Well, in 20th century crime fiction, realism was a big thing. Writers were more likely to depict real - life crime situations. For example, the rise of hard - boiled detective stories in the United States showed the gritty reality of crime in urban areas. The use of psychological elements also increased, delving into the motives of the criminals, which made the stories more engaging.
One characteristic is the complex and often morally ambiguous characters. For example, in some works, the detective might have his own vices. Another is the detailed settings, like the fog - filled streets of London in Sherlock Holmes stories, which added to the moody atmosphere. Also, there was a focus on solving puzzles and mysteries through logical deduction, a concept that was quite new at that time.
One characteristic is the complex and often morally ambiguous characters. In 19th - century crime novels, the villains were not always one - dimensional. For example, in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' by Edgar Allan Poe, the mystery was as much about the strange nature of the crime as the characters involved. Another aspect was the use of detailed settings. London's foggy streets in many Victorian crime novels added an atmosphere of mystery and danger. Also, the detective figure started to emerge as a central and intelligent hero, like Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle's works, who used logic and deduction to solve crimes.
One major author was Wilkie Collins. His works, like 'The Moonstone', were quite influential. Another is of course Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock Holmes stories.
It was popular because it offered excitement and mystery. People were intrigued by the suspense and the chance to solve crimes along with the characters.
The 18th - century fiction often had a focus on the society of the time. It frequently explored moral and social issues. For example, in works like 'Gulliver's Travels', Swift satirized various aspects of human nature and society through the extraordinary adventures of Gulliver.
Well, 19th century fiction was known for its detailed descriptions of settings and characters. It often explored themes like morality, love, and the impact of industrialization. Many novels from this period were serialised in magazines before being published as books.
The 19th - century fiction often had complex characters. For example, in Dickens' works, characters like Oliver Twist were multi - faceted. It also focused on social issues such as class struggle. Novels like 'Hard Times' showed the divide between the rich and the poor. Moreover, the plots were usually elaborate, with many sub - plots and twists.
In 17th century fiction, there was a focus on social hierarchies. The way different classes were depicted was significant. The upper classes were often shown with certain privileges and codes of conduct. The writing also showed the influence of the political climate of the time. Writers might subtly comment on the power struggles or the state of the monarchy through their stories. Additionally, there was a sense of exploration of human nature, delving into concepts like love, envy, and ambition.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is also famous. His Sherlock Holmes series is iconic. Holmes' brilliant deductive reasoning became a model for many detective characters in later works.
Dashiell Hammett was a significant author in 20th century crime fiction. His books, for instance, 'The Maltese Falcon', introduced a new style of tough detective. Then there's Dorothy L. Sayers, who created the detective Lord Peter Wimsey. Her works combined mystery with elements of social commentary and often had elaborate plots.