Quantity: 1

Auction Ends: 12/15/00

High Bidder: gfajuri@umich.edu

Seller: Ye Old eBay Web Masters

Seller assumes all responsibility for listing this item. You should contact the seller to resolve any questions before bidding. Auction currency is British pounds unless otherwise noted.

Written in 1740 by Mr. Samuel Richardson, this book, in its day, was something of a cultural phenomenon. This is your opportunity, dear bidder, to find out why. Though the novel was immensely popular, Richardson was severely criticized by those who thought his heroine (Pamela) a calculating tease and at the same time, the author's own morality to be dubious. The book, subtitled "or virtue rewarded," is written from an entirely novel (pun intended) standpoint - one where letters are being exchanged between a young woman (Pamela) and her parents, from whom she is apart. Innocent Pamela is being pursued by her master, and as a result, the contents of each letter she writes grow more and more fascinating as the book wears on. On the death of Pamela's mistress, Richardson relates, her son, Mr. B, begins a series of mild stratagems designed to end in Pamela's seduction, but, these failing, he abducts her and pursues her in earnest. Pamela manages to maintain and preserve her virtue. Mr. B offers marriage halfway through the novel. In the second half Richardson shows Pamela winning over those who had disapproved of the misalliance. She is a sadly perplexed girl of 15, with a divided mind, who faces a real dilemma because she wants to preserve her virtue without losing the man with whom she has fallen in love. Since Richardson wrote the novel from Pamela's point of view, it is less clear that Mr. B's problem arises from his having fallen in love with a servant, who, traditionally, would have been merely a target for seduction. Richardson grew up around the written word and made his living as a printer (rather successfully, I might add). With such experience at his fingertips, how can his writing be anything but lively? Despite being parodied by Joseph Andrews (his novel being called An Apology for the life of Miss Shamela), Richardson's slightly romantic tale told in a new and engaging fashion remains a pleasant diversion for those who care to take the time and nominal fee to secure a sound copy of the book like the one being offered for sale here. Richardson's novel was also attacked by Eliza Haywood. Originally printed in two volumes, one is being offered here for the convenience of the high bidder. Richardson went on to write other, more successful novels, including Clarissa: or the History of a Young Lady. Join a success story - bid on Pamela today! A picture of the author can be seen below.

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