Ocean State Libraries

"This novel, original published in 1748, tells the story of tragic story of Clarissa Harlowe, a young woman whose family has recently acquired wealth and wants to be part of the aristocracy. Pressured by her unscrupulous family to marry a wealthy man she detests, Clarissa is tricked into fleeing with the witty and debonair Robert Lovelace and places herself under his protection. Lovelace, however, proves himself to be an untrustworthy rake whose vague...

Based on the 18th century novel by Samuel Richardson, this is th original tale of fatal attraction and dangerous liasons. A wealthy young heiress, famed for her virtue, is sought by a man wishing to seduce and destroy her reputation. For the first time in his life he becomes genuinely infatuated with his prey, and sows the seeds of his own fate.

The first novel of English magistrate Henry Fielding, "Joseph Andrews" was written in 1742 as a complete extension of the author's pamphlet "Shamela". The latter contains an impressively coarse parody of "Pamela", the Samuel Richardson novel that rewards a servant girl with marriage for protecting her virtue. Shamela, however, utilizes a coy and artificial modesty to procure for herself a husband of wealth. Fielding went on to write "Joseph Andrews",...