What are the major milestones in the history of the English novel?

The history of the English novel has many important milestones. For instance, the Restoration period saw the development of the novel as a form. Aphra Behn was one of the early female novelists during this time. In the 18th century, the growth of the novel as a popular form was remarkable. Novels started to deal with different classes of society more. Later, the Gothic novel emerged, which added a new dimension to the English novel with its elements of mystery and horror. The works of the Brontë sisters in the 19th century also were a milestone, as they brought a new kind of female perspective and passion to the English novel.

Some major milestones include the works of Daniel Defoe like 'Robinson Crusoe'. It was one of the early novels that had a strong influence on the development of the English novel. Another milestone was Jane Austen's novels, which presented a detailed and nuanced view of the society of her time. Also, the works of Charles Dickens with their vivid characters and social commentary were important in the history of the English novel.

Well, in the early days, the English novel started to take shape with things like romances. But a real milestone was the emergence of the picaresque novel. 'The Canterbury Tales' by Chaucer also had an impact as it was a collection of stories that pre - empted some of the elements of the novel. Then, in the 18th century, the rise of the epistolary novel was significant. Writers like Samuel Richardson with 'Pamela' contributed to this. And of course, the 19th - century Victorian novels with their complex plots and social exploration are huge milestones in the history of the English novel.