52-527: The Saint Goes West is a collection of three mystery novellas by Leslie Charteris , first published in the United States in 1942 by The Crime Club , and in the United Kingdom the same year by Hodder and Stoughton . This book continues the adventures of Charteris' creation, Simon Templar , alias The Saint, and is the first of several volumes of Saint stories that would follow the theme of
104-429: A short story and a novel ". There is disagreement regarding the number of pages or words necessary for a story to be considered a novella, a short story or a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association defines a novella's word count to be between 17,500 and 40,000 words; at 250 words per page, this equates to 70 to 160 pages. See below for definitions used by other organisations. The novella as
156-410: A 1982 collection of four novellas, notes the difficulties of selling a novella in the commercial publishing world, since it does not fit the typical length requirements of either magazine or book publishers. Despite these problems, however, the novella's length provides unique advantages; in the introduction to a novella anthology titled Sailing to Byzantium , Robert Silverberg writes: [The novella]
208-543: A Charteris story has been used as source material by two different productions. "Arizona" and "Hollywood" were both adapted as episodes of the 1962-1969 television series. "Hollywood" was adapted as "Starring the Saint" which aired on September 26, 1963, in the second season. "Arizona" formed the basis of the episode "The Sign of the Claw" which was shown as part of the third season on February 4, 1965. Novella A novella
260-728: A chair at the university in Florence. Although unsuccessful, the discussions between the two were instrumental in Boccaccio writing the Genealogia deorum gentilium ; the first edition was completed in 1360 and this remained one of the key reference works on classical mythology for over 400 years. It served as an extended defence for the studies of ancient literature and thought. Despite the Pagan beliefs at its core, Boccaccio believed that much could be learned from antiquity. Thus, he challenged
312-504: A conversion of Boccaccio by Petrarch from the open humanist of the Decameron to a more ascetic style, closer to the dominant fourteenth-century ethos. For example, he followed Petrarch (and Dante) in the unsuccessful championing of an archaic and deeply allusive form of Latin poetry. In 1359, following a meeting with Pope Innocent VI and further meetings with Petrarch, it is probable that Boccaccio took some kind of religious mantle. There
364-992: A counselor to Queen Joanna I of Naples and, eventually, her Grand Seneschal . It seems that Boccaccio enjoyed law no more than banking, but his studies allowed him the opportunity to study widely and make good contacts with fellow scholars. His early influences included Paolo da Perugia (a curator and author of a collection of myths called the Collectiones ), humanists Barbato da Sulmona and Giovanni Barrili, and theologian Dionigi di Borgo San Sepolcro . In Naples, Boccaccio began what he considered his true vocation of poetry. Works produced in this period include Il Filostrato and Teseida (the sources for Chaucer 's Troilus and Criseyde and The Knight's Tale , respectively), The Filocolo (a prose version of an existing French romance), and La caccia di Diana (a poem in terza rima listing Neapolitan women). The period featured considerable formal innovation, including possibly
416-584: A literary genre began developing in the Italian literature of the early Renaissance , principally by Giovanni Boccaccio , author of The Decameron (1353). The Decameron featured 100 tales (named novellas) told by ten people (seven women and three men) fleeing the Black Death , by escaping from Florence to the Fiesole hills in 1348. This structure was then imitated by subsequent authors, notably
468-542: A literary genre structured by precepts and rules, generally in a realistic mode . At that time, the Germans were the most active writers of the novelle (German: "Novelle"; plural: "Novellen"). For the German writer, a novella is a fictional narrative of indeterminate length—a few pages to hundreds—restricted to a single, suspenseful event, situation, or conflict leading to an unexpected turning point ( Wendepunkt ), provoking
520-403: A logical but surprising end. Novellen tend to contain a concrete symbol, which is the narrative's focal point. The novella influenced the development of the short story and the novel throughout Europe. In the late 19th century Henry James was one of the first English language critics to use the term novella for a story that was longer and more complex than a short story, but shorter than
