This essay discusses the place of the nineteenth-century novel in our secondary schools. Although this paper deals essentially with British novels, much of what is said pertains to American novels also. The point is made that the place of these novels in the secondary schools has changed as previously most student in high school accepted the curriculum presented without question, whereas the reverse is true today. Three factors are given as responsible for this change in the student body: (1) Jobs formerly open to a student without a high school education are seldom available now; (2) Minimum age for terminating school is higher; and (3) More people are convinced that staying in school is the correct thing to do. Two other complicating factors in the teaching of the secondary school English class is a reluctance on the part of the schools to change both curricula and teaching methods. It is suggested that there are three types of situations in which the nineteenth century novel could be successfully taught at the secondary level: (1) an elective course entitled, "British Literature," (2) an elective course for study of the novel, and (3) an elective course entitled "The Nineteenth Century Novel." (CK)