Pre-maximum and maximum of Novae: The spectroscopic observations of Nova ASASSN-17hx

The coverage of the pre-maximum stage of novae is sparse, with the exception of a few slow novae where the pre-maximum duration is of the order of some weeks. This paper discusses the main features of novae during the pre-maximum and the maximum stages and reports the preliminary results of an investigation of ASASSN-17hx, a peculiar nova that showed a long pre-maximum and secondary brightenings.