Shows / The Samuel Richardson Library
The Samuel Richardson Library
Enter a world of letters, secrets, virtue, temptation, and consequence.
The Samuel Richardson Library presents the complete works of one of the great founders of the English novel, read in full. Here are private thoughts committed to paper, hearts tested by love and ambition, and characters forced to choose between desire, duty, reputation, and conscience.
From the trials of Pamela to the devastating moral drama of Clarissa, these are stories in which every letter may conceal a motive, reveal a…
Episodes
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXXIII
In which the gentle Clarissa, distressed by the unrelenting suit of Mr. Solmes and her family's imposition, takes the bold step of writing to him herself to…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXXIV
In which the narrator, stationed in a humble alehouse near Harlowe-place, enjoins his companion Jack to come to his side for companionship and amusement…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXXV
In which a watchful observer details the intricate measures taken to monitor and control the movements of a young lady, revealing the careful intersection of…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXX
In which Miss Clarissa Harlowe, with a spirit uneasily troubled, recounts the bold and disconcerting appearance of a certain Mr. Lovelace at church, and…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXXI
In which a gentleman passionately recounts his profound and tormenting admiration for a lady of unyielding virtue, whose family he holds in disdain, and…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXXII
In which Clarissa offers a heartfelt and earnest plea to her uncles, imploring them to reconsider the arranged match that threatens to bind her to a man whom…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXIX
In which the young lady, pressed by the demands and disdain of her brother and sister, takes up the pen to defend her honour and judgments with unexpected…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXVII
In which a discerning correspondent earnestly counsels Miss Harlowe on the grave consequences of yielding to familial and matrimonial pressures, lamenting the…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXVIII
In which the correspondent earnestly pleads for a gentle restraint in speaking ill of her family, particularly her beloved mother, and reflects with measured…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXIV
In which Clarissa receives a harsh and restrictive decree from her family, forbidding her from seeing them or certain acquaintances, and confining her almost…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXV
In which the unhappy Clarissa finds herself increasingly confined and maligned by her family, enduring severe restrictions and sharp reproaches while…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXVI
In which the gentle Clarissa discloses the unwelcome persistence of Mr. Lovelace’s letters, replete with fervent entreaties and a keen awareness of her…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXI
In which Clarissa, with a heart heavy and hopes slender, pleads earnestly with her mother for forgiveness and support amidst family discord, even as Mr…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXII
In which the ingenuous Clarissa receives a letter from Mr. Lovelace, whose bold propositions and insinuations compel her to reflect upon the deceit and…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XXIII
In which the gentle Clarissa is grieved by the sudden dismissal of her faithful servant Hannah, a cruelty she keenly feels aimed to wound her tender heart. She…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XIX
In which Clarissa, upon receiving a letter from her confidante, reflects with quiet dignity on the uneasy family dynamics and the intentions behind her…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XVIII
In which Clarissa experiences a painful and chilling conversation with her mother, whose coldness and reproaches leave her spirits greatly damped despite her…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XX
In which Clarissa endures a solemn and tender conference with her mother, who, torn between duty and affection, delivers the family’s ultimatum regarding a…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XV
In which the correspondents lament the unworthy suitors besetting a young lady of high merit, lamenting the family pressures and jealousies impeding her…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XVI
In which the young and virtuous Clarissa Harlowe recounts the sorrowful conferences and domestic trials that ensue upon the unwelcome presence of Mr. Solmes…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XVII
In which the young and dutiful Clarissa confronts the firm expectations of her parents regarding a marriage to Mr. Solmes, whose character she abhors, and…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XII
In which a close correspondent offers a discerning character sketch of Mr. Lovelace, revealing him as a man of wit, vanity, and questionable morals, though…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XIII
In which Clarissa unfolds the intricate familial motives and ambitions that underpin the fervent advocacy for Mr. Solmes's suit, revealing a world where…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XIV
In which the gentle Clarissa reveals her growing distress over her family’s unyielding opposition and their pressing demand that she accept a suitor she cannot…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter IX
In which the gentle Clarissa unveils the constraints laid upon her by her family, and contemplates the nature of obedience, reputation, and the bonds of…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter X
In which the keen and affectionate friend, Miss Anna Howe, expresses her surprise and concern over the imprudent matrimonial designs proposed for the young…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter XI
In which the young Miss Harlowe earnestly reflects upon the delicacies of her own heart and the proprieties of expressing preference among gentlemen…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter VI
In which the gentle Clarissa recounts her family’s deliberations and their cautious consent to her visiting a dear friend, all amid the shadow of unwelcome…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter VII
