Clarissa Chapter Summary & Analysis | Preface, Letters 1-10 dated January 10th through February 27th

Preface, Letters 1-10 dated January 10th through February 27th Summary

Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson is a novel that portrays the events leading up to the ruin of a virtuous eighteen-year-old lady. Despite her chastity being compromised, Clarissa maintains her honor by not yielding her will. She must learn to overcome the grief that attends this loss or allow it to kill her. Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady is an epistolary, coming-of-age story, teeming with examples of friendship, betrayal, honor and pride. It displays all that is good in humanity, as well as all that it bad.

The preface identifies this novel as a history composed of a series of letters, primarily between two sets of friends: two young ladies of virtue and honor and two gentlemen of free lives. Although the editor considered using a narrative format to shorten the length, it was...
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