of five acts written in verse, and
takes its subject matter from Greek
mythology that had already been
explored by the classical dramatists
Euripides and Seneca. Racine’s
play portrays the incestuous love
of Phèdre (Phaedra), married to
the king of Athens, for her stepson
Hippolyte (Hippolytus) who,
shocked and in love with another
woman, rejects her advances.THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES
(1678), MADAME DE LA FAYETTEThe Princess of Cleves by French
author Madame de La Fayette
(1634–93) appeared at a time when
women could not openly declareauthorship, and was published
anonymously. Seen as the first
novel to explore the psychology of
character, events take place at the
royal court of Henry II of France,
which La Fayette reproduces with
historical accuracy. Her heroine,
the Princess of Cleves, suppresses
her love for a young nobleman, but
misunderstandings and court
intrigues damage her marriage.GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
(1726), JONATHAN SWIFTAn influential satirical novel by
Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift
(1667–1745), Gulliver’s Travels is
narrated by ship’s doctor Lemuel
Gulliver, who visits various fantasy
regions: Lilliput, where inhabitants
are six inches tall; Brobdingnag, a
land of practical giants; Laputa,
a flying island; Glubdubdrib, the
Island of Sorcerers; and the land of
the Houyhanhnms. Humorous and
fantastical, Swift’s novel lampoons
travel books and pokes fun at much
of contemporary society, satirizing
political parties, religious dissenters,
scientists, and philosophers, as well
as mocking small-minded attitudes.CLARISSA
(1747–1748), SAMUEL RICHARDSONClarissa, also titled The History of
a Young Lady, is an epistolary novel
by Samuel Richardson and,
at over a million words, is one of
the longest novels in the English
language. It traces the tragic
history of the virtuous heroine,
Clarissa Harlowe, who is rejected
by her family and abused by the
unscrupulous Lovelace. Events are
recounted mainly through a four-
way correspondence of lettersbetween Clarissa and her friend
Miss Howe, and Lovelace to his
friend John Belford.TOM JONES
(1749), HENRY FIELDINGA comic novel by English writer
Henry Fielding (1707–54), Tom
Jones (originally titled The History
of Tom Jones, a Foundling) is one
of the earliest works to be defined
as a novel. It follows the adventures
of the eponymous hero, a foundling
who is brought up by the wealthy
Squire Allworthy, and his pursuit of
the virtuous Sophia Western. Rich
in coincidences and misadventures,
the novel makes a moral point in
highlighting differences between
the lusty but essentially well-
meaning Tom Jones, and his
hypocritical half-brother, Blifil.TRISTRAM SHANDY
(1759–1767), LAURENCE STERNEA bawdily humorous novel, The Life
and Opinions of Tristram Shandy,
Gentleman, by Irish clergyman and104 FURTHER READING
I wish either my father or
my mother, or indeed both
of them, as they were in duty
both equally bound to it,
had minded what they were
about when they begot me.
Tristram Shandy
Laurence SterneSamuel Richardson
A true man of letters, English
novelist Samuel Richardson
was born in Derbyshire in
1689 and is best remembered
for developing the innovatory
epistolary novel, in which the
story is told through letters.
Moving to London, where he
had only a meager education—
something that would always
trouble him—he became a
master printer. Richardson’s
domestic life was tragic: his
first wife died, as did his six
children, and he married again.
He was 50 when he wrote his
first novel, becoming a popular
and respected author. He died
in 1761 of a stroke in London.Key works1740 Pamela: Or, Virtue
Rewarded
1747– 48 Clarissa (see right)
1753 The History of Sir Charles
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