a Harlowe

"Clarissa Harlowe," written after "Pamela," brought Richardson
a European reputation. The first four volumes of the novel
appeared in 1747, the last four in 1748, and during the next
few years translations were being executed in French and
German. Like "Pamela," the story itself is thin and simple,
but the characters are drawn with a bolder and surer touch.
"No work had appeared before," says Scott, "perhaps none has
appeared since, containing so many direct appeals to the
passions." Yet opinions were singularly divided as to its
merits. Dr. Johnson said that the novel "enlarged the
knowledge of human nature."

_I.--At Harlowe Place_

CLARISSA is persecuted by her family to marry Mr. Roger Solmes, but
favours Richard Lovelace, who is in love with her. That her grandfather
had left Clarissa a considerable estate accounts mainly for the
hostility of the family to Clarissa's desire for independence.

Clarissa writes to her friend, Miss Howe:

"_January_ 15. The moment, my dear, that Mr. Lovelace's visits were
mentioned to my brother on his arrival from Scotland he expressed his
disapprobation, declaring he had ever hated him since he had known him
at college, and would never own me for a sister if I married him.

"This antipathy I have heard accounted for in this manner:

"Mr. Lovelace was always noted for his vivacity and courage, and for the
surprising progress he made in literature, while for diligence in study
he had hardly his equal. This was his character at the university, and
it gained him many friends, while those who did not love him, feared
him, by reason of the offence his vivacity made him too ready to give,
and of the courage he showed in supporting it. My brother's haughtiness
could not bear a superiority; and those whom we fear more than love we
are not far from hating. Having less command of his passions than the
other, he was evermore the subject of his ridicule, so that they never
met without quarrelling, and everybody siding with Lovelace, my brother
had an uneasy time of it, while both continued in the same college.

"Then on my brother's return he found my sister (to whom Lovelace had
previously paid some attention) ready to join him in his resentment
against the man he hated. She utterly disclaimed all manner of regard
for him.

"Their behaviour to him when they could not help seeing him was very
disobliging, and at la