There's no strict limit. It's more about the quality of the character development. If you have dozens of characters but they all feel one-dimensional or unnecessary, that's too many. But if each adds depth and moves the story forward, then the number doesn't matter as much.
It really depends. Some novels can handle a large cast of characters if they're well-developed and their arcs are woven together smoothly. But if it gets overwhelming and confusing for the reader, that's probably too many.
It depends on the genre and style of the novel. In some complex fantasy or epic stories, having a large cast of characters can work. But generally, if it gets confusing for readers to keep track, it's too many.
It really depends. Some novels can handle a large cast of characters well, but if it becomes overwhelming and hard for readers to keep track, it's probably too many. Maybe over 20 significant characters could start to be a problem.
It really depends on the complexity and scope of your story. Some novels can handle a large cast if each character is well-developed and contributes meaningfully to the plot. But generally, if it becomes confusing for readers to keep track of or if some characters seem redundant, that might be too many.
No. While some Russian novels are known for their large casts of characters, not all are like this. There are Russian novels with more focused character groups. For example, 'The Master and Margarita' has a core set of very distinct characters, and while there are other minor characters, it doesn't have an overwhelming number.
It varies. In a straightforward romance or mystery novel, having more than a dozen major characters could be excessive. However, in a sprawling historical saga, a larger cast might be acceptable as long as each character has a clear purpose and impact on the story.
It's hard to say. Some novels have fewer characters and are great, while others with more characters work well too. The key is how effectively the author uses those 37 characters to drive the plot and engage the readers.