Ordered the hardback of the first two volumes of this and am really looking forward to it. The “first reader” concept you brought up blew my mind. I’ve been lonely all my life partly because so many people around me discouraged my reading. This channel sees me better than I’ve ever seen myself.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Nice one :) The "first reader" concept is honestly one of my favourite things about reading the great books. And I completely relate to your sense of loneliness - a lot of readers here would! Thank goodness for the internet, where we can shamelessly indulge our love of literature with one another!

@user-bo1rj2xu2s

Жыл бұрын

You were discouraged from reading?? How awful, my friend. Reading....what a joy!

Today I finished reading Clarissa for the first time. The Penguin Classics addition along with the brilliant three volume Naxos audiobooks were my intimate companions for seven months. Challenging though it was at first, I became totally addicted and absorbed. For me, the psychological and emotional power of this book was that of a religious experience. Only Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Proust have moved me like this in the past. Samual Richardson now joins their ranks in my literary pantheon. Thank you for promoting timeless works of art like Clarissa!

Wow this is a really comprehensive dive into the book and historical and cultural context of the time. Your passion and knowledge for literature, really shows. I find booktube quite poor in quality content, so thanks for these great educational videos!

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, my friend. I really appreciate that :) I'm thrilled that there is an audience of deep-readers like yourself who enjoy these conversations as much as me!

I've always been daunted by the prospect of reading this book but I have to say, Ben, I'm sold now. You're an incredible teacher.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! That's incredibly touching :) I'd love to know what you make of Richardson's Clarissa. It's quite a ride!

When I was in high school during the late sixties, I managed to land a summer job on a landscape crew. We planted grass around newly constructed dormitories for Air Force personnel who were undergoing basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. The summer days were hot and the work was exhausting. I looked forward to my lunch break. One day, I discovered a dumpster full of letters which had been read and then discarded by the young soldiers. Most of the letters were from girlfriends and parents. Without anything else to do, I grabbed a handful of letters to read while eating lunch in the shade. This was my introduction to the epistilary form and its vicarious and somewhat guilty pleasures! These days, one would never find thousands of letters in a dumpster! What impressed me most was the sheer quantity of letters!

Have never been able to tackle Clarissa but you’ve (again) inspired me. Have you read Frances Burney? Her novel Evelina seems based on Richardson’s epistolary novel form. “Les Liaisons dangereuses”echoes Clarissa’s themes as well. I wonder if Richardson was an inspiration to de Laclos? Fascinated by your point that Richardson introduces the first example of “inwardness” in the novel form. Although not a novel, I think Augustine’s “Confessions” is probably the first example of inwardness in literature - if that can be considered literature. So appreciative of your videos. Benjamin - they have rekindled my love of literature.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

I'm so happy to hear that, Daniel. I would love to hear your thoughts on Clarissa. I read Frances Burney's Evelina during my second year at university, so it's been a little while - but, absolutely, when it comes to the history of the epistolary novel, Evelina and Les Liaisons dangereuses are both must-reads, along with Aphra Behn's 'Love-Letters'. Laclos' work has a number of significant similarities with Clarissa, and he was self-admittedly a huge fan of Richardson's work. I believe he thought Clarissa to be the most genius novel ever written. I've been meaning to reread Les Liaisons dangereuses for the longest time, so your comment has inspired me to do exactly that, Daniel :) Beautiful insight about Augustine's Confessions and inwardness. I've been working on a podcast for a while now about how literature can improve our relationship with God and Augustine's Confessions takes centre stage. Thank you for the amazing comment, my friend!

I have read the full, unabridged Clarissa twice, and listened to the audiobook twice. It's becoming a yearly thing. I don't know why, I just keep coming back to it as if it were my literary home. Even now when I read it, I also have to put the book down and brood about what I would do... at length. My first experience was... well, I backed into it. I saw Dangerous Liaisons (and adored it.) Then I read the novel D.L.... which mentions Clarissa twice. Then, I got hold of an abridged version (although I didn't realize at the time it was abridged.) Then I saw the mini-series with Sean Bean (ahem.) THEN, finally then, did I realize that I hadn't had the full experience, so I ordered that big Penguin monster and waded through it over the summer. Then I started teaching it to my Honors 9th graders. Heavily abridged, of course, but I did that for 5 years, and it was amazing the response I got from kids.

