Magical Realism and the Postcolonial Novel reinterprets the origins and nature of one of the most recognisable and important genres of twentieth century literature. Published in paperback for the first time, this book locates the origins of the term in the work of Novalis, and examines its relations with romanticism. Drawing on the ideas of Alejo Carpentier and Jorge Luis Borges, Warnes argues that magical realism's relationships with the novel are characterised by contrasting orientatations: towards faith and irreverence. Detailed readings of key magical realist novels by Asturias, Carpentier, García Márquez, Rushdie, and Okri confirm the relevance of the distinction to understanding both the novels themselves and the contexts from which they emerge. This major new study makes available a new and more precise vocabulary for the critical discussion of magical realism and is essential reading for students and researchers interested in the field or in twentieth century literature more broadly.