NP: Query from a Reference Librarian

[Bekah]

There's no real name for that little stylistic technique used more  
often by  18th- 19th century fiction writers than before or since.   
Stowe and other authors (Bronte)  used it to make the fiction seem  
more realistic.   It's apparently more about an author's style and  
the times than a device would be.    It's rarely used anymore because  
fiction as fiction is more respectable these days - fiction has  
become a  legitimate genre of its own -  it wasn't always seen that way.

Bekah
who got curious and asked friends more literary than herself




On Nov 21, 2008, at 10:16 PM, David Payne wrote:

> Sorry for the non-P question, but perhaps it is distantly related  
> to M&D? Anyhow, a reference librarian on a different list serve has  
> asked:
>
> Uncle Tom's Cabin is set in the town of "P. in the State of  
> Kentucky." Is there a name for this device, identifying a place by  
> its initial letter, which is very common in 19th century  
> literature? Dates are similarly abbreviated: "In the year 18--"
>
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