Final answer:
The popularity of water narratives in the 19th century contributed to the rise of maritime fiction or nautical fiction, alongside other genres like realism, Gothic literature, and naturalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The popularity of water narratives in the 19th century gave birth to a new genre of literature known as maritime fiction or nautical fiction. This genre includes tales about the sea and life at sea, commonly featuring adventures on naval ships, merchant vessels, or in coastal areas. Within the broader evolution of literary styles in the 19th century, this type of fiction played a role alongside the emergence of other significant genres and movements such as realism, Gothic literature, and naturalism. These styles reflected the authors' growing focus on contemporary social realism, the supernatural, and the natural laws governing humanity, often exploring the human experience and societal changes in the evolving cultural and technological landscape.