572-425: A mix of prose and poems, completing the fifty- canto allegorical poem Amorosa visione in 1342, and Fiammetta in 1343. The pastoral piece "Ninfale fiesolano" probably dates from this time, also. In 1343, Boccaccio's father remarried Bice del Bostichi. The other children by his first marriage had all died, but he had another son named Iacopo in 1344. In Florence, the overthrow of Walter of Brienne brought about
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#1732787609199624-403: A novel. Dictionaries define novelette similarly to novella , sometimes identically, sometimes with a disparaging sense of being trivial or sentimental. Some literary awards have a longer "novella" and a shorter "novelette" category, with a distinction based on word count . Among awards, a range between 17,500 and 40,000 words is commonly used for the novella category, whereas 7,500–17,500
676-482: A novel. In English speaking countries the modern novella is rarely defined as a distinct literary genre, but is often used as a term for a short novel. A novella generally features fewer conflicts than a novel , yet more complicated ones than a short story . The conflicts also have more time to develop than in short stories. Novellas may or may not be divided into chapters (good examples of those with chapters are Animal Farm by George Orwell and The War of
728-547: A novella, but the panel for the Man Booker Prize in 2007 qualified the book as a "short novel". Thus, this "novella" was shortlisted for an award for best original novel. A similar case is found with a much older work of fiction: The Call of the Wild (1903) by Jack London . This book, by modern standards, is short enough and straightforward enough to qualify as a novella. However, historically, it has been regarded as
780-461: A separate "best novelette" award, separately from "best short story" or "best novel". The distinction between these categories may be entirely by word count . Giovanni Boccaccio Giovanni Boccaccio ( UK : / b ə ˈ k æ tʃ i oʊ / bə- KATCH -ee-oh , US : / b oʊ ˈ k ɑː tʃ ( i ) oʊ , b ə ˈ -/ boh- KAH -ch(ee)oh, bə- ; Italian: [dʒoˈvanni bokˈkattʃo] ; 16 June 1313 – 21 December 1375)
832-415: A versatile writer who amalgamated different literary trends and genres, making them converge in original works, thanks to a creative activity exercised under the banner of experimentalism. His most notable works are The Decameron , a collection of short stories, and On Famous Women . The Decameron became a determining element for the Italian literary tradition, especially after Pietro Bembo elevated
884-521: Is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels , but longer than most novelettes and short stories . The English word novella derives from the Italian novella meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) facts. The Italian term is a feminine of novello , which means new , similarly to the English word news . Merriam-Webster defines a novella as "a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between
936-448: Is a persistent (but unsupported) tale that he repudiated his earlier works as profane in 1362, including The Decameron . In 1360, Boccaccio began work on De mulieribus claris ("On famous women") , a book offering biographies of 106 famous women, that he completed in 1374. A number of Boccaccio's close friends and other acquaintances were executed or exiled in the purge following the failed coup of 1361; although not directly linked to
988-585: Is an example of a title naming its genre. This might be suggestive of the genre's historicization. Commonly, longer novellas are referred to as novels; Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) and Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (1899) are sometimes called novels, as are many science fiction works such as H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (1897) and Philip Francis Nowlan's Armageddon 2419 A.D. (1928). Less often, longer works are referred to as novellas. The subjectivity of
1040-512: Is based upon a story treatment Charteris wrote for RKO Pictures . The resulting film, The Saint in Palm Springs , was released in 1941 and starred George Sanders in his final appearance as Simon Templar. The script used in the film was substantially different from the original storyline. Charteris later novelized his original story for The Saint Goes West , making this, in essence, the first Saint novelization (more would follow based upon
1092-413: Is commonly used for novelettes. According to The Writer , a novelette is approximately between 7,000 and 20,000 words in length, anything shorter being considered a short story. This list contains those novellas that are widely considered to be the best examples of the genre, through their appearance on multiple best-of lists. Some literary awards include a "best novella" award and sometimes
