Other editions of book Clarissa Harlowe: or the history of a young lady — Volume 3

The following History is given in a series of letters, written Principally in a double yet separate correspondence between two young ladies of virtue and honor, bearing an inviolable friendship for each other, and writing not merely for amusement, but upon the most interesting subjects; in which every private family, more or less, may find itself concerned; and between two gentlemen of free lives; one of them glorying in his talents for stratagem and invention, and communicating to the other, in confidence, all the secret purposes of an intriguing head and resolute heart.But here it will be proper to observe, for the sake of such as may apprehend hurt to the morals of youth, from the more freely-written letters, that the gentlemen, though professed libertines as to the female sex, and making it one of their wicked maxims, to keep no faith with any of the individuals of it, who are thrown into their power, are not, however, either infidels or scoffers; nor yet such as think themselves freed from the observance of those other moral duties which bind man to man.

'Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady' tells the tragic story of a heroine whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family, and is one of the longest novels in the English language. Clarissa Harlowe is a beautiful and virtuous young lady whose family has become wealthy only recently and now desires to become part of the aristocracy. Their original plan was to concentrate the wealth and lands of the Harlowes into the possession of Clarissa's brother James Harlowe, whose wealth and political power will lead to his being granted a title.

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Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady is an epistolary fiction work by British novelist Samuel Richardson, printed in 1748. It is about the miserable tale of a female protagonist whose chase for morality is persistently hindered by her family and is considered as among the extensive stories in the English language with reference on approximated word count. It is commonly remarked as Samuel’s master work.The principled Clarissa bequeaths wealth though provides it into the dominance of her envious family. When they attempt to compel her to marry someone, she feels unwilling to escape with Lovelace, a stud, who deceives her. He shacks her with a madam and her seducers. Her dignity rendered unchaste, she attempts to escape, although is misled into returning, supposedly to marry him and to give back her standing. As the prostitutes keep her down, she is raped by Lovelace. He vows to marry her, though she does not desire him and runs away. Tormented, Clarissa kills herself through hunger. Lovelace's family despise him and his bygone companions murders him for torturing her.Samuel Richardson was a British author and publisher. He is renowned for his 3 epistolary works of art: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded in 1740, Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady in 1748 and The History of Sir Charles Grandison in 1753. Samuel was a well-established printer and publisher for his whole life and published around 500 varying publications, such as journals and magazines. He was also famous to work carefully with the London book merchant Andrew Millar on many instances.In his youth, Samuel was learned to a printer, whose daughter he sooner or later married. In the course of time, he remarried when his first wife together with their 5 sons died. He had 4 daughters with his second wife, however he had no male inheritors to keep managing the publication company.

LETTER I. Miss Howe to Clarissa.—Is astonished, confounded, aghast. Repeats her advice to marry Lovelace. LETTER II. Clarissa to Miss Howe.—Gives a particular account of her meeting Lovelace; of her vehement contention with him; and, at last, of her being terrified out of her predetermined resolution, and tricked away. Her grief and compunction of heart upon it. Lays all to the fault of corresponding with him at first against paternal prohibition. Is incensed against him for his artful dealings with her, and for his selfish love. LETTER III. Mr. Lovelace to Joseph Leman.—A letter which lays open the whole of his contrivance to get off Clarissa. LETTER IV. Joseph Leman. In answer. LETTER V. Lovelace to Belford.—In ecstasy on the success of his contrivances. Well as he loves Clarissa, he would show her no mercy, if he thought she preferred any man living to him. Will religiously observe the INJUNCTIONS she laid upon him previous to their meeting.

I write, because you enjoin me to do so. Love you still!—How can I help it, if I would? You may believe how I stand aghast, your letter communicating the first news—Good God of Heaven and Earth!—But what shall I say?—I am all impatient for particulars.Lord have mercy upon me!—But can it be?My mother will indeed be astonished!—How can I tell it her!—It was but last night (upon some jealousies put into her head by your foolish uncle) that I assured her, and this upon the strength of your own assurances, that neither man nor devil would be able to induce you to take a step that was in the least derogatory to the most punctilious honour.