An Green, Thomas Hill 1836-1882 creator Scott, Fred Newton 1860-1931 text utu 2007 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "An Estimate of the Value and Influence of Works of Fiction in Modern Times" by Thomas Hill Green is a critical essay written during the late 19th century. This philosophical work analyzes the role of fiction, particularly novels, in contemporary society, examining their impact on human experience, morality, and culture. Green's exploration provides insight into the principles of art, examining the distinctions between various literary forms such as epic poetry, drama, and the novel itself. In this essay, Green argues that while novels serve as a reflection of ordinary life, they fall short of the higher artistic representation found in epic poetry and tragedy. He posits that novels often prioritize prudence and the mundane over idealism, thereby failing to elevate the human spirit. Green emphasizes that the primary function of the novel is to widen human experience and expand sympathies among readers by exposing them to a variety of life situations, although he critiques their tendency to sentimentalize life rather than offer profound truths. Overall, he asserts that while novels can enrich understanding and foster empathy, they may also propagate superficial moral lessons rather than inspire the deeper, transformative insights found in higher forms of art. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2007-03-17 Produced by Robert Connal, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr) Original publication data not identified Fiction -- History and criticism PN Original publication data not identified 11005339 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20843 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20843 UtSlPG 260607 20260610133459.0 20843