The Greeks themselves had no word for their last and most lasting literary invention. 'Extended prose fiction' would describe it; 'novel' or 'romance' would characterise it. Modern critics used to opt for 'romance', with its implication of purple sentiment out in the Mills-and-Boondocks of literature. Nowadays, we hear more about the Greek Novel, with all that implies for a place in the Great Tradition.

LRB 18 April 1996 | PDF Download