'Cumbersome' truly is the word to describe the Penguin Classics edition. Mine arrived in the mail today and I'm excited but it also hurt my wrist to hold it. But hey, if I don't like the book, I could use it as a weapon in case of burglary.

It’s truly a pleasure listening to you

@robynholliday4794

8 ай бұрын

Indeed

I am reading it right now, well, listening to the audiobook and I came across to this video and just wanted to thank you, because I've found it extremely clarifying.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Nice one, Ana :) Let me know how you find the story! I have the audiobook versions too, narrated by Samuel West and Lucy Scott, and they are fantastic!

This video is so inspiring. I started Clarissa right before you announced that you were going to read it this year. I got about 150 pages into it and loved it. I decided to wait for your read and to do it with you.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Jeffrey :) That's an incredible coincidence! I always find that the best reading experiences are grounded in a little bit of serendipity. I'm so thrilled to hear you're reading along with me - I'm very keen to hear your thoughts :)

Just discovered your channel a week ago and I wanted to say how much I enjoy your videos. Your passion and knowledge really shine through in them. I've been meaning to read Clarissa for a while now and will definitely start after watching this.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

Жыл бұрын

Aw, thank you so much :) You've made my day. I'd love to know what you think of Clarissa! Happy reading!

A phenomenal video, Ben! I've recently started the Proust Project and am awaiting my French copy to arrive so that I may do a deep read of both versions! I am excited to be taking a class on Chaucer this fall! I'm looking forward to your next video! Cheers!

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Canton :) Well done on starting your Proust Project! I'm so excited for you. Deep-reading the original and the translation is an incredibly impressive and rewarding endeavour! And Chaucer is one to really look forward to. I'm currently preparing a podcast on the Wife of Bath, one of my favourite characters in all of literature!

Thank you! I enjoy getting absorbed into your long videos. Ive been planning on reading Clarissa soon. This encourages me to begin.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Joshua :) And good luck with reading Clarissa! You can do it!

Ben, I hope you see this--because of you I am addicted to Richardson’s Clarissa, and many of his other works; I aspired to write like Melville, but now all I want to do is to be able to write like Richardson; and take the journey of Pamela & Clarissa many times over again in the course of my life; and it is all because of this video. I struggled to find a copy of the works(because, sad enough, he is under-read today and rarely on the shelfs) but luckily I found a beautiful Folio Society copy, and indeed it is the trophy of my library. God Bless.--And I hope thou seest this message.

I can't believe that you actually convence me to read another Richardson's novel! I read Pamela 3 years ago and suffer with it, but, I've to admit, I read too fast (basically for the plot, my mistake) - and, as a young woman, was hard get through the abuse scenes. However, after your view about it, I think he deserves another chance, a slow and appreciation read, with a 1500 pages book, oh lord, hope it works! Thank you so much for your content 💖 I wish I could enjoy your book club, but it's too expensive to me (by converting to brazilian reais). I follow the readings and stick around :)

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

I completely relate to that, Liandra. The theme of abuse in Clarissa is one of the things that makes the book difficult for me. It becomes overwhelming and I find myself needing to put the book now to catch my breath. I'm glad to hear you're taking on the challenge, and I would love to hear your thoughts on the book. Happy reading over in beautiful Brazil :)

I have discovered your channel today , and it is an absolute literary treasure. I greet your intellectual and knowledge-seeking spirit during an age where they have both become underrated. Can't wait to hear your opinion on Conrad' s novella "Heart of darkness" All the best

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Aw, thank you so much :) I really appreciate that, and am so happy to have you here reading with me! I'm planning a podcast on Conrad's Heart of Darkness at the moment, which will hopefully be out later this year :)

We learn that Joyce was more influenced by 18th century novel than 19th. Mostly by Sterne; who incidentally wrote sermons. And it is interesting to learn that Richardson and, of course - Fielding too, were all influences on Joyce and other modernists. Moreover - Benjamin, what are your recommendations concerning Pamela? I would like to start with that. I read that the two volume Everyman edition of P is "abridged"! And there is an Oxford paperback and older Penguin English Libr. edition. And now there is that outrageously expensive Cambridge - complete works. TY Benjamin..

