Quote:
Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda
On the whole, novels tend to devote less words to description than they did a hundred years ago.
I've always assumed this was related to the widespread use of photography and film. Once upon a time, the average reader had never traveled or even seen photographs of distant parts of the world. Now, all you have to do is say "downtown Tokyo" and everyone already has a mental image.
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At least in literature aimed at kids, a lot of simplification has to do with television. When the Hardy Boys books were rewritten, for example, in the late 50's/early 60's, in addition to removing racist bits and anachronisms (running boards, etc.), the books were also simplified quite a bit.
Simplification, of course, includes a lot more than descriptions...and I don't think that the books were ever really known for their descriptions even in the old days.
"Behold Bayport, Frank!" Joe Hardy said as he drove the black Dodge down the familiar coastal road to their home, "the sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch, but that the sea, mounting to the welkin’s cheek, dashes the fire out."