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A review by chluless
Pamela; Or, Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson
2.0
‘Pamela’ is an odd book.
On one hand, it’s absolutely brilliant for social history and studies on the formation of the popular novel. On the other hand, modern readers often find it tedious and disturbing.
What you think of this novel will depend entirely on your approach to it.
Personally, this is not a book I can read for fun, or at all. I hated it. My sympathy for Pamela herself was at war with my hatred for the book. Yet I can see the incredible value in Richardson’s work, and from a scholarship standpoint, I do have an appreciation for the work, and its meaning to the women who saw their situations on paper for the first time.
We must never forget that ‘Pamela’ was a wild success with its contemporary readers.
On one hand, it’s absolutely brilliant for social history and studies on the formation of the popular novel. On the other hand, modern readers often find it tedious and disturbing.
What you think of this novel will depend entirely on your approach to it.
Personally, this is not a book I can read for fun, or at all. I hated it. My sympathy for Pamela herself was at war with my hatred for the book. Yet I can see the incredible value in Richardson’s work, and from a scholarship standpoint, I do have an appreciation for the work, and its meaning to the women who saw their situations on paper for the first time.
We must never forget that ‘Pamela’ was a wild success with its contemporary readers.