Jessica Gössl

It was only then, perhaps, that conditions were right.

The widespread availability of the printing press, improved literacy rates, and a growing interest in this form of storytelling.

Of course, humans have always enjoyed stories, but there's quite a difference between storytelling around a fire and sitting down to read a lengthy book in silence.

Novel reading is now so common that we take it for granted.

But to our distant ancestors, it may have seemed like a peculiar activity, choosing to spend time alone, immersing ourselves in a fictional story for no reason other than pleasure.

While some early novels had a moral message, this wasn't the primary draw for readers.

Indeed, in certain novels, the characters' immoral behavior only added to the appeal.

Readers enjoyed being shocked and scandalized.

Novels allowed people to explore complex moral issues and to look at the darker side of human nature.

Just think of some classic novels from the 19th century, such as Madame Bovary or Wuthering Heights.

They're not just good stories, but also psychological studies exploring characters' inner lives.

The novel, perhaps to a greater degree than other forms of storytelling, invites us to try to understand others.

Modern research suggests that reading fiction can increase people's empathy and improve social cognitive abilities.

And so, when we consider the rise of the novel from the 18th century onwards, it's worth reflecting on just how important this development was.

Books may have changed our brains, shaping the way we see the world.

In the 19th century, books became a big business.

Paper and book bindings were now much cheaper, and technical innovations such as the invention of the steam-powered printing press helped to speed up production.

As books were cheaper to produce, they also became more affordable for readers.

Demand increased as people wanted books for entertainment, self-improvement, and to pass the time on long train journeys.

By looking at the number of new books published each year in Britain, we can get a sense of just how much the industry had expanded.