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Anyone who is interested in deep-reading Joyce will have great fun if they return to the likes of Sterne. In regards to Pamela, Paul, I personally have the Oxford World's Classics edition, which is based on the original 1740 text :)

Benjamin, leia Machado de Assis, especialmente "Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas" e "Dom Casmurro". Machado é o maior escritor brasileiro de todos os tempos. Você vai gostar bastante.

The public taking to heart the lives of the characters in novels... In the U.S., people were anxious for the latest news of the characters in Charles Dickens' novels. Wikipedia: _"In America crowds waited anxiously at the dockside for the ships arriving from England to hear of the fate of Little Nell."_

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

People actually died at that dockside. As the ship came in with the latest instalment, many of them were bustled into the water... Crazy stuff. Apparently Dickens' readings were unlike anything the public had ever experienced - they went absolutely mad for his stories!

Wow thank you so much for the deep dive. I picked it up because Harold Bloom said it was one of his top books of all time. Going to take it a step at a time and soak in all the character psychology in the letters. Pretty cool how great of literary artist Richardson is despite his self proclaimed “moral” mission. The 4-volume set was harder to find in the USA but I snatched them on Amazon. I read that the third edition of the book incorporates Richardson’s numerous books edits after public response/criticism, whereas the first edition with Penguin is slightly “slimmer.” Not sure yet which one would be the better fiction though. Anyway thanks for the amazing channel and taking your fans on literary adventures!

Benjamin, this is the best set up for a book I have ever heard. 😳👍

Some helpful insights. The goodreads group Reading 1001 (focusing on the Boxall 1001 books lists) is reading Clarissa this year as our annual read, and I'm finally getting started. I am actually listening to it as Libravox audiobook recordings first, and then going back to the etext on Project Gutenburg for anything I need to revisit for discussions. I can crochet while listening, and sometimes imagine I am listening to my maid reading me the letters (ignoring for now how she would have come by them to be reading them to me).

@einahsirro1488

6 ай бұрын

Some of those Libravox readers are pretty funny. One of the fellows who reads Lovelace, I remember, was a scenery-chewing psycho who just got waaay too into it! LOL!

I first became aware of Clarissa when I read the chapter on Samuel Richardson in Harold Bloom's Novelists and Novels. Then I watched this video, and bought the novel (the Penguin doorstop edition). I'm about 120 pages into it. To my surprise, I find it compulsively readable, but at the same time, I dread going back to it, although I always do. Quite simply, I'm in love with Clarissa, and I'm horrified at the way she's being treated. I have an overwhelming desire to physically enter the book, smack her father and brother silly, and carry her off to a place where (under no obligation) she can take long walks, listen to Haydn and eat ice cream sundaes. And I get the impression that her troubles are just getting started! But Richardson is an amazing writer, and I'm determined to plough ahead. Thanks for inspiring me to take this long, sublime, sad journey.

@einahsirro1488

6 ай бұрын

So... how far did you get?

Você é uma das pessoas que mais admiro no mundo. Sua inteligência é muito inspiradora. Obrigado por nos brindar, a cada vídeo, com verdadeiras aulas de literatura!

I am so happy to have discovered this channel and other literature lovers! I am now inspired to read Clarissa one of these days.

Wow! Great video! I'm definitely joining the book club on Friday. I think this is precisely what I need in my life!!! :)

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Payten :) I'm so happy to hear that! You will be very warmly welcomed, and we look forward to having you reading with us 📚😊

Thank you, Clarissa was daunting and I often had to get away from it and I did get frustrated with the characters, but I'm glad I read it. I like to read collections of letters, especially the letters of Evelyn Waugh and Nancy Mitford. I did not find Tom Jones or Moll Flanders difficult, but Clarissa called for more dedication.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

I know exactly what you mean. After each volume, I need to put it down and catch my breath. I can't think of another novel where I have so intensely wanted to intrude and stop the characters from behaving the way they're behaving. I'll have to check out the letters of Evelyn Waugh and Nancy Mitford myself - their books are wonderful, particularly Mitford's 'The Pursuit of Love'.

