The Novels of Samuel Richardson: Pamela; or, Virtue rewarded

First published in 1740, Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded is widely considered one of the first true epistolary novels in the English language. Samuel Richardson, a printer by trade, conceived of the work as a series of instructional letters intended to guide young servants in proper moral conduct, though it quickly evolved into a complex narrative about the power dynamics between a young maid and her wealthy master.

The novel’s design, often presented in multi-volume sets in 18th-century editions, reflected the mid-century trend of printing literature in accessible formats that could be read aloud in parlors. While it was an immediate commercial success that sparked a new literary craze, the work also garnered significant contemporary criticism for its perceived hypocrisy and the unsettling nature of its central courtship, leading to numerous parodies, most notably by Henry Fielding.