nowela

Nowela is a term used in Polish literary criticism to denote a prose narrative of intermediate length between a short story (opowiadanie) and a novel (powieść). A nowela centers on a single incident or situation and a limited cast of characters, and it concentrates action to produce a unified, compact plot. The narrative typically emphasizes psychological insight, atmosphere, and social observation, with an economical, precise style.

Length varies, but nowele are longer than most opowiadania and shorter than powieść. They commonly run from several thousand to several tens of thousands of words, depending on era and publisher. Structurally, they tend to favor unity of time and place, a clear arc, and a decisive moment, though endings may be open or ambiguous.

Historically, the term mirrors the broader European notion of the novella (novella), which developed in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Polish usage, nowela became established as a distinct category in the 19th century and has since encompassed realist, psychological, historical, and social themes. It is commonly published in magazines, anthologies, or as standalone works, and it serves as a bridge between short fiction and longer novels.

Although the Polish term is nowela, the concept exists in other literatures under equivalent labels (novella, nouvelle). The distinction among nowela, opowiadanie, and powieść is primarily about length, scope, and intent rather than hard rules.