The novella is a work of fiction that falls somewhere between a short story and a novel in terms of length. Novellas typically range from 17,500 to 40,000 words, while short stories are typically under 17,500 words and novels are over 40,000 words. Novellas often have a single storyline, though they may also have multiple storylines. Novellas also often have a single protagonist, though they may also have multiple protagonists.
The novella emerged as a distinct literary form in the 14th century, and it quickly became popular in Europe. Novellas were often written in the vernacular, rather than in Latin, and they often dealt with everyday life rather than with the classical epics of the past. This helped to make novellas more accessible to a wider audience, and it contributed to the rise of the novel in the 18th century.