Reviews

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

lindseyzank's review against another edition

4.0

This is the first competely epistolary novel I've ever read and I loved it. The letters kept me in suspense with what would happen next. The friendship between Anna and Clarissa is admirable and inspiring and the character of Lovelace as intriguing and complex as characters get. I would have given this book 5 stars, but there were stretches of time without Clarissa's perspective (the one I found most interesting and relatable to me)-particulary the rape scene; and some letters seemed unnecessary to the movement of the plot (and even to the movement of the psychological exploration of the characters). The first can perhaps be attributed to the abridged version, but the latter would not have been helped by the complete novel. I reommend this novel for anyone interested in human relationships, manipulation of these and raw, exposed emotion and motive.

_engy_'s review against another edition

2.5

sembrava impossibile e invece ce l’abbiamo fatta

t_m41's review against another edition

3.0

An extraordinary feat, but slow to the modern mind

paula12's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

christopher_shiprack's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

laurencatherine44's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

madisonkray21's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

aamnaua's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

meganperfect's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

oblivione's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5