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Immerse yourself in the epic sweep of what some critics regard as one of the most culturally significant novels ever written. Clarissa Harlowe is a virtuous young woman whose nouveau riche family wants desperately to be able to lay claim to the aristocracy. They plan to do this by marrying off Clarissa to a wealthy heir, but there's just one catch: Clarissa despises the fellow they've set their sights on and will do anything to escape this fate. When another beau comes into the picture, Clarissa thinks she's been saved -- but does this new suitor have her best interest at heart?
One of the first great British novels, Samuel Richardson’s classic tale became a legend to his own age and remains so today. Defying her parents’ desire for her to marry a loathsome man for his wealth, the virtuous Clarissa escapes into the dangerous arms of the charming rogue Lovelace, whose intentions are much less than honorable. This thought-provoking work, written entirely in intimate letters, exposes the delicacy and complexity of affairs of the human heart. The fatal attraction between villain and victim builds and unfolds into a relationship that haunts the imagination as fully as that of Romeo and Juliet or Tristan and Isolde. Abridged and with an Introduction by Sheila Ortiz-Taylor and a New Afterword by Lynn Shepherd
Through a series of letters, the tragic history of Clarissa Harlowe and her ruthless pursuer Robert Lovelace unfolds--Novelist.
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Clarissa, 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 the young Clarissa Harlowe, 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...