Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady - Volume 1
'Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady - Volume 1' Summary
Robert Lovelace, a wealthy "libertine" and heir to a substantial estate, begins to court Arabella, Clarissa's older sister. However, she rejects him because she felt slighted by his more ardent interest in her parents' approval than in her. Lovelace quickly moves on from Arabella to Clarissa, much to the displeasure of Arabella and their brother James. Clarissa insists that she dislikes Lovelace, but Arabella grows jealous of Lovelace's interest in the younger girl. James, also, dislikes Lovelace greatly because of a duel the two had once fought. These feelings combine with resentment that their grandfather had left Clarissa a piece of land and lead the siblings to be aggressive to Clarissa. The entire Harlowe family is in favour of her marrying Roger Solmes, however Clarissa finds Solmes to be unpleasant company and does not wish to marry him, either. This makes her family suspicious of her supposed dislike of Lovelace and they begin to disbelieve her.
The Harlowes begin restricting Clarissa's contact with the outside world by forbidding her to see Lovelace. Eventually they forbid her to either leave her room or send letters to her friend, Anna Howe, until Clarissa apologises and agrees to marry Solmes. Trapped and desperate to regain her freedom, Clarissa continues to communicate with Anna secretly and begins a correspondence with Lovelace while trying to convince her parents not to force her to marry Solmes. Neither Clarissa nor her parents will concede. They see her protests as stubborn disobedience and communication between parents and daughter breaks down. Lovelace convinces Clarissa to elope with him to avoid the conflict with her parents. Joseph Leman, a servant of the Harlowe family, shouts and makes noise so it may seem like the family has awoken and discovered that Clarissa and Lovelace are about to run away.
Frightened of the possible aftermath, Clarissa leaves with Lovelace but becomes his prisoner for many months. Her family now will not listen to or forgive Clarissa because of this perceived betrayal, despite her continued attempts to reconcile with them. She is kept at many lodgings, including unknowingly a brothel, where the women are disguised as high-class ladies by Lovelace so as to deceive Clarissa. Despite all of this, she continues to refuse Lovelace, longing to live by herself in peace.
Book Details
Author
Samuel Richardson
England
Born into a large family, Richardson was baptised on 19 August 1689 in Derbyshire, England. The country, at this time, was in the midst of the Glorious Revolution. His father worked as a joi...
More on Samuel RichardsonDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
The Greenstone Door by William Satchell
The Greenstone Door is a historical novel, set between 1830-1860’s New Zealand. The main character, Cedric Tregarthen, is remembering his past, tellin...
Owen Wingrave by Henry James
A young man of good family with a long distinguished military tradition indicates that he will not follow his ancestors' path into the army. Dire resu...
The Markenmore Mystery by J. S. Fletcher
After seven years of silence, Guy Markenmore returns to his family home at Markenmore Court. Knowing his father Sir Anthony to be close to death, he i...
The Fairy Latchkey by Magdalene Horsfall
The book explores the complexities of family relationships, particularly those between mothers and daughters. The novel centers around the character...
The Girl From Malta by Fergus Hume
During a voyage from Australia to Britain, Ronald Monteith is fascinated by fellow-traveller, Lionel Ventin. One sultry evening, shortly before arrivi...
Helen's Babies by John Habberton
Helen's Babies is a humorous novel by American journalist and author John Habberton, first published in 1876. The book's full title is: Helen's Babie...
The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson by Anthony Trollope
Billed as a satire concerning the dishonest advertising and business practices of the day, it tells the tale of an upstart clothing business doomed fr...
Emily Climbs by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Emily Climbs is the second in a series of novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It was first published in 1925. While the legal battle with Montgomery's pub...
Not for the Night-Time by Theo Gift
The story follows the lives of two sisters, Ann and Dorcas, who are caught up in a web of family secrets and deceit. When their estranged brother retu...
The Outdoor Girls on Pine Island by Laura Lee Hope
It follows the story of a group of friends - Betty, Mollie, Amy, and Grace - as they embark on a journey to Pine Island, a secluded and mysterious isl...
Reviews for Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady - Volume 1
No reviews posted or approved, yet...