The novella, as a distinctive form of short fiction, underwent significant transformation throughout the 20th century in European prose. This article examines the historical and aesthetic stages of its development, considering the interaction between traditional narrative structures and the experimental tendencies of modernism and postmodernism. Drawing on literary-historical analysis, the study traces the evolution of the novella from its late 19th-century realist legacy to the fragmentation and metafictional strategies of late 20th-century writing. Special attention is paid to the works of key European authors whose creative innovations reshaped the novella’s thematic scope, narrative voice, and structural economy. The research identifies three broad developmental stages — consolidation of realist tradition, modernist experimentation, and postmodernist transformation — and argues that the novella’s adaptability enabled it to engage with the cultural, social, and philosophical shifts of the century. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how the genre maintained its formal coherence while embracing stylistic diversity, thereby ensuring its continued relevance in contemporary literary discourse.

Novella, 20th-century literature, European prose

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