What is Epistolary Novel

The epistolary novel is an old form of novel that uses letters written by
and between characters to tell the plot of the novel

Epistolary is one of the earliest forms of novel to be developed and

remained one of the most popular up ti the 19th cen.
The epistolary novel’s reliance on subjective points of view makes it in
advance of the
modern psychological novel.

- The self center of epistolary novel “i” afficte the structure of the
novel

Epistolary is considered as kind of realism novels

Exaggeration of the protagonist virtue

Pamela as epistolary novel

Samuel Richardson's Pamela; or,

virtue rewarded (1740), one of the
first
great English epistolary novels, is a
brilliant collection of thirty-two
letters (two,
which we do not see, are taken by
Squire B)
Pamela was widely popular in England and often
referred to as “the first
English novel.” In this...
The epistolary form is characterized by letter writing,
or sometimes
journal / diary entries, which provides insight into the
character’s
motivations and advances the plot. The epistolary
novel gained popular in
Britain during the 17th and 18th centuries and
marked the beginning of
the English novel, first noted with the publication of
Pamela, or Virtue
Rewarded in 1740.
.
Pamela was widely popular in England and often referred to as
“the first
English novel.” In this groundbreaking work, Samuel
Richardson,
1689-1761, examines the complexities of the eponymous
protagonist’s
life through a series of letters. Richardson employs the
epistolary form to
create an intimate setting where readers connect with Pamela
and rally for
her freedom. Through the epistolary form, readers experience
the
character development and the psychological realism
popularized by
Pamela and the English novel
Interestingly, Pamela was an experiment; however, Richardson’s success
with the epistolary form led him to write Clarissa, or The History of a
Young Lady (1748), a more complex exercise in epistolary writing. Later,
Richardson composed The History of Sir Charles Grandison (1753),
commonly believed to be the most dynamic of his three epistolary
novels.
More generally, epistolary novel writers often embraced topics of
morality
and sentiment in nature. Additionally, much epistolary writing addresses
domestic issues, owing a great deal to the private, intimate nature of the
form. Thus, many of the protagonists of epistolary novels are women and
the form opened one of the earliest avenues for women writers to gain
public recognition.
Pamela showcases themes of morality, virtue,
innocence, class struggle
and sexual politics.Virtue is, arguably, the most
important theme in the
novel, as alluded to by the subtitle. Ultimately,
Richardson rewards
Pamela’s virtue and, by the conclusion of volume
2, readers note the
power shift from Squire B to Pamela, whose
moral rectitude ultimatelyredeems her
character.