Chapter II: Preface: vii

PART I

ORIGINS 5
'THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE' 19
CHAUCER AND BOCCACCIO 31
THE ROGUE NOVEL 51
THE ELIZABETHANS 67
THE PASTORAL 81
CERVANTES 93
THE ESSAYISTS' CONTRIBUTION TO STORY-TELLING 107
TRANSITION: BUNYAN AND DEFOE 125
RICHARDSON AND THE FEMININE NOVEL 139
FIELDING, SMOLLETT, AND THE MASCULINE NOVEL 155
A NOTE ON STERNE 169