Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded by S. Richardson. Another

First published in 1740, Samuel Richardson’s Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded is widely considered one of the earliest examples of the English novel. Richardson, a printer by trade, conceived of the story as a series of letters intended to instruct young women in virtuous conduct. The narrative follows a maidservant who resists the advances of her master until he eventually marries her, a plot that sparked intense public debate regarding morality and class dynamics in 18th-century England.

The book’s epistolary structure allowed for a degree of psychological depth that was revolutionary for its time. It was an immediate cultural sensation, inspiring numerous parodies and sequels, most notably Henry Fielding's Shamela. While its didactic intentions were sometimes questioned by contemporary critics who felt the narrative was overly calculating, it remains a foundational text in the history of Western literature and a landmark in the development of the sentimental novel.