The Works Of Samuel Richardson: The History Of Clarissa Harlowe (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781277017281)

The History of Clarissa Harlowe, often abridged to simply Clarissa, is Samuel Richardson's masterpiece and one of the longest novels in the English language. Published in 1748, this epistolary novel tells the tragic story of Clarissa Harlowe, a young woman of virtue whose family pressures her into a marriage she finds repugnant. Her resistance sets in motion a series of events that lead to her manipulation and ultimate downfall at the hands of the charismatic yet villainous Lovelace.

Through a series of letters exchanged between Clarissa and her confidantes, as well as Lovelace and his, the novel explores themes of family, virtue, seduction, and the constraints placed upon women in 18th-century society. Richardson's detailed characterizations and exploration of psychological states made Clarissa a groundbreaking work of its time, solidifying his place as a pioneer of the psychological novel. A powerful and moving exploration of morality and societal pressures, Clarissa remains a significant work of English literature.

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