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#17327876091991144-407: Is not certain whether he was present in plague-ravaged Florence. His stepmother died during the epidemic and his father was closely associated with the government efforts as minister of supply in the city. His father died in 1349 and Boccaccio was forced into a more active role as head of the family. Boccaccio began work on The Decameron around 1349. It is probable that the structures of many of
1196-422: Is one of the richest and most rewarding of literary forms...it allows for more extended development of theme and character than does the short story, without making the elaborate structural demands of the full-length book. Thus it provides an intense, detailed exploration of its subject, providing to some degree both the concentrated focus of the short story and the broad scope of the novel. In his essay, "Briefly,
1248-753: The Studium (the present-day University of Naples ), where he studied canon law for the next six years. He also pursued his interest in scientific and literary studies. His father introduced him to the Neapolitan nobility and the French-influenced court of Robert the Wise (the king of Naples) in the 1330s. Boccaccio became a friend of fellow Florentine Niccolò Acciaioli , and benefited from Acciaioli's influence with Catherine of Valois-Courtenay , widow of Philip I of Taranto . Acciaioli later became
1300-499: The Compagnia dei Bardi and, in the 1320s, married Margherita dei Mardoli, who was of a well-to-do family. Boccaccio may have been tutored by Giovanni Mazzuoli and received from him an early introduction to the works of Dante . In 1326, his father was appointed head of a bank and moved with his family to Naples . Boccaccio was an apprentice at the bank but disliked the banking profession. He persuaded his father to let him study law at
1352-453: The television series ). The film's plotline involves a collection of rare stamps and incorporates the character of Inspector Fernack, who does not appear in the novella. In 1960, "Palm Springs" was adapted very loosely for the French film Le Saint Mene la danse which was produced by Films Du Cyclope and Lux Films and starred Felix Marten as Templar. This marks, to date, the only time
1404-564: The Boccaccian style to a model of Italian prose in the sixteenth century . Bocaccio wrote his imaginative literature mostly in Tuscan vernacular , as well as other works in Latin, and is particularly noted for his realistic dialogue which differed from that of his contemporaries, medieval writers who usually followed formulaic models for character and plot. The influence of Boccaccio's works
1456-574: The French queen Marguerite de Navarre , whose Heptaméron (1559) included 72 original French tales and was modeled after the structure of The Decameron . The Italian genre novella grew out of a rich tradition of medieval short narrative forms. It took its first major form in the anonymous late 13th century Libro di novelle et di bel parlar gentile , known as Il Novellino , and reached its culmination with The Decameron . Followers of Boccaccio such as Giovanni Fiorentino , Franco Sacchetti , Giovanni Sercambi and Simone de' Prodenzani continued
1508-487: The Italian novella , originally meant "any of a number of tales or stories making up a larger work; a short narrative of this type, a fable", and was then many times used in the plural, reflecting the usage as in The Decameron and its followers. Usage of the more italianate novella in English seems to be a bit younger. The differentiation of the two terms seems to have occurred only in the 19th century, following
1560-519: The Saint travelling around the world, although in this case all the stories take place in the United States (and can be said to follow on from the previous book, The Saint in Miami ). All three stories centre on Templar visiting the southwestern US, with the first story being a World War II -related espionage story, continuing the wartime theme established in The Saint in Miami which would continue in
1612-412: The Worlds by H. G. Wells ), and white space is often used to divide the sections, something less common in short stories. Novellas may be intended to be read at a single sitting, like short stories, and thus produce a unitary effect on the reader. According to Warren Cariou , "The novella is generally not as formally experimental as the long story and the novel can be, and it usually lacks the subplots,
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1664-460: The arguments of clerical intellectuals who wanted to limit access to classical sources to prevent any moral harm to Christian readers. The revival of classical antiquity became a foundation of the Renaissance, and his defence of the importance of ancient literature was an essential requirement for its development. The discussions also formalized Boccaccio's poetic ideas. Certain sources also see
