Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The Three-Volume Novel

Have you ever read or watched "The Importance of Being Earnest"?

You can read it here, and the 2002 movie version with Colin Firth is worth watching.

In one scene, the nursemaid who was caring for baby Jack admits to writing a three-volume novel. Lady Bracknell disparages it as a "three-volume novel of more than usually revolting sentimentality."

That line brought to mind the ubiquitous trilogy. It seems like almost every author (young adult in particular) out there is planning and writing trilogies. When I read a debut novel and it's touted as the first in the "blah blah trilogy", I can't help but think of three-volume novels. And then I wonder if this particular trilogy is of more than usually revolting sentimentality.

Anyone else see the parallel between three-volume novels and trilogies?

No comments:

Post a Comment