Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 1: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 1: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 1 is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Richardson, Samuel (1689–1761).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Clarissa Harlowe; or the History of a Young Lady — Volume 1" by Samuel Richardson is a novel written during the early 18th century. The tale delves into the life and struggles of the title character, Clarissa Harlowe, as she navigates the complexities of family dynamics and romantic entanglements amid societal expectations. The narrative is presented through a series of letters exchanged primarily between Clarissa and her close friend Anna Howe, highlighting their conversations about virtue, friendship, and the moral dilemmas that arise from mismatched intentions in relationships. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to a passionate conflict that deeply affects Clarissa's family, centering on the contentious relationship between Mr. Lovelace and her brother James Harlowe. Clarissa, who has grown increasingly isolated by her family's opposition to her affections, shares her worries over the treatment of Mr. Lovelace following a violent encounter with her brother. As she recounts her family's disdain for Lovelace, Clarissa meticulously details her efforts to maintain her dignity amidst forced courtship from her family's choice of suitors, particularly Mr. Solmes. The opening letters establish Clarissa's intelligence, sensitivity, and inner turmoil, foreshadowing her struggles against prevailing social attitudes and familial pressures as well as the constraints that threaten her autonomy as a young woman.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 1
- Author credits: Richardson, Samuel (1689–1761)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Conflict of generations -- Fiction
- England -- Fiction
- Epistolary fiction
- Kidnapping victims -- Fiction
- Psychological fiction
- Rape victims -- Fiction
- Young women -- Crimes against -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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