Which author is a classic example of the novel of manners?

• A. Herman Melville.
• B. George Orwell.
• C. Jane Austen.
• D. Charles Dickens.

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is recognizing a novel that centers on social behavior, etiquette, class, and the courtship world of a specific group, revealing character through dialogue and how people navigate manners and reputation. Jane Austen is the best example because her novels focus tightly on how young people move through the expectations of their social circle—who they should marry, how they should behave at social events, and how status and reputation shape decisions. The wit and precision of her observations uncover what characters say and do under the rules of polite society, making the story hinge on manners as much as on plot.

Herman Melville’s works tend to explore adventure, fate, and existential questions set against sea life and broader human experience; George Orwell writes dystopian or satirical critiques of politics and society; Charles Dickens addresses social issues with vivid characters and broad social commentary, though not with the same concentrated focus on a single social code governing courtship and daily interactions. Austen’s particular focus on manners, expectations, and the intimate dynamics of romance within a defined class makes her the quintessential author for this genre.