Richardson Samuel

Richardson, Samuel (1689-1761), novelist, was born in Derbyshire and was the son of a joiner, but was of good descent, and was destined for the Church. His father, however, had not the means to carry out his idea, and he was apprenticed to printer in London, in his 17th year, having received but a slight education. His conduct during his apprenticeship was exemplary, and he was able to devote some time to study. He married' his master's daughter, and soon after started a printing business of his own. Through the influence of Onslow he obtained the printing of the Journals of Parliament. He gave such attention to his business, and was so industrious and enterprising in developing it, that he made it a great success, and this prevented him from appearing as an author until he was over fifty years of age. He was then induced to write by his booksellers requesting him to furnish them with a volume of familiar letters. He then decided to write Pamela in epistolary form, the story having been suggested to him by one be had not long before listened to. The first part appeared in 1740, and had been composed in two months. Two other volumes followed, and the whole work received the warmest praise from his contemporaries, Pope declaring it would do more good than twenty sermons. Clarissa Harloive, which is generally conceded to be Richardson's masterpiece, was published in 1748. Five years later his Sir Charles Grandison appeared, and was not so successful, its moral tone being somewhat over-emphasised. With the exception of an essay or two, it was his last work. Richardson was undoubtedly a great novelist and a great English writer, but his books are more talked about than read, being, in general, too tediously drawn out. They are illuminated by flashes of true sentiment and contain many fine scenes. His only personal fault was his vanity, and Dr. Johnson, a great admirer, tells us he did little else than talk about his works. His correspondence was published in 1803 in six volumes, with a life by Mrs. Barbauld.