Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A British novel refers to any fictional prose narrative written by an author from Great Britain. These novels often reflect aspects of British culture, history, society, and explore various themes relevant to British life.
Related terms
Victorian Literature: Victorian literature refers specifically to works written during Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901) in Britain. It encompasses various genres such as novels, poetry, and plays.
Social Realism: Social realism is a literary movement that emerged in 19th-century Britain which aimed at depicting social issues and realities faced by ordinary people.
Satire: Satire is a genre of literature that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize or mock societal flaws or vices. Many British novels employ satire to comment on social and political issues.