Clarissa Harlowe by Samuel Richardson (e reader manga .txt) π
Description
Clarissa Harlowe, or The History of a Young Lady is one of the longest novels in the English language. Written by Samuel Richardson over a period of several years and published in 1748, it is composed entirely of letters. Though this may seem daunting, the novel is highly regarded and is considered by many critics as one of the greatest works of English literature, appearing in several lists of the best British novels ever written.
The novel tells the story of young Clarissa, eighteen years of age at the start of the novel. She is generally regarded by her family, neighbors, and friends as the most virtuous and kind young woman they know. But she is drawn into correspondence with Richard Lovelace, a well-born, rich young man regarded as something of a rake, when she attempts to reconcile a dispute between Lovelace and her rash brother. Lovelace, imagining this indicates her love for him, carries out a series of strategems which result in him essentially abducting her from her family, from whom Clarissa then becomes estranged.
Much of the correspondence consists of the letters between Clarissa and her close friend Anna Howe, and between Lovelace and his friend Jack Belford, to whom he confesses all of his strategems and βinventionsβ in his assault on Clarissaβs honor.
The novel is thus a fascinating study of human nature. Much of Lovelaceβs actions and attitudes towards women are regrettably only too familiar to modern readers. And while Clarissa herself may be a little too good to be true, nevertheless she is shown as having some flaws which lead to a tragic outcome.
This Standard Ebooks edition is based on the 9-volume Chapman and Hall edition of 1902.
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- Author: Samuel Richardson
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See Letter 317. β©
Her letter, containing the reasons she refers to, was not asked for; and Dr. Lewenβs death, which fell out soon after he had received it, was the reason that it was not communicated to the family, till it was too late to do the service that might have been hoped for from it. β©
See Letter 409. β©
See Letter 429. β©
The former housekeeper at Harlowe-place. β©
See Letter 405. β©
Mr. Belford has not yet sent him his last-written letter. His reason for which see Letter 426. β©
See Letter 426. β©
See Letter 173. β©
See Otwayβs Orphan. β©
See Letters 282, 283, 284, 288. β©
See Letter 282. β©
See Letter 384. β©
See Letter 397. β©
See Letter 397. β©
See Letter 399. β©
See Letter 399. β©
The Windmill, near Slough. β©
See Letter 423. β©
See Letter 443. β©
See Letter 399. β©
See Letter 440. β©
It may not be amiss to observe, that Mr. Belfordβs solicitude to get back his letters was owing to his desire of fulfilling the ladyβs wishes that he would furnish Miss Howe with materials to vindicate her memory. β©
See Letter 435. β©
See Letter 426. β©
See Letter 10. β©
See Letter 177. β©
See Letter 397. β©
See Letter 401. β©
These are the lines the lady refers to:
From death we rose to life: βtis but the same,
Through life to pass again from whence we came.
With shame we see our passions can prevail,
Where reason, certainty, and virtue fail.
Honour, that empty name, can death despise;
Scornβd Love to death, as to a refuge, flies;
And Sorrow waits for death with longing eyes.
Hope triumphs oβer the thoughts of death; and Fate
Cheats fools, and flatters the unfortunate.
We fear to lose, what a small time must waste,
Till life itself grows the disease at last.
Begging for life, we beg for more decay,
And to be long a dying only pray.
β©
Meaning his meditated second violence (See Letter 281) and his succeeding letters to her, supplicating for her pardon. β©
See Letter 397. β©
See Letter 401. β©
See Letter 426. β©
See Letter 436. β©
See Letter 448. β©
Begun on Monday Sept. 4, and by piecemeal finished on Tuesday; but not sent till the Thursday following. β©
I.e. At the time this Letter was written. β©
Joy, let me here observe, my dear Sir, by way of note, is not absolutely inconsistent with melancholy; a soft gentle joy, not a rapid, not a rampant joy, however; but such a joy, as shall lift her temporarily out of her soothing melancholy, and then let her down gently into it again; for melancholy, to be sure, her reflection will generally make to be her state. β©
And here, by way of note, permit me to say, that no sermon I ever composed cost me half the pains that this letter hath doneβ βbut I knew your great appetite after, as well as admiration of, the ancient wisdom, which you so justly prefer to the modernβ βand indeed I join with you to think, that the modern is only borrowed, (as the moon doth its light from the sun), at least, that we excel them in nothing; and that our best cogitations may be found, generally speaking, more elegantly dressed and expressed by them. β©
See Letter 475. β©
See Letter 465. β©
See Letter 460. β©
See the beginning of Letter 476. β©
The words thus enclosed [ ] were omitted in the transcript to Mr. Lovelace. β©
Whoever has seen Dean Swiftβs Ladyβs Dressing Room, will think this description of Mr. Belfordβs not only more natural, but more decent painting, as well as better justified by the design, and by the use that may be made of it. β©
See Judges 12:6. β©
See Letter 486. β©
See the Will. β©
This letter contains in substanceβ βher thanks to the good woman for her care of her in her infancy; for her good instructions, and the excellent example she had set her; with self-accusations of a vanity and presumption, which lay lurking in her heart unknown to herself, till her calamities (obliging her to look into herself) brought them to light.
She comforts her on her early death; having finished, as she says, her probatory course, at so early a time of life, when many are not ripened by the sunshine of Divine Grace for a better, till they are fifty, sixty, or seventy years of age.
I hope, she says, that my father will grant the request I have made to him in my last will, to let you pass the remainder of your days at my Dairy-house, as it used to be called, where once I promised myself to be happy in you. Your discretion, prudence, and economy, my dear, good woman, proceeds she, will male your presiding over the
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