The Novels of Samuel Richardson. Complete and Unabridged Volume 15

This volume is part of a nineteenth-century collection intended to provide a definitive, complete edition of the works of Samuel Richardson, the influential eighteenth-century English writer credited with pioneering the epistolary novel. The series was curated and introduced by William Lyon Phelps, a prominent Yale University professor and literary critic of the early twentieth century. His involvement was aimed at reintroducing Richardson's sprawling narratives to an academic and general audience, framing them within the context of the rise of the modern novel.

The physical production of this set reflects the bibliophilic standards of the era, emphasizing durability and scholarly apparatus. By editing and presenting these texts, Phelps sought to balance Richardson's didactic moralism with the technical innovations of his prose. While Richardson's reputation has fluctuated over the centuries, the inclusion of his works in such multi-volume, unabridged sets underscores his enduring legacy in the canon of English literature and the importance placed on archival preservation of his complete corpus.