SOURCE: THE HINDU

Falling between a novel and a short story. This article in The Hindu explores the possibility of novellas in contemporary times. Is it a modern invention? To which century did the author trace the history of novellas? 

In discussing the novellas, he speaks of Vikram Shanbhag’s Ghachar Ghochar. He considers the former as the best work in recent times. Opinions are divided. While some praise novellas, writers like Stephen King call it ‘ ill-defined’. 

Here's the excerpt:

Readable in one sitting — and other issues

The novella isn’t a modern invention – it has existed since the 14th century when Bocaccio’s Decameron had stories within stories that were called novellas

Vivek Shanbhag’s Ghachar Ghochar is possibly the finest novella of recent times. It takes fewer words to say what novels take twice or three times as many and fail to do. Concision, control, and constraint are the hallmarks of the literary form, and some of the greatest books - from Orwell’s Animal Farm to Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea – use the format.

READ MORE BY CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED SOURCE ABOVE 

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

1) NOVELLA- MEANING

2) BRITANNICA