Samuel Richardson didn't start off as a writer. He actually started off as a printer, which means that he made his living off of the growing publishing industry of the day.

But Richardson became a superstar writer almost overnight when he published his first novel, Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. Richardson is especially known for developing the "epistolary" style in the novel, which is when a novel is written as a series of letters.

Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded

Poor Pamela is preyed upon by Mr. B, who is intent on having his raunchy way with her. In fact, he's so intent on having his way with her that he kidnaps her and locks her up in his house. Somehow, virtuous Pamela manages to withstand Mr. B, resisting his attempts again and again and again and again. (Have you seen the size of this novel?)

The novel tells the story of their developing, uh, relationship.

This is the novel in which Richardson first experimented with the epistolary form. Most of the novel is written as a series of letters that Pamela writes to her parents, but which also function like diary entries describing her thoughts and emotions.

Clarissa, or, The History of a Young Lady

Here's another epistolary novel by Richardson, this one telling the tale of another virtuous young lady. (Richardson really had a thing for virtuous young ladies.) Clarissa, like Pamela, is abducted by a baddy, Robert Lovelace, who tries to force her to lose her virtue.

Besides being notable for its epistolary style (the novel is made up of letters written by a number of characters), Clarissa happens to be one of the longest novels ever written. Yes folks, this history of a young lady goes on for over 1000 pages.

Take a deep breath. You can handle it.

Shmoops:

Richardson's Pamela was not only innovative in its use of the epistolary style; it also popularized the novel genre. Delve into the novel here.

In Clarissa, Richardson's epistolary approach gets even more complex. Get the scoop on the novel here.