Aspects of the Novel Chapter II - The Story

In which the nature of the story as the fundamental, time-bound backbone of the novel is explored with affectionate candour, illustrating its ancient roots, its reliance on suspense, and its role as the teller’s voice that speaks aloud through time’s orderly progression. We meet Sir Walter Scott as a prime exemplar of the storyteller’s art, whose vivid yet unvarnished narrative unfolds amidst the relentless march of time and place, underscoring the indispensable yet humble purpose of the story in literature.