God, please forgive me for commenting on this book without finishing reading it.
Thanks to this great book, I have understood the art of "The Epistolary Novel", a chapter in this work, though I was only able to associate the term with the name Samuel Richardson as a precocious university student. Moreover, now I can tell the difference between "Mystery" and "Suspense". As there are many such interesting chapters including the said ones, I read them quite amused.
For those who major in English literature, this writing will be quite interesting, and it will be so for those who do not, too.
I purchased this book, because my friend in my university days whose influence has been more than any other had implied that I should read a copy of it. A teacher in those days also recommended I should read this book; now it is my turn to recommend this wonderful reading to the readers of this review. If it should be boring, complain about it to Mr. Lodge, please.

本書は、第１章の "Beginning"から始まって、第50章の "Ending" で終わるという具合に、文字通り「小説の技巧」のすべてを披露してくれています。さらに、嬉しいことには、各章の冒頭には、現代を代表する作家たちの作品の一節が掲げられており、名作の一端が味わえるのも魅力のひとつです。各章を、さながら「大学の講義」を聴いているかのように味わえるのも、「ロッジ教授」ならではのものです。是非とも、名講義を聴講あれ。