Novels That Shaped Our World

The Novel Soirse

Novels That Shaped Our World marks 300 years since the birth of the English language novel. 

It looks at three crucial themes the English language novel has featured in its three centuries of existence. A WOMAN’S PLACE shows the way that women writers, readers and women’s lives have been central to the novel, right from the start. THE EMPIRE WRITES BACK looks at how the novel has marched in lock step with the rise, decline and fall of the British empire, reporting and questioning its story arc of exploration, colonialism, slavery, independence and immigration. THE CLASS CEILING deals with Class, in all its shapes and sizes, from all sides of the class divide, in the UK, USA and India

BBC Two