This is a great video. We (my wife and I) have been Book Club members for a few months. The Moby Dick Series was fantastic. I just started Clarissa last weekend. I am reading the Penguin Classic edition while listening to the audio book. We are in Arizona. Very hot now (100 degree +) so staying inside the air conditioning and by the pool reading. I love this novel. I also picked up The Rise of the Novel by Ian Watt and a short biography of Richardson by Jocelyn Harris. Instead of going out last Friday night with my wife, I wanted to stay home and read. I think my wife is a bit jealous. I believe I'm falling in love with Clarissa

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. I'm so happy to hear you and your wife have been enjoying it :) I always love hearing that married couples are reading and enjoying these books together. Moby Dick was one of the works that I personally enjoyed the most, so I'm thrilled you found it rewarding! And it's great to hear you've picked up Ian Watt's tremendous work. Fictional infatuations are definitely a danger when reading these great books ;) I'm rather envious you get to enjoy these works around a pool in the hot weather. I lived in Arizona for a short time many years ago, and really miss the pool culture!

Thanks for another great video. .I haven't read Clarissa but I think I will give it a try . A few letters at a time sounds like a very good way of doing it. 📖 Will try to get the Everyman from my second hand bookshop.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching :) I'm so happy to hear you'll be giving Clarissa a try! Let me know what you think :)

I am a Master Student from Iraq, and it’s our preparation for Sunday THANK YOU

I rewatched the video today and made notes. I'm really fired up, but Benjamin is right, the Penguin is very small print. I shall go on with my Folio two volume set, until the Everyman editions arrive.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

That's so great to hear, Clare :) I'm fired up too! I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Can’t wait to start reading.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

8 ай бұрын

I would love to know what you make of it, Robyn :)

I read Clarissa a few years back; it’s a book I’d certainly consider reading again. Use to have the 4 bound volumes, but now, in ebook, only. Thanks very much, Ben, for saying great things about Clarissa! Really good, succinct, lucid comments on how to read this book.

A tip of the hat for your lively advice. I'm preparing a brief library review of Blakey Vermeule's "Why Do We Care about Literary Characters?" At eighty, I'll be suggesting to all the other geezers gathered to hear me two related texts: Lionel Trilling's short 1947 talk "Manners, Morals, and the Novel" and Charles Taylor's long 2007 tome "A Secular Age." Still more relevantly, they'll be given leave now to hear more practical advice from someone much younger and better looking. You've a great channel.

Thanks for this! Pamela was on my reading list at uni and I didn’t like it very much (I was incredibly annoyed by the plot), so when I heard Richardson had written an even LONGER novel, I thought, no thanks! But after watching the 1991 TV adaptation and listening to the 2010 radio play for BBC Radio 4, I was intrigued to read it for myself. My copy of the book is arriving in the post this week 😊 Thanks again for this really helpful info!

Just discovered this absolutely brilliant channel 👍☺️ You definitely deserve more subscriptioms bro! Amazing content! Thank you 💗 Subscribed!

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Giorgi :) I really appreciate that, my man :) I'm so happy to have you here!

