Characteristics of the early spy novels like 'The Riddle of the Sands' included a sense of adventure and danger. The protagonists were usually ordinary people thrust into extraordinary situations of international espionage. There was also a strong element of political intrigue as they tried to uncover plots that could affect their countries. Moreover, the settings were often real - world locations, adding to the authenticity of the spying scenarios.
In the case of 'Le Dossier No. 113', one characteristic was the use of mystery to drive the plot. The reader was constantly trying to figure out the contents of the dossier along with the characters. There was also a complex web of relationships among the characters, some of whom were spies, some informants, and others innocent bystanders caught up in the espionage activities. This added to the overall sense of intrigue typical of early spy novels.
The first spy novels often had a focus on secrecy and subterfuge. For example, in 'The Spy' by James Fenimore Cooper, the main character had to hide his true identity and motives while gathering information.
It might have had a lot of secrecy and mystery. There could be a protagonist who was good at disguises and sneaking around.
In the first Sherlock novel 'A Study in Scarlet', it has a complex mystery. There are two intertwined plotlines.
One characteristic could be its length. Since it was the first of its kind, it likely had a certain amount of length to fully develop its story. Also, it probably had some form of character development, even if it was rudimentary compared to modern novels. For example, if we consider 'The Tale of Genji', the main character Genji has a long journey through life, and we see his growth and changes.
Typically, the first noir novels had complex and morally ambiguous characters. They weren't simply good or bad. For example, in 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', the characters' actions are driven by lust and greed, blurring the lines between right and wrong.
If we consider 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' as a candidate for the first gay novel, one characteristic is the subtlety in portraying homoerotic relationships. It wasn't overt, as the society of Wilde's time didn't allow for blatant homosexuality in literature. So, it was more about the undercurrents of attraction between characters like Dorian and Lord Henry.
If we consider 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' as the first. It has strong emotional content, mainly focusing on the hero's love and melancholy.
If we consider 'The Book of the City of Ladies' as one of the first feminist novels, one characteristic is its use of positive female role models. It features women from history and mythology who are strong, intelligent, and virtuous, countering the negative stereotypes of women at the time.
If we consider 'The Romance of the Rose', one characteristic is its length. It's a long, detailed work. It also uses a lot of allegory, with characters representing abstract concepts like Love or Reason.
One characteristic might be its use of the Spanish language in a more developed and narrative - driven way compared to previous forms of Spanish writing. It may also have incorporated elements of Spanish folklore or local traditions.
Sure. Mysterious characters are a big part of it. They have pasts full of secrets. Also, a lot of spy novels have a race - against - time element. The spies need to achieve their goals quickly. And the use of codenames and aliases is common.