Hi
Anyone know the answer to this one?
If Joe Bloggs was born in 1747 and wrote novels in both the 1700 hundreds and 1800 hundred, before his death in 1840, does that make him an 18th century novelist or a 19th century novelist?
Mary

Could he be a 'turn of the Century' novelist?
Or, in full, "A novelist who spanned the late 18th - early 19th Centuries"

Hi Mary

I think that depends on when he started writing and when he stopped.

If he wrote his first book when he was 20 - and it's unlikely he'd start any earlier - and continued writing until he was 65 (when he was issued with his free cart pass and decided he's said all he had to say) he would cover 33 years in the 18th century and 32 years in the 19th century. Aaargh, I've made this difficult - even stevens so far.

However, he may not have been at the height of his writing powers until he was 40. But his writing style may have become entrenched in the 17th century.

Of course he may not have started writing until he was 45 and carried on until he died.

Short answer is: I don't know. Or 'he's both'. Neither very helpful.

If you're talking about a real writer, go by accepted wisdom, I guess.

If you've made him up, it's up to you.

Ha Ha I like the last posting because you were circling the same roundabout as me?!!!

Ha Ha I like the last posting because you were circling the same roundabout as me?!!!

Tricky, isn't it. I'd agree with Naomi's versions, though I guess it would depend on the sentence exactly how you phrased it.

Whole academic careers have been founded on whether Jane Austen is an 'eighteenth' or 'nineteenth' century novelist. I guess it would depend on when he flourished, and on the detail of his writing, which labels sticks more naturally. Don't forget that in historian's terms the Long Eighteenth Century goes up to 1815, too, just to confuse things. It all just shows what a slippery thing periodisation is, and sometimes how absurd.

Emma

I guess it would depend on when he flourished

Yup, I would agree. If his seminal work(s) was written in either the 1700's or 1800's then that would fix his century.

I guess it would depend on when he flourished

which is pretty much what I said

<Added>

When I said 17th century I meant 18th century, of course :)

Hey
Thanks Emma I didn't know about the long 18th century thing! Very useful. I suppose it is also good to know that none of you can actuually say: "It is this, of course." Makes me feel a whole lot beter anyway! I will follow 'prolific' theme as it makes sense.
Mary