The point is, that the function of the novel seems to be…
“The point is, that the function of the novel seems to be changing; it has become an outpost of journalism; we read novels for information about areas of life we don't know - Nigeria, South Africa, the American army, a coal-mining village, coteries in Chelsea, etc. We read to find out what is going on. One novel in five hundred or a thousand has the quality a novel should have to make it a novel - the quality of philosophy.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Notes shift of novels toward journalistic information, losing philosophical depth.
In simple terms: Novels now inform, not philosophize.
Key Takeaway
Seek depth in reading.
Themes
literature
journalism
philosophy
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- reading habits
- education
- book clubs
Key Concepts
cultural studies
media theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a novel philosophical?
- How to balance info and art?
A Different Perspective
Information overload can dilute art.