is the minute details a characteristic of the vectorian or classic novels?

Answer 1

Ehhhh? Do you mean Victorian?

Answer 2

Not so much as it is a characteristic of certain Victorian authors. There are always exceptions to the prevailing fashion.

It became popular, towards the end of the 19th century, to write "scientifically," trying to record the motivations and inner psychology of every character. The idea was that the author could become something more than just a storyteller; they could probe the human psyche and reveal to the public truths about the nature of mankind itself. The movement was called "Naturalism," and it produced a number of influential authors.

Slightly earlier, the Romantics also had a penchant for detail, but it was often of a different sort. The Romantic author is more concerned with images and textures, and how the author's keenly-tuned perceptive faculties transmute them into beauty.

Both of these movements, when carried too far, produced pompous, detail-clogged prose -- but then, they also produced some few novels of lasting beauty and vigor.

Answer 3

Mmm, Victorian and before--I think it started with the Gothic movement at the end of the 18th century...Radcliffe's Mysteries of Udolpho would have been an excellent book if the characters hadn't stopped and gazed at every dang tree that came along.

That aside, yes, late 1700's and carried on in through the 1800's.

Answer 4

Yes, the details both panoramic and painfully close-up are indeed a wonderful aspect of Victorian and Classic novels. Such sweep and energy!