1716-419: The case for the novella", Canadian author George Fetherling (who wrote the novella Tales of Two Cities ) said that to reduce the novella to nothing more than a short novel is like "insisting that a pony is a baby horse". The sometimes blurry definition between a novel and a novella can create controversy, as was the case with British writer Ian McEwan 's On Chesil Beach (2007). The author described it as
1768-610: The conspiracy, in that year Boccaccio left Florence to reside in Certaldo , where he became less involved in government affairs. He did not undertake further missions for Florence until 1365, and travelled to Naples and then on to Padua and Venice , where he met up with Petrarch in grand style at Palazzo Molina , Petrarch's residence as well as the location of Petrarch's library . Boccaccio later returned to Certaldo; he met Petrarch only one more time, in 1368, again in Padua. Upon hearing of
1820-517: The days of Boccaccio." In 1902, William Dean Howells wrote: "Few modern fictions of the novel's dimensions…have the beauty of form many a novella embodies." Sometimes, as with other genres, the genre name is mentioned in the title of a single work (compare the Divine Comedy or Goethe 's Das Märchen ). Austrian writer Stefan Zweig 's Die Schachnovelle (1942) (literally, "The Chess Novella", but translated in 1944 as The Royal Game )
1872-537: The death of Petrarch (19 July 1374), he wrote a commemorative poem, including it in his collection of lyric poems, the Rime . He returned to work for the Florentine government in 1365, undertaking a mission to Pope Urban V . The papacy returned to Rome from Avignon in 1367, and Boccaccio was again sent to Urban, offering congratulations. He also undertook diplomatic missions to Venice and Naples. Of his later works,
1924-517: The detailed Esposizioni sopra la Commedia di Dante . Boccaccio and Petrarch were also two of the most educated people in early Renaissance in the field of archaeology . Petrarch even offered to purchase Boccaccio's library, so that it would become part of Petrarch's library . However, upon Boccaccio's death, his entire collection was given to the monastery of Santo Spirito, in Florence , where it still resides. Bocaccio's final years were troubled by illnesses, some relating to obesity and what often
1976-501: The government of popolo minuto ("small people", workers). It diminished the influence of the nobility and the wealthier merchant classes and contributed to the relative decline of Florence. The city was hurt further in 1348 by the Black Death , later represented in the Decameron , which killed some three-quarters of the city's population. From 1347, Boccaccio spent much time in Ravenna, seeking new patronage and, despite his claims, it
2028-683: The introduction of the Sicilian octave , where it influenced Petrarch . Boccaccio returned to Florence in early 1341, avoiding the plague of 1340 in that city, but also missing the visit of Petrarch to Naples in 1341. He had left Naples due to tensions between the Angevin king and Florence. His father had returned to Florence in 1338, where he had gone bankrupt. His mother possibly died shortly afterwards. Boccaccio continued to work, although dissatisfied with his return to Florence, producing Comedia delle ninfe fiorentine in 1341 (also known as Ameto ),
2080-518: The moralistic biographies gathered as De casibus virorum illustrium (1355–74) and De mulieribus claris (1361–1375) were the most significant. Other works include a dictionary of geographical allusions in classical literature, De montibus, silvis, fontibus, lacubus, fluminibus, stagnis seu paludibus, et de nominibus maris liber . He gave a series of lectures on Dante at the Santo Stefano church in 1373 and these resulted in his final major work,
2132-430: The multiple points of view, and the generic adaptability that are common in the novel. It is most often concerned with personal and emotional development rather than with the larger social sphere. The novella generally retains something of the unity of impression that is a hallmark of the short story, but it also contains more highly developed characterization and more luxuriant description. The term novel , borrowed from
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2184-400: The new fashion of the novella in German literature. In 1834, John Lothrop Motley could still speak of "Tieck's novels (which last are a set of exquisite little tales, novels in the original meaning of the word)". But when the term novella was used it was already clear that a rather short and witty form was intended: "The brief Novella has ever been a prodigious favorite with the nation…since