In which Clarissa returns home under sudden and unwelcome summons, only to encounter a cold and formal reception from her family, who reveal their firm…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter VIII
In which the young lady, beset by family pressures and a most unwelcome suitor, finds herself constrained by stern commands and intercepted affections, all…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter III
In which Mr. Lovelace’s unsuccessful proposal to the elder sister leads to his renewed attentions towards the younger, Clary, whose cautious and measured…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter IV
In which Clarissa Harlowe recounts the increasing discord within her family occasioned by Mr. Lovelace’s visits and her brother’s vehement opposition to him…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter V
In which the dear Clarissa is confined to attend her ailing mother, whose delicate constitution is troubled not only by physical affliction but also by the…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter I
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…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Preface
In which the reader is introduced to a carefully presented epistolary history, framed as a correspondence between virtuous young ladies and scheming gentlemen…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady Volume 1 Letter II
In which the correspondent relates with candid amusement and delicate observation the curious courtship of her sister by a gentleman named Mr. Lovelace…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 102 Part 2
In which the company convenes to deliberate on the delicate subject of love’s first impressions and the prudent vigilance a young lady ought to maintain, lest…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Conclusion
In which the concluding details of several characters' lives are gently unfolded, revealing the virtues and trials that adorn their years with both honour and…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 103
In which a gentle lady relates instructive tales for the amusement and improvement of her children and young Miss Goodwin, illustrating by contrasting examples…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 102 Part 1
In which Mrs. B. graciously recounts a delicate conversation held among several young ladies of varied dispositions and their guardians, aiming to guide them…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 101
In which a thoughtful correspondent expounds upon the proper education and travel of young gentlemen, favouring a gradual acquaintance with their native…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 100
In which the narrator accounts for her prolonged silence by recounting the illnesses of her parents and the distress caused by a scandalous marriage that…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 97
In which a lady, reflecting with a delicate blend of pride and humility, expounds upon the education of her sex and the injustices they suffer from neglect and…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 98
In which Mrs. B. writes tenderly to her parents about the forthcoming travels she will undertake with Mr. B., sharing the contentment of her domestic life and…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 99
In which the narrator recounts their extensive travels through Europe and their joyous return to England, where the happiness of family and friendships…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 96
In which the gentle reflections of a careful mother unfold upon the instruction of children’s play and learning, weighing the sage advice of Mr. Locke against…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 94
In which a thoughtful correspondent reflects upon the practical difficulties of shielding children from the influence of servants, urging that the virtue and…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 95
In which the writer pens a thoughtful letter addressing the delicate art of child-rearing, contending with the guidance of a learned gentleman while reflecting…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 91
In which a thoughtful correspondent reflects upon Mr. Locke’s educational precepts, particularly questioning the strict avoidance of rewards in child-rearing…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 92
In which the correspondent, having delighted in extensive travels, turns to the considerations of a home education as expounded by Mr. Locke, reflecting upon…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 93
In which a careful and considerate correspondent reflects upon the merits and challenges of home education for a young gentleman, particularly focusing on the…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 90
In which Pamela earnestly contemplates the early nurture of children, reflecting upon the virtues of health, simplicity, and natural care as advised by Mr…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 88
In which the long-anticipated unions of three dear acquaintances are joyfully disclosed, each promising happiness in their respective matches, and a visit to…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 89
In which a visit from the Countess Dowager brings to light an honest and thoughtful account of past misunderstandings and delicate impressions, ultimately…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 85
In which the gentle correspondences between ladies reveal the engagement prospects of a courteous gentleman and the passing of a poor soul whose spirit is…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 86
In which Lady Davers expresses her concerns and affections regarding family matters, particularly the character and prospects of a young man whose weaknesses…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 87
In which a tender correspondence unfolds between ladies separated by distance but united in a delicate trust, as one mother commits her innocent child to the…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 82
In which Mrs. B. conveys her heartfelt gratitude for the kindness shown during her and her child's recent illnesses, and describes plans for restorative…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 83
In which the virtuous Pamela, in her customary tenderness and prudence, recounts the felicitous state of her family and the complex matrimonial considerations…
- The Samuel Richardson Library
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Volume 2 Letter 84
In which Miss Darnford conveys the declining condition and final arrangements of Mrs. Jewkes with tender concern, whilst reflecting candidly upon the qualities…