The Novels of Samuel Richardson: The history of Clarissa Harlowe

Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady was first published in 1747 and 1748. Samuel Richardson wrote this massive epistolary novel as a moral counterpoint to the perceived libertinism of the era, focusing on the psychological depth of its heroine, Clarissa Harlowe, as she navigates forced marriage and the predatory advances of Robert Lovelace. The novel gained immediate notoriety for its length and its intense, tragic depiction of virtue under duress.

The specific edition associated with the University of Michigan identifier represents one of the many critical efforts to preserve Richardson's complex narrative structure. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the work was debated by literary critics for its innovative use of letter-writing to convey interiority, solidifying Richardson's place as a foundational figure in the development of the English novel. The design and layout of these volumes often reflect the scholarly intent to present the text in a way that respects the original serialized release pattern.