I'm really enjoying your channel Benjamin having recently come to it via your talk about reading Proust. It's one of those long term projects that I hope to get around to. In fact I just expanded my collection of 1950s illustrated Proust published by Chatto and Windus from 6 volumes to 11. Just one volume to get when I spot one with the right condition and price. Having watched the Proust I also watched your vlog on Clarissa and it kind of jolted me because I had previously thought it was probably a very boring book. I downloaded the kindle sample and realised just how wrong I was. I knew that it would be a book I would cherish. I've only got a short way in so I don't know if it will be as droll as Humphry Clinker but I got this warm feeling already about it. I scooted around on Abebooks this morning trying to find an affordable 4 volume Everyman set but no dice. But then I went out today and passed the only secondhand bookshop in my city; it's ok but not great and I thought at best there might be a pb version but probably not very likely. But there on the shelves was the 4 volume Everyman! Published 1932. No jackets but only £2 per volume and beautifully clean inside. Snapped them up right away of course. They were meant for me. I love your presentation style. So infectious. I also just saw your Dickens collection today. Lovely those facsimile volumes. My entrance volume was also Pickwick Papers which I first read when I was about 14. My favourite scene is the duel scene brought about by an excess of misunderstanding. Thanks again for bringing this about with your enthusiasm.

I would really love that Everyman set you have, Ben. It looks great. I hope EL issues a new Clarissa set soon that I can add to my collection. I have that massive Penguin block and was shocked at the size when it arrived. I think I owe my postman a gift card for a chiropractic appointment. But thank you for your deep insights and your perspectives. You are a wonderful educator of literature and I cannot get enough of the material you put out.

Pleased to see you are attempting to bring this somewhat forgotten classic back into the spotlight.

You mentioned your love for rain sounds, and that makes me wonder why most readers l know, myself included, are obsessed with rain. Perhaps words and stream of consciousness are similar to raindrops in some way 🌧

I got my hands on the Penguin edition of Clarissa today. Getting ready to scale this literary mountain

@BenjaminMcEvoy

Жыл бұрын

Nice one! I wish you the best of luck :) Let me know what you think of it, Andrea!

Thank you for your wonderful sharing :) I have downloaded the 9 volumes of Clarissa ... gotta start off now ^^

It's really interesting. Compliments. The epistolary novel will be the topic of my thesis. Pamela and Clarissa by Samuel Richardson are the most important epistolary novels of the history. Thank you and greetings from Italy!

My copy came today. Im starting it this evening.

I took a course in the rise of the novel in which Clarissa was assigned. Somehow I managed not to read much of it and still get through the course--are there Cliff Notes? Since then, I have managed to read Proust's In Search of Lost Time, Melville's Moby Dick, and Boswell's Life of Johnson, so I feel more confident in taking on Clarissa, although I'm uncertain about gearing up just now. I thoroughly enjoyed your insightful, spirited and energizing talk! You are a born rhetorician!

Clarissa is longer than War and Peace? Why is War and Peace the only overly long book people talk about?

I came across Clarissa in Calvino's The Baron in the Tree, where a brigand trying to escape from capture, starts reading novels and eventually starts reading Clarissa, but he gets just before reaching the end of the book.

Hi Benjamin, added this work onto my kindle, thanks alot!!! I like to read popular mainstream genres, like thrillers and when you shared about how it would be like the Harry Potter of the 1700's that helps alot, and to imagine a really dull existence, and Clarissa being the most exciting thing there is. Looking forward to it.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

I find this idea to be incredibly exciting. It's such a great way of understanding the power of Clarissa. I always loved Colin Wilson's thought experiment of the clergyman's daughter captivated on a rainy afternoon :) I'm a huge fan of thrillers too, Jeff - I've stayed up late the last few nights tearing through some old favourites. Love a bit of escapism. Good luck with Clarissa! I'm looking forward to hearing what you make of it!

Have you read Pamela that was my favote.book. after the romance of the rose. By a different author.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Pamela was a big part of my second year university reading list - I had to write essays on that one :) Also a great work!

Ben, Thank you for this terrific lecture. I have two questions: 1) Have you listened to Naxos' recording of Clarissa? I consider Lucy Scott's reading to be without doubt the finest audiobook performance I have ever heard. Also Paul Panting and Teresa Gallagher as James and Arabella are positively Shakespearean villains in their exultant cruelty to their sister. 2) Do you feel that, in spite of its unfortunate size, the Penguin edition has an important advantage over other editions because it uses the the text of the first edition of the novel, which many experienced readers of Clarissa find superior (and shorter) to Richardson's emended version?

