Literature is a broad field that covers every form of the written word. The term literature is generally applied towards writings that have some artistic merit. This means that it is more common to call a novel, rather than a scientific report, literature. A scientific report should convey factual points in an objective manner. These reports tend to be quite dry and full of key details rather than creative elements. A novel can range from a funny biography to a fantastical adventure in another realm.
Within the scope of literature there are various genres and subgenres. A subgenre is a more specific section of a genre. For example, we can look at the genre of science fiction where there is a subgenre of dystopian futures, or one about alien invasions. Subgenres give you a more targeted topic to read about.
The novel, which uses prose writing, is a common type of literature. Within this category there are several forms. Novels can be fictional or based on fact. Novels can be geared towards different audiences. Novels can tell us about people, places, or any topic you can think of.
A biography is another type of prose writing. This is a story of a person's life that is written by someone else. Biographies are usually about someone who is or was famous. Some biographies have the blessing of the person the story is about, but some don't. In the latter version that manuscript becomes speculative. There is a lot of guesswork happening in the biographies that don't have cooperation from the subject. The final result can startle the subject of the book and has led to some problems in the past.
An autobiography is also the story of a person's life. It is written by the subject of the book, sometimes with help. Nelson Mandela wrote one of the most famous ones in literature.
Memoirs, on the other hand, are stories based on the author's life. You'll find more elements of storytelling in a memoir. Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the United States, wrote a popular memoir which was published in 2018. Some readers have called it her memoir, while others refer to it as her autobiography. Both terms can be used to talk about a story about the author written by the author.
If you're not keen on reading novels, you can try a novella. Novellas are longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. Poetry is another option for a shorter read. You can listen to an oratory if you are not in the mood to read.
Before publishing became more universal, oratory was a way to share stories and ideas. It was also used to educate others.
The origins of literature date back centuries. The first known examples of literature come from the ancient Egyptians and Sumerians. These early examples depict prayers, poems, hymns, and modern ideas. Since then humanity has progressed to written materials about every conceivable idea.
One of the bestselling books on record is A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. It is a fictional historical novel with a catchy opening line.
Another bestseller is a French novella called Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The Little Prince, which is the title in English, is a tale in which a pilot stranded in a desert meets a young prince who has fallen to Earth from a tiny asteroid. It has beautiful artwork, too.
The world of literature is wide and fascinating. We have tales from ancient times to modern times. We have stories about bees and stories about farming. There is something to read for everyone, and every idea. What would you like to read?