Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 4

Name: Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 4
Author: Samuel Richardson

By Samuel Richardson

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British Literature Novels

About This Book

A sequence of letters traces a young woman's efforts to maintain virtue and independence while a persuasive suitor intensifies his attentions and manipulative tactics. She daily confides in a close correspondent about lodgings, social encounters, and distress over public claims of marriage intended to unsettle her. Interactions with a widow and her nieces highlight manners, suspicion, and social performance as the suitor stages entertainments and enlists companions in his schemes. Ongoing disputes about vows, sealed correspondence, and propriety expose contrasting ideas of honor and consent. The volume focuses on inward reflection, social ritual, and the protagonist's moral resolve.

About the Author

Samuel Richardson

Samuel Richardson was an influential English novelist and a key figure in the development of the novel as a literary form. He is best known for his epistolary novels, which explore themes of virtue, morality, and social class. His most notable works include "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded," which tells the story of a young maid's struggle to maintain her virtue against the advances of her master, and "Clarissa," a complex narrative that delves into the life and trials of a young woman facing societal pressures. Richardson's writing is characterized by its psychological depth and intricate character development, making significant contributions to the literary heritage of the 18th century.