The American theorists Henry James, Lionel Trilling and Wayne C. Booth have revolutionized our understanding of narrative or story-telling, and have each championed the novel as an art form. Concepts from their work have become part of the fabric of novel criticism today, influencing theorists, authors and readers alike.Emphasizing the crucial relationship between the work of these three critics, Peter Rawlings explores their understanding of the novel form, and investigates their ideas on:· realism and representation· authors and narration· point of view and centers of consciousness· readers, reading and interpretation· moral intelligenceRawlings demonstrates the importance of James, Trilling and Booth for contemporary literary theory and clearly introduces critical concepts that underlie any study of narrative. This book is invaluable reading for anyone with an interest in American critical theory, or the genre of the novel.

Why James, Trilling, and Booth?Key Ideas 1. Three Perspectives on the Novel 2. Realism and Representation 3. Authors, Narrators, and Narration 4. Points of View and Centres of Consciousness 5. Readers, Reading, and Interpretation 6. Moral Intelligence After James, Trilling, and Booth Further Reading