Epistolary Novel

Style

Epistolary novels are novels written in the form of letters (Latin: epistula, ae = letter). They very much emphasise the subjectivity of the character(s), which means they deal with a lot of sentiments, feelings and emotions – the interiority of the characters. Therefore, the expression of the inner feelings is the main action.
The 'plot' is either structured "through an exchange of letters between multiple characters or through the correspondence of only one character" (Baldick). Special about the epistolary novel is the fact that neither the characters nor the reader know about the outcome of the action. These novels might also include extracts from the characters‘ journals, a preface and epilogue of a pretended editor to arouse the impression of authenticity and reality.

Origin

Epistolary novels derive from many different sources (e.g. love romances) but the main factor for their popularity in the 18th century was the sentimental stream of the Enlightenment and the idea about letters in general. They were not seen as a private affair, as we regard them nowadays but were often read out to the whole family and other friends if they contained a very sentimental and emotional topic which was well expressed. Samuel Johnson, for example, published sample letters (Letter written to and for Particular Friends on Important occasions) to teach the way of how to write a letter properly.

Examples

Very popular English epistolary novels are Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded and Clarissa; or the story of a Young Lady, both written by Samuel Johnson. On the continent, especially in Germany, epistolary novels became very popular after Goethe had written Die Leiden des jungen Werther. They did also focus on the sentiment and the emotional struggles of the individiual in connection with society.

Sources

The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms, ed. by Chris Baldick, Oxford University Press, NY 2001.
The Bredford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, 2nd edition, Ross Murphin and Supryin M. Ray, Boston 2003.
Gero von Wilpert, Sachwörterbuch der Literatur, 8. Auflage, Stuttgart, Kröner 2001.