Clarissa

Clarissa, published between 1747 and 1748, is one of the longest novels in English literature and a landmark of the 18th century. Written entirely in letters, it recounts the tragic life of Clarissa Harlowe, a virtuous young woman who struggles against her manipulative family and the predatory rake Lovelace. Samuel Richardson’s exploration of virtue, autonomy, coercion, and the consequences of societal pressures is intense and psychologically complex. Clarissa remains a monumental achievement in the history of the novel.