The Tale of Genji (or Genji monogatari) is thought to be the world's oldest novel. It was written by Murasaki Shikibu, a court lady in the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, Japan.
Source:
Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, there is an article devoted to Murasaki Shikibu which gives more information on her life as well as The Tale of Genji as a novel.
Agatha Christie worked as a nurse during World War I when she wrote her first novel, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles."
who wrote the 1st psyclogical novel
Émile Souvestre
It was Ian Fleming. That first novel was Casino Royale.
novel
Considered the world's first novel, 'The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari)' was written in the early 11th century by Japanese noblewoman, Murasaki Shikibu.
His first novel was "A Dinner at Poplar Walk" which he wrote in 1833.
The first novel Agatha Christie wrote was The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which featured Hercule Poirot. It was published in 1920.
The first chapter Stephanie Meyer wrote in the Twilight novel was called First Sight.
Herman Wouk wrote "The Caine Mutiny," first published in 1951. It is a novel about a mutiny aboard a U.S. Navy ship during World War II.
Irving Wallace wrote "The Man" in 1964. John DeBrizzi wrote "America" in 2009. In the novel the President's name was "Moses Shabalala".
Lew Wallace wrote Ben Hur.