literary fiction
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English
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/, /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹɛɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/
Noun
literary fiction (uncountable)
- Any work of fiction regarded as having literary merit.
- Antonym: popular fiction
- I don't think "A is for Apple" qualifies as literary fiction.
- 2014 January 30, Geir Farner, Literary Fiction: The Ways We Read Narrative Literature, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 29:
- The present book is mainly about literary fiction, because this is where the confusion is most profound, but in some contexts it may be useful or interesting to include non-fiction.
- Fiction lacking speculative elements and centred on character and theme.
- Antonyms: speculative fiction, genre fiction
- While she usually reads science fiction, she also enjoys literary fiction.
- 2018 September 14, Robert Lee Brewer, editor, Guide to Literary Agents 2019: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published, F+W Media, →ISBN, page 355:
- We represent works in a wide range of categories, with an emphasis on literary fiction, outstanding thriller and crime fiction, and serious narrative nonfiction.
- 2023 November 11, Madison Darbyshire, “Hot stuff”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 9:
- It could be argued that Sally Rooney writes romance stories, although she's classified as literary fiction.
Usage notes
- Both senses may overlap somewhat, as the traditional conception of literarily meritorious fiction (sense 1) requires works to lack speculative elements and centre on character and theme (sense 2).