2236-599: The next book, The Saint Steps In . Charteris would continue this " travelogue -mystery" theme a decade later with The Saint in Europe and successive volumes. The book consisted of the following stories, which are standalone adventures although the third story makes reference to the first two: Some editions, such as the 1948 printing by Avon Books , omit the World War II -era story "Arizona", although references to it remain in "Hollywood". The story "Palm Springs"
2288-456: The parameters of the novella genre is indicative of its shifting and diverse nature as an art form. In her 2010 Open Letters Monthly series, "A Year With Short Novels", Ingrid Norton criticizes the tendency to make clear demarcations based purely on a book's length, saying that "any distinctions that begin with an objective and external quality like size are bound to be misleading." Stephen King , in his introduction to Different Seasons ,
2340-495: The precursors of humanism , of which he helped lay the foundations in the city of Florence , in conjunction with the activity of his friend and teacher Petrarch. He was the one who initiated Dante's criticism and philology: Boccaccio devoted himself to copying codices of the Divine Comedy and was a promoter of Dante's work and figure. In the twentieth century, Boccaccio was the subject of critical-philological studies by Vittore Branca and Giuseppe Billanovich, and his Decameron
2392-537: The present day. From 1350, Boccaccio became closely involved with Italian humanism (although less of a scholar) and also with the Florentine government. His first official mission was to Romagna in late 1350. He revisited that city-state twice and also was sent to Brandenburg , Milan and Avignon . He also pushed for the study of Greek, housing Barlaam of Calabria , and encouraging his tentative translations of works by Homer , Euripides , and Aristotle . In these years, he also took minor orders . In October 1350, he
2444-523: The tales date from earlier in his career, but the choice of a hundred tales and the frame-story lieta brigata of three men and seven women dates from this time. The work was largely complete by 1352. It was Boccaccio's final effort in literature and one of his last works in Tuscan vernacular; the only other substantial work was Corbaccio (dated to either 1355 or 1365). Boccaccio revised and rewrote The Decameron in 1370–1371. This manuscript has survived to
2496-467: The tradition into the early 15th century. The Italian novella influenced many later writers, including Shakespeare . Novellas were also written in Spain. Miguel de Cervantes ' book Novelas ejemplares (1613) added innovation to the genre with more attention to the depiction of human character and social background. Not until the late 18th and early 19th centuries did writers fashion the novella into
2548-511: Was transposed to the big screen by the director and writer Pier Paolo Pasolini . The details of Boccaccio's birth are uncertain. He was born in Florence or in a village near Certaldo where his family was from. He was the son of Florentine merchant Boccaccino di Chellino and an unknown woman; he was likely born out of wedlock. Boccaccio's stepmother was called Margherita de' Mardoli. Boccaccio grew up in Florence. His father worked for
2600-547: Was an Italian writer, poet, correspondent of Petrarch , and an important Renaissance humanist . Born in the town of Certaldo , he became so well known as a writer that he was sometimes simply known as " the Certaldese " and one of the most important figures in the European literary panorama of the fourteenth century . Some scholars (including Vittore Branca ) define him as the greatest European prose writer of his time,
2652-517: Was delegated to greet Francesco Petrarch as he entered Florence and also to have Petrarch as a guest at Boccaccio's home, during his stay. The meeting between the two was extremely fruitful and they were friends from then on, Boccaccio calling Petrarch his teacher and magister . Petrarch at that time encouraged Boccaccio to study classical Greek and Latin literature. They met again in Padua in 1351, Boccaccio on an official mission to invite Petrarch to take
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#17327876091992704-478: Was not limited to the Italian cultural scene but extended to the rest of Europe, exerting influence on authors such as Geoffrey Chaucer , a key figure in English literature , and the later writers Miguel de Cervantes , Lope de Vega and classical theatre in Spain. Boccaccio is considered one of the "Three Crowns" of Italian literature along with Dante Alighieri and Petrarch . He is remembered for being one of
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