# Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 1

**Author:** Samuel Richardson
**Tags:** England, Young women, Psychological fiction, Epistolary fiction, Kidnapping victims, Conflict of generations, Rape victims
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 38
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/96657

## Description

Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady – Volume 1 introduces the virtuous and admired Clarissa Harlowe, a young woman whose quest for personal autonomy clashes with the rigid societal expectations and avarice of her newly wealthy family. Driven by a desire for increased social standing, her family attempts to force her into a financially advantageous but unwanted marriage with the repulsive Mr. Solmes. As Clarissa staunchly resists, she finds herself increasingly confined and isolated within her own home, a prisoner to her family's tyrannical will and the jealousy of her siblings.

Amidst this desperate situation, the charismatic yet notoriously manipulative Robert Lovelace enters her life. Initially courting Clarissa's older sister, Lovelace soon fixates on Clarissa, seeing her virtue as a challenge to conquer. Through a clandestine correspondence, he exploits her fear of the forced marriage and her longing for freedom, orchestrating an elaborate scheme to persuade her into eloping with him under the guise of protection and honorable intentions. This foundational volume sets the stage for a poignant exploration of female agency, familial duty, and the perilous choices made in pursuit of freedom in 18th-century England, all told through a gripping exchange of letters.