Who's talking to who? and where did he come from?

[Pollopicu]

Is there a literary term which describes a writers ability to successfully explain who's speaking to whom in a novel?

I'm having issues with this in Jane Austen's P&P.

[Pollopicu]

bump..now that I rephrased the question.

[Virgil]

I don't think so Pollop. I have never heard of such a term. In all likelyhood, it's your failure to follow rather than the writer to be clear. Especially when you're talking about a top notch writer like Jane Austen. I doubt she screwed up.

[Pollopicu]

I cannot be the only person who's been confused by who is speaking to who in P&P. She's not Joyce, for crying out loud. I've read a good amount of classic literature from the same time period and have had no problem following. I think the responsibility lies more in the writer than the reader. Unless the reader is mentally disabled.. That is why some writers are better than others.

Now I'm not saying I don't understand P&P. of course I do. but I've had to re-read certain chapters up to 3 times to understand who is speaking to who.
I'm up to chapter 10, and although it's not very far into the novel, I can say that I'm not yet enjoying it. It can change and I'm keeping an open mind.
There have been plenty people who did not thank much about P&P, so I wonder what their reasons were. My reasons for not particularly enjoying the book so far is just as valid as anyone else's for any other reason.

... but like I said, I'll keep an open mind because I want to enjoy it. I'm not setting out to NOT like it.

And what's with all the italics?