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A review by katykelly
Pamela by Samuel Richardson
4.0
One of the hardest books I've ever read - not because of difficult content or language, but sheer length and the inability to end!
My edition was 450 pages of minuscule type, no chapter breaks, thin paper. A mountain of a book to conquer, but I was determined I would finish this and be able to SAY I'd finished this.
It is worth it, such a famous and trend-setting novel. But it is frustrating for a modern reader to put themselves through.
In epistolary (letter) form, servant Pamela writes to her poverty-stricken parents of her trials beating of the advances of her (dead) mistress's son, her master, who takes a shine to the teenage employee.
Her faith, her pride, her horror of dishonour all conjoin in her letters to show us a determined young lady. Her master tries every trick in the book (outright physical assault, hiding in Pamela's room, through to kidnap!) but fainting, arguing and pleas for mercy fend off his attempts. Can Pamela's charms and determination outlast his ardour?
I did like this, but it DOES go on forever. It's hard to believe just what 'Mr B' tries in order to seduce/force himself on Pamela. And that she's successful for so long.
The story takes a turn partway and the pair emerge into a new relationship, one very much of another era, which is fascinating as much as it is hard to understand in this day and age. There are instances where I could see the influences on both Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, with lines, characters and plot-lines that their authors could have taken from Richardson's work.
The religion is hard to swallow for a modern non-believer, with one particular line about atheists both hilarious and offensive. A later plot about another woman is wrapped up remarkably quickly after all that has gone before. I found the turnaround of Mr B a little convenient, and got very tired of Pamela's dad weeping so very often. But I do understand that in the mode of writing at the time this would have been stylistically common.
This is a classic I'm really pleased to say I've read, but not one I'm likely to revisit. Certainly not a joy to read like Pride and Prejudice or Evelina, but a seminal piece of literary history.
My edition was 450 pages of minuscule type, no chapter breaks, thin paper. A mountain of a book to conquer, but I was determined I would finish this and be able to SAY I'd finished this.
It is worth it, such a famous and trend-setting novel. But it is frustrating for a modern reader to put themselves through.
In epistolary (letter) form, servant Pamela writes to her poverty-stricken parents of her trials beating of the advances of her (dead) mistress's son, her master, who takes a shine to the teenage employee.
Her faith, her pride, her horror of dishonour all conjoin in her letters to show us a determined young lady. Her master tries every trick in the book (outright physical assault, hiding in Pamela's room, through to kidnap!) but fainting, arguing and pleas for mercy fend off his attempts. Can Pamela's charms and determination outlast his ardour?
I did like this, but it DOES go on forever. It's hard to believe just what 'Mr B' tries in order to seduce/force himself on Pamela. And that she's successful for so long.
The story takes a turn partway and the pair emerge into a new relationship, one very much of another era, which is fascinating as much as it is hard to understand in this day and age. There are instances where I could see the influences on both Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, with lines, characters and plot-lines that their authors could have taken from Richardson's work.
The religion is hard to swallow for a modern non-believer, with one particular line about atheists both hilarious and offensive. A later plot about another woman is wrapped up remarkably quickly after all that has gone before. I found the turnaround of Mr B a little convenient, and got very tired of Pamela's dad weeping so very often. But I do understand that in the mode of writing at the time this would have been stylistically common.
This is a classic I'm really pleased to say I've read, but not one I'm likely to revisit. Certainly not a joy to read like Pride and Prejudice or Evelina, but a seminal piece of literary history.