Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter I

The Samuel Richardson Library · Oct 18, 2026 · 7m

In which a concerned and affectionate friend writes at length to clarify the uneasy stir caused by a violent encounter involving the family and a gentleman named Lovelace, seeking a candid account of all preceding events to justify the young lady's conduct amidst public scrutiny. The letter reveals a delicate balance of familial tension, social expectations, and the painful burden of exemplary virtue thrust upon a young woman noted for her quiet benevolence.