'Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady - Volume 3' Summary

Clarissa Harlowe, a beautiful and virtuous young lady, is the tragic heroine of this story. Her family has become wealthy only recently and now desires to become part of the aristocracy. Clarissa's grandfather has left her a substantial piece of property upon his death, and a new route to the nobility opens through Clarissa marrying Robert Lovelace, heir to an earldom. However, James, Clarissa's brother, sees this as a threat to his own ambitions and attempts to force Clarissa to marry Roger Solmes, a wealthy but boorish man. Clarissa refuses, and a series of misunderstandings and betrayals lead to her tragic downfall.