Why :A Novel?

[Andy_L]

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A novel

My impression is that recently a greater percentage of the fiction books I read have the words “a novel” on the dust jacket. (Presently Karl Marlantes’ Deep River. Excellent read, BTW.) Yes, I realize that some percentage of novels have always advertised their nature, but the trend seems to me to be increasing. Has anyone else noticed this trend (or am I just noticing it more now for some reason? Whether the practice is increasing or not, why would a fiction producer feel the need to advert…