Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson

Published in 1748. It tells the tragic story of a young woman, Clarissa Harlowe, whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family. The Harlowes are a recently wealthy family whose preoccupation with increasing their standing in society leads to obsessive control of their daughter, Clarissa. It is considered one of the longest novels in the English language (based on estimated word count). It is generally regarded as Richardson's masterpiece.

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.

At 1533 pages this might be a challenge for some to even finish in three months! Good thing our Archived threads stay open.

Any one in for an epistolary novel?

I've been working at the following edition: Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady , up to letter no. 57.
I read this about 15-20 years ago in a different edition, but looking forward to it just the same.

So the letters are the chapters Gilbert?

There are no chapters, just letters, each numbered 1 through 537. In this edition, for anyone's interest in the physicality of this brick of a book, the page is 9 1/4 by 5 3/4 and uses a very small (magnifying glass might help[) type face, so the average page holds about twice as many words as an ordinary page.

Gilbert wrote: "There are no chapters, just letters, each numbered 1 through 537. In this edition, for anyone's interest in the physicality of this brick of a book, the page is 9 1/4 by 5 3/4 and uses a very small..."

Oh dear!

Found this to be very interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnk0F...

Lesle wrote: "Found this to be very interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnk0F..."

I found it interesting also, Lesle. The speaker recommends getting the 4-volume Everyman's Library set (1932) and reading one volume per month. I'll be on the lookout for any volumes in used book stores!

I watched the Youtube (Booktube) video above, thanx, Lesle, for the recommendation.
Benjamin McEvoy has issued so many videos on Literature that are each valuable study tools to go along with many of our Goodreads readalongs.
There are several dozen bookaholics out there doing this kind of study, most of whom are clearly so knowledgable.

I've finished Clarissa (I'm a member of Benjamin McEvoy's book club). The everyman 4-volume version is much easier to work with - and carry! - than the Penguin single volume. It also gives the opportunity to take a break between the defined volumes.

Ben quotes Dr Samuel Johnson to read Richardson for the sentiment, not the story. There are sections where the story progresses rapidly but, predominantly, the novel explores the thoughts and feelings of a virtuous young lady (Clarissa, who is 19), her close friend Anna Howe, the libertine Lovelace (who is highly attracted to Clarissa but wants to test her virtue), and Lovelace's friend and fellow libertine John Belford, through their letter writing.

The letter-writing style allows us to see the changing emotions of these main characters, and their family and friends, and Richardson raises many psychological issues around morality, social status and expectations, and the attitude to libertines in the 18th Century.

I think Richardson shows an exceptional ability to write female characters and strongly influenced writers who came after him such as Jane Austen.

Gilbert wrote: "I watched the Youtube (Booktube) video above, thanx, Lesle, for the recommendation.
Benjamin McEvoy has issued so many videos on Literature that are each valuable study tools to go along with many ..."

That is the first time I ran across his videos. He is very knowledgable and I think would be helpful with these types of reads.

Tony wrote: "I've finished Clarissa (I'm a member of Benjamin McEvoy's book club). The everyman 4-volume version is much easier to work with - and carry! - than the Penguin single volume. It also gives the oppo..."

I was looking at his club site. Which one of the offerings did you join Tony?

I will need to look into the 4 volume as well. I might enjoy the read better and like stated would be easier to handle.

The positive that can be said about the Penguin edition is that between Clarissa and other jumbo reads my hands and arms have gotten stronger from having to hold them in readable positions.

Lesle wrote: "Tony wrote: "I've finished Clarissa (I'm a member of Benjamin McEvoy's book club). The everyman 4-volume version is much easier to work with - and carry! - than the Penguin single volume. It also g..."

Hi Lesle,

I have a Proust membership which is £19.50 per month. I joined last December and cut back on my TV subscriptions to fund it. It also freed up some time to increase my reading!

You get pretty much all his Patreon videos and podcasts at this level, and there is plenty of them. Ben is an excellent and supportive tutor, providing multiple videos for each novel and play. The in-depth information has really added to my reading and, for me, it has been a really good investment.

The 2022 schedule covers Wuthering Heights, Middlemarch, Moby Dick, Blood Meridian, Clarissa, Ulysses, Dracula and a pre-Christmas Charles Dickens novel TBD. There has also been a Shakespeare play per month, overview lectures/discussions on a variety of subjects (e.g. the Victorian novel, Literary allusions, the best openings to a novel etc), and some poetry and short stories.

