The British Sentimental Novel
The sentimental novel began in the eighteenth century in England as a reaction against excessive logic and reason of the Augustan authors who followed the trend of the Enlightment: These authors reflected the cultural and socioeconomic content of the since the established parliament along the constitutional monarch, the development of trade, travels and explorations and industry. In the epoch the English literature were influenced by economists, scientists and philosophers such as David Hume, John Locke, Isaac Newton and Adam Smith which highlighted a liberal and optimistic view on human´s progress. In the context of a alternative powers in the government of Tories and Wigs, without political turmoils but stability built on laws and property and the flourishing English overseas empire and trade of sugar, tabacco, tea and other staples to be manufactured in the homeland in a thriving industry, the number of readers increased due to free press in newspapers and pamphlets and debates...
