Samuel Richardson

(1689 - 1761)

1. INTRO
Another one of the founding fathers of
English novel
Different character and different lit. figure
(compared to e.g. Defoe)

Modest, hardworking printer and publisher

First novel when he was 51

2. BIO
1689 Born in Derbyshire, one of 9 siblings,
father in trade
Father wanted Samuel to become a
clergyman, but due to poor financial state the
family put their children to trades
Grammar school in London, then (at the age of 17)
7 year apprenticeship as a printer
I stole from the hours of rest and relaxation, my reading
times for improvement of my mind

3. LETTERS
A crucial point for his literary career
Writing letters from his early years
At the age of 11, wrote a letter to a widow (50),
assuming the style and address of a person in
years, cautioned her about her actions
Shy and withdrawn as a boy, socialized with
young women with literary interests, reading to
them and discussing lit.
Helping others write letters, esp. girls answering
love letters

4. CAREER & PRIVATE LIFE

After the apprenticeship started his own
printing shop
Married the daughter of his former employer
Took on his own apprentices
His wife and 5 children died, married again
and had 6 children, 4 daughters reached
adulthood
No male heir to his business

 1733 wrote Apprentices Vade Mecum: or,

Young Mans Pocket Companion didactic,
intended to create a perfect apprentice
The idea that the apprentices are the focal
point for the moral improvement of society
Condemning popular forms of entertainment
(theatres, taverns, gambling)

5. THE FIRST NOVEL

In 1739 asked by 2 friends to write a little
volume of letters for those who could not
write them themselves (lower social classes)
Aside from introducing the formal models for
letters, Richardson introduces the ways of
thinking and acting in various situations
Various characters, situations and themes, e.g.
Love affairs, courting, employer apprentice
relations, etc.

 new: develops sets of letters with the

continuous story
1741 Letters written to and for particular
Friends, on the most important Occasions.
Directing not only the requisite Style and
Forms to be observed in writing Familiar
Letters; but how to think and act justly and
prudently, in the common Concerns of Human
Life

 Inspired by these letters, started working on

the case of a young and attractive servant girl
1740 Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (completed
in 2 months) the 1st English novel
1741 Pamela's Conduct in High Life, a sequel
Epistolary Novel

EPISTOLARY TECHNIQUE
Point of view of the servants, simple style,
practical moral advice, no romantic idea of love
Problems in writing: developing a story in a series
of letters
Detailed analysis of Pamelas thoughts and other
characters thoughts, but also the depiction of
the setting and circumstances
writing to the moment (characters writing all
the time)

Pamela vs. 1st person narrative

1. Not writing from memory, but writing down
the events as they happen (writing to the
moment)
2. Move to subjective perspective (as opposed
to the objective) and the principle of
selection (as opposed to the mass of details
and impressions)
3. Point of view (of one or several characters)

 The element of suspense not knowing what

will happen, maintaining the continuous
interest of readers (the same way he wrote the
novel)

FLAWS:
1.Plausibility of character (the way of writing has
to be adjusted to the choice of character,
Pamela poor and not educated)
2. Plausibility of technique (writing all the time?)

6. OTHER NOVELS
1747-48 Clarissa, or the History of a Young
Lady (mastered the technique): Clarissa and
Lovelace, plus 2 friends
Multiple perspective, 4 correspondents, 547
letters, over 1000000 words
1753-54 (The History of) Sir Charles Grandison
A virtuous male character, plus 2 female
characters (Clementina and Harriet)

7. SOCIAL ASPECT
Subjective experience not separated from social
setting & surroundings
From social point of view, Pamela might be
regarded as a democratic novel (the maid
breaking social barriers)
Pamela seen as Richardsons embodiment of
feminine virtue and feminine roles
Anti-Pamelas (e.g. Fielding Shamela, Joseph
Andrews; Coleridge) and the problem of moral
perspective

8. & ARTISTIC ASPECT

The first novelist to turn towards the
psychological (in portrayal of the emotional
reactions of the characters)
No deep psychological analysis, but achieves
psychological credibility
The possibility of identifying with the
characters? (emotional level)
Sentimentality
Entertainer vs. Artist?

9. The Importance of (being) Samuel

Richardson
1. Introduction of Epistolary Novel
2. Psychological aspect with focus on
sentimentality
3. Portrayal of female characters from lower
and middle classes
4. Moral instructiveness