Generally speaking, I'd say the novel of ideas is in retreat. Try to imagine W.G. Sebald's "The Rings of Saturn" getting published today. Or basically anything

Generally speaking, I'd say the novel of ideas is in retreat. Try to imagine W.G. Sebald's "The Rings of Saturn" getting published today. Or basically anything by Thomas Bernhard, one of the great literary weirdos. I can't quite put my finger on why this is though.