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Harold :) I have indeed listened to Naxos' recording of Clarissa. I have each volume in my Audible library, and would definitely agree with you on Lucy Scott's reading. The whole thing is an absolute joy to listen to. As for the Penguin edition, I think it's a tremendous edition to have. I'm personally a little laid back when it comes to which editions one should use. It would definitely be important for academics/writing dissertations, and I know many professors who have made their careers out of this, but for the majority of readers, getting into the work however they best can, I believe, is the most important thing - whether we're talking Richardson, Shakespeare, Homer, or any great writer.

Can you suggest anything from the historical fiction category …… Btw keep up the good work……love how your exude your feelings for each of your read

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you :) I really appreciate that. As for historical fiction, have you tried any Sir Walter Scott? His Waverley novels can be good fun! I'm also tempted to recommend one of my favourite works: Victor Hugo's Les Misérables :)

@chinmaysharma5202

2 жыл бұрын

@@BenjaminMcEvoy not Sir Walter, but i read CJ Sansom, Umberto Eco (very erudite and still find it difficult to understand his books) and Dan Brown

I loved this video. I actually really want to read Clarissa now lol

@BenjaminMcEvoy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Paige :) You should totally read it! And let me know what you think :)

@paigem7048

2 жыл бұрын

@@BenjaminMcEvoy At the moment I have a lot of books on my TBR and a few of them are quite long, so I don't know if I'll get to Clarissa this year but I'm definitely interested in trying it out in the near future :)

Great video! I found a second hand Folio Society edition of Clarissa, which I read. I think Lovelace is one of the best written villains ever. Denis Diderot wrote a text which was a love letter to the novel Clarissa, but I don't know if it was translated into English. If you are interested in the psychology & Philosophe of the libertine, you have Kierkegaard's first volume of Either/Or, which is an absolute masterpiece. It contains several texts including "The Immediate Erotic Stages" (which an analysis of Don Giovanni), and "The Seducer's Diary", which is about a libertine who wants to seduce a woman not only physically, but also emotionally to the extent that he becomes the sole reason for her to live, in other words, he wants to take the place that God should have in the girls life. It is amazing.

Thanks for your videos. I wanted to ask for your advice about reading Shakespeare. Recently I read Macbeth but English is not my first language it is even my third language so I read it with a Persian translation. Some places where I had difficulty in understanding so I would turn to Persian translation. I wanted to ask if you think it is a good idea to read Shakespeare’s plays with a translation from our language or with a modernized English version just for referring in difficult parts? Do you think we can maximize the pleasure of reading Shakespeare this way? Thank You

@sarahtalone6251

2 жыл бұрын

Good question! I have Hamlet and The Tempest both in my first language (portuguese), but keep procrastinating reading Hamlet specially because I'm not sure if the experience of the translated work will undermine the impact of the story/play, overall.

@ilikechineseteaespeciallyj7262

2 жыл бұрын

I'm British with English as my first language, but I actually did use some documents which had modern translations running parallel to Shakespeare's original writings. This was only when I was a young teenager, and familiarising myself with the old English, but I think that it goes to show that there is no shame in using a translation, and it is actually quite necessary for the learning process. Good luck in your journey for educating yourself; it's very comendable!

@aliasshaheer9868

2 жыл бұрын

@@sarahtalone6251 I read Macbeth in old English but I used the Persian and a modernized English whenever I faced problems in old English and I quite enjoyed I think. But because I’m new to Shakespeare I wanted to know others opinions that how I can maximize my understanding while reading Shakespeare as a non native English speaker.

@aliasshaheer9868

2 жыл бұрын

@@ilikechineseteaespeciallyj7262 Thank you. I also read Macbeth in old English but used Persian translation and modernized English translation only for parts that I thought were a little harder to grasp. Because I’m new to Shakespeare I wanted to know others experience and advice for reading him. Thanks for your advice.

@sarahtalone6251

2 жыл бұрын

@@aliasshaheer9868 thanks for the reply. I'll look into the translation and give it a chance!

