hope Mirrlees, whose Lud-in-the-Mist is an amazing pre-Tolkien fantasy tale btw)

Please continue with more suggestions if you have some!

[AlmodatherAwad]

Coming from you, Lindsay, the information has a completely different feel in my mind! You're awesome!

[arxxslxxgh]

In my uni we were taught the first novel was the Tale of Gengi.

[TheGigashadow]

The novel is far older than what is presented here. There is for example 'The Tale of Genji' by Murasaki Shikibu written in the 11th century, or the Greek story "Chaereas and Callirhoe" which was written in 123 AD or its Latin contemporary "The Golden Ass" by Apuleius, these are arguably some of the oldest examples!