First published in 1979. Most of the great nineteenth century novelists strove to render in words the people and places that they invented and most readers of fiction picture in their imagination these characters and scenes. This book investigates both types of 'picturing', exploring the principles and problems concerned, and sheds light on the workings of fiction -- reassessing a number of famous novels in the process. By so doing, this work relates the academic study of the novel to the writing and reading of fiction, and the teaching of creative writing. This book will appeal to students of literature.