Books by Samuel Richardson
Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded
by Samuel Richardson
Often cited as one of the first English-language novels—although this depends on your definition of the term—Samuel Richardson's scandalous Pamela was a phenomenon on first publication in 1740. In it, a teenage housemaid resists the advances of the master of her household until, ultimately, he agrees to marry her. It is presented, initially, as a series of letters from Pamela to her parents; the second part of the book is written in the form of a journal, also addressed to her parents. The (at that time, groundbreaking) format allowed Richardson to offer insight into his protagonist's state of mind and mode of thought.
“It’s probably the most influential novel of the 18th century. The mid-18th century is when the novel was invented, so it’s possibly the most influential novel ever written in English, because it influences everyone who comes afterwards, from Henry Fielding to Jane Austen onwards.” Read more...
The best books on The 18th Century Sexual Revolution
Faramerz Dabhoiwala, Historian
Interviews where books by Samuel Richardson were recommended
The best books on The 18th Century Sexual Revolution, recommended by Faramerz Dabhoiwala
The roots of our (generally) open attitude to sex lie not in the sixties but the 1760s, says the historian and author of The Origins of Sex, who explores this earlier sexual revolution through its literature.
Epistolary Novels
Epistolary novels are told through the form of written correspondence between characters, or sometimes by way of diary entries or fictional documents. Though there were earlier examples, the epistolary novel took off as a form in the 18th century and remains very popular for its immediacy and sense of realism. We've put together a selection of epistolary novels—notable for their literary significance or their evergreen popularity—many of which have previously been recommended by our expert interviewees.