Finished the book, indeed a classic, on a par, as you say with Cervantes, and in its own way just as graphic as Cormac Mccarthy's Blood Meridian: nevertheless exquisite prose and brilliant characterisation makes it a compelling read. Thank you Ben once again for recommending these jewels.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

Жыл бұрын

Wow! Congratulations on finishing Clarissa, Keith. That's an incredible achievement. I'm sure you will find it difficult to move on to another literary world after being so immersed in Richardson's!

@keithlongley362

Жыл бұрын

@@BenjaminMcEvoy Thanks Ben, I can't thank you enough for introducing me to these great works!

I started Clarissa within the last few years but found it very emotionally distressing and stopped at around letter 30. As you say, the characters feel real, and so the emotional abuse and Clarissa's distress felt unbearably real to me. You used the word sublime, which I think is appropriate, considering that in the 18th century sublime basically meant terrifying. (Do people really find this book boring? I can't even begin to understand that.) Well, I will give it another go someday.

@callimas

Жыл бұрын

Probably the edition does make a difference. I have the enormous, tiny-font Penguin brick which is just horribly unwieldy. Searching online, the only complete sets of the Everyman's edition I have found at the moment are going for FIVE HUNDRED (American) dollars.

@BenjaminMcEvoy

Жыл бұрын

I'm not surprised you stopped, Brian. Clarissa gives me a chest-tightening, claustrophobic sense of all-consuming dread... Readers all over the country were distraught by this book. Many simply had to fling the book down. Richardson's 'reality effect', coupled with the tragic nature of the story, was too much for many readers. I'd love to hear what you make of it when it give it another go - past letter 30, it only gets more emotionally exhausting, I'm afraid...

@callimas

Жыл бұрын

@@BenjaminMcEvoy Have you read Charles Grandison?

To be quite honest, the length is daunting. Would you please help me with this problem: when I'm reading a long novel, and people repeatedly ask me what I'm reading at the moment, It can feel as though I'm in a stagnant place when compared to my peers even if I am reading rather a lot volume-wise? What should I say/do - I am a very vain and self-conscious person and don't like feeling judged for being "behind" as such.

@dalmoe

2 жыл бұрын

You can just say how many pages you’re into the book. Another even better route (in my opinion) would be to read other books at the same time. I find it much easier to finish large books if I read them at a slower pace while I’m reading other smaller books.

@ilikechineseteaespeciallyj7262

2 жыл бұрын

@@dalmoe Mmm, thats a good solution. However I did seem to find that reading a few things at once can have the effect of disolving my intrest in the larger work.

@aliasshaheer9868

2 жыл бұрын

I know what you mean. I was also like this in the past, I would read a book to finish it and it would become mental toll on me to why I can’t read faster. I had a teacher who I studied with the poetry of Eastern Philosopher Muhammad Iqbal. He was a fantastic reader with a large library but would read a book very slowly and annotted and would go back and read a book two or three times some even more. I learned from him not to read books to finish it but to understand it. And it differs from people to people and book to book. Right now reading books became a trend people read books not to understand something but to show off (at least from where I am) and it will damage those people who wants to read for understanding but when they see others that read fast they become self conscious that if there is a problem in my reading. There is no problem in reading slow. And don’t care about others. I know that by me saying don’t care it will not help you much, but if you think about why you read and your objective of reading. Maybe it will help you not become self conscious of what others are saying.

@thomaslowry7079

2 жыл бұрын

What an interesting comment! I have never felt self conscious about reading but I rarely read around other people. I feel self conscious about my physical appearance but not about reading.

What a book! Well worth the challenge, and an easier read than Henry Feildings Tom Jones.

Those 4-volume Everyman editions aren't so easy to find! Everyone's selling single pieces instead of the four together... Do you know if the Folio Society edition is unabridged? Or alternatively... where to find a four volume Everyman...

Have it translated into Uzbek 😃I can't find 😟

Oooooh

I am sure it was seen as incredibly subversive and provocative and had sermons warning against it just like some fundamentalist preachers condemned Harry Potter. One book with I think most literature academics have discounted as an important precursor to many English novels is John Bunyan's allegory 'Pilgrim's Progress' which still remains a best seller.