You can also access all the back catalogue on Patreon, so I have the option to follow the videos for books such as Persuasion, Crime and Punishment, Anna Karenina and others.

Tony wrote: "(I'm a member of Benjamin McEvoy's book club)...."

Hello Tony!
That is the one I was looking at.
Scrolling through his yearly lists, found interesting mixture of reads.
His book choices for the desert island quite surprising.

Thank you!

Gilbert wrote: "The positive that can be said about the Penguin edition is that between Clarissa and other jumbo reads my hands and arms have gotten stronger from having to hold them in readable positions."

Nice way to look at it Gilbert!

Up to letter 159.
Very interesting read, epistolary style not withstanding. Just takes a little getting used to.

Making headway on this Mammoth, letter #217, page 696, almost halfway through.
Mostly back and forth letters, very little action.

Gilbert there are some reads like this one that scare me with the length and limited time that I cannot imagine fitting in till retirement.

I do not think I have ever read an Epistolary Novel. I think I would like to try one at some point.

I have several that you have read including this one to purchase. Which publisher did you choose for this one?

Lesle wrote: "Gilbert there are some reads like this one that scare me with the length and limited time that I cannot imagine fitting in till retirement.

I do not think I have ever read an Epistolary Novel. I t..."
This is the version I'm enjoying: Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady. If you go with this version, just keep in mind this is physically a huge volume in size and weight making it not the easiest to handle. The print is very small so you have almost twice the amount of words per page compared to just about any other book..

Gilbert wrote: "The print is very small so you have almost twice the amount of words per page compared to just about any other book...."

Well Gilbert not sure that helped! Small print...
Wonder if they have it in volumes to make it easier?

Originally, I'd owned a four-volume set I believe was an Everyman's edition. Otherwise, it may not be easy to find other than abridgements.

Gilbert wrote: "Originally, I'd owned a four-volume set I believe was an Everyman's edition. Otherwise, it may not be easy to find other than abridgements."

Thanks Gilbert for the suggestions. I will look into it. I want to purchase a good choice for later.

Up to letter 233, page 767. Half way. This requires a lot of concentration, but is well worth the effort.
Will keep on reading until the end.

Congratulations on sticking it out Gilbert!

Are the letters to herself or somebody else?

Letters are between Clarissa and her girlfriend, Anna Howe, Clarissa and her antagonist, Robert Lovelace, Robert Lovelace and his crony, John Belford, and so many long, LONG letters.
I can't imagine the amount of time spent writing these epistles. I guess time was longer back then.

Interesting that there are really long letters.
Days maybe dragged by giving time for detailed letters.

I saw an 8 volume book set but not sure about the money for such an investment.

Very tempting though :)

I'm at letter no. 307, page 986.
The more time spent with Clarissa, the further into the depth of characterizations by Richardson we go with introductions to additional kinfolk.
You read more, you want more.

I found the first two volumes in hard cover and purchased them!

May I ask which edition you were able to get? Up to which letter does your version contain?

Let me look....

The Modern Library 1950 with an introduction with John Angus Burrell who was an English Professor at Columbia University.
Both are around 700 pages with book being about 4x6 and normal font size.

The first book is sitting here at my arm chair in the living room. The letters are not numbered. The last one is "Translation of a Letter from F.J. De La Tour to John Belford, Esq. Near Soho Square, London.

The book has some minor notes in it. Usually one word. and lots of :-) so I think the person really enjoyed the letters. With some lines under small quotes.

My edition has the same last letter as yours.
Good reading!

Gilbert wrote: "My edition has the same last letter as yours.
Good reading!"

I have spot read some of the letters because of the owner before notes and smile faces. It will be an interesting and good read, I am sure.
Happy Reading Gilbert!

Made it to letter #413, Thursday August 17th (for those whose copy does not have letter numbers), page 1204 (the Penguin Classics edition).

Well, that's it for Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady.
Gotta say it's quite the story, seems almost never ending.
It's a shame the heroine doesn't make it, but is revenged on the villain in the end.
Next year on to: Sir Charles Grandison.

Sounds like Clarrisa's story goes on and on. I cannot wait to delve in at some point.

Not heard of Sir Charles Grandison...hmmm

Woohoo, I finished Clarissa! Of course, I was suffering from Covid and was stuck in bed for two weeks, but I really enjoyed reading this book … Mr. Lovelace was a truly fascinating character …

I downloaded the Kindle version for 99 cents … it was 1783 pages! …

I am sorry to hear you were down with Covid Abyssdancer.

Glad you enjoyed Clarissa!