A review by singalongjunk14
Pamela by Samuel Richardson

3.0

I read this book for my Rise of the Novel college class. We were instructed and taught accordingly as we read the entirety of the book (Vol I and II). I’ve never been a huge fan of epistolary novels, but I recognize the importance of the literary style in the early novel for sure. In terms of this piece, especially from a modern perspective, I did not appreciate the graphic nature of the approaches (those deemed “romantic”) towards Pamela and felt that the ending was disappointing. This is a long read and takes a substantial amount of time to complete. Though it does serve as a solid ground for discussion about early literature and the formation of the novel, I don’t appreciate Samuel Richardson’s way of communicating his views on virginity and purity through Pamela.