This collection of essays studies the encounter between allegedly ahistorical concepts of narrative and eighteenth-century literature from across Europe. At issue is the question of whether the theoretical concepts underpinning narratology are, despite their appearance of ahistorical generality, actually derived from the historical study of a particular period and type of literature. The essays take on aspects of eighteenth-century texts such as plot, genre, character, perspective, temporality, and more, coming at them from both a narratological and a historical perspective.

Liisa Steinby has published two volumes in eighteenth-century German literature a monograph and co-edited a collection of essays on Daniel Defoe.The contributors comprise a number of the most eminent scholars in the field of the study of eighteenth-century literature and narrative theory, such as Michael McKeon, John Richetti, Pat Rogers and Monika Fludernik. Aino Mäkikalli has published a monograph and co-edited a collection of essays on Daniel Defoe.The contributors comprise a number of the most eminent scholars in the field of the study of eighteenth-century literature and narrative theory, such as Michael McKeon, John Richetti, Pat Rogers and Monika Fludernik.