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Who wrote the first novel?

Of course, Russians are not the only ones who wrote novels. But I mean, when we go deeper into history, we come across epics, legends, maybe stories, tales, even fairy tales. We should not forget poetry, but I think the novel is a branch of literature that we humans came to think of later.

When I think of novels, for some reason I think of Russian classics. 

Of course, Russians are not the only ones who wrote novels. But I mean, when we go deeper into history, we come across epics, legends, maybe stories, tales, even fairy tales. We should not forget poetry, but I think the novel is a branch of literature that we humans came to think of later.

Does anyone know who wrote the first novel in history?

The first novel in world literature was a book called "The Tale of Genji".

The author of this novel, written in Japan more than a thousand years ago, was a lady named Murasaki Shikibu.

There is not much information about the author. It is thought that Murasaki Shikibu was a noblewoman working in the palace and started writing Genji Monogatari in 1001 and completed the first novel of this history in 1010. 

It is estimated that Murasaki Shikibu was born in Kyoto, Japan in 978 and died there in 1014. 

In fact, Murasaki Shikibu was not the real name of the author. The name Murasaki came from the nickname of the hero of the novel. Shikibu, on the other hand, was a reflection of the title of the author's father's office. The author was originally from the Fujiwara family, one of the most noble families of Japan.

One day I must find and read this work.

***

The second known work in history, in fact the first novel in Europe, was the Dekameron written by Giovanni Boccaccio after the Renaissance in the 16th century. Still, this work is referred to as a novel-like work.

The first successful novel was Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote, written in the late 16th century. 

Don Quixote and his battles against the windmills he sees as giants.

Afterwards, many writers wrote novels and there have been many works that have been included in world literature as novels.

Even in our country, during the Tanzimat Period, Namik Kemal tried to write a novel for the first time and wrote the novel "Intibah" in which he dealt intensely with themes such as regret, love, jealousy and separation. 

Although this novel contained some technical mistakes, Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil's "Aşk-ı memnu" was accepted as the first novel in accordance with the western technique.

***

So what are these so-called western techniques that distinguish a novel from other works of literature?

The most important feature is that the language of the novel is primarily in accordance with the prose technique, the story is told in long, detailed narratives, and most importantly, it is based on a fictional story.

Novelists naturally create narratives in accordance with the conditions of the day, and the plot of the novel does not contain anything unrealistic or fantastic. However, it is still fiction! 

The protagonists of the novel are not real people either. Maybe some character traits of different personalities that the author of the novel encountered in his life are adapted to these virtual heroes, but we cannot claim that these people lived in real life.

In fact, we can say that the novel is a reflection of the fictional world in which the author lives. While reflecting this inner world, the author uses a simple language and narrative technique.

Therefore, when we read a good and gripping novel, we feel that we are a part of that world and we read the novel by living it.

***

Novels are indispensable in the world of literature today.

I don't know about you, but when I get involved in a novel, I mean when I read a novel, I feel that I am a completely different person. 

I cannot get rid of the effect of some novels for a long time.

***

While I was counting the works of literature above, I forgot the jokes. I guess jokes are one of the joys of our lives.

I am laughing a lot at one of the engineer jokes these days.

You probably know it, but let me tell it anyway.

One of the three engineer friends in the car that broke down on the road, the mechanical engineer opens the bonnet to check the engine, and when he looks here and there and finds nothing, the electrical engineer checks all the cables, saying that I will do it now. However, when he does not find anything either, both of them look at their third engineer friend in the car with curious eyes.

The computer engineer asks his friend if it would be useful to get out and ride one more time.

You still read novels whenever you have the opportunity.

I wish you all a good Sunday.

With love and respect from Moscow.

Araştırmacı Yazar Deniz BURSALIOĞLU
Author Deniz BURSALIOĞLU
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  • 03.09.2023
  • Time : 3 min
  • 2672 Read

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