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Natalie Wynn (Contrapoints)
“The first best-selling English novel ever was a romance published in 1740 by Samuel Richardson called "Pamela or Virtue Rewarded". "Pamela" tells the story of a virtuous 15-year-old girl named Pamela Andrews, who's employed as a maidservant by the wealthy pervert Mr. B, who repeatedly attempts to seduce her, kidnap her, sneak into her room at night. And the whole time Pamela is like, "Nay, I shan't acquiesce to this licentious rake. For my innocence and virtue are more dear to me than my life. And if the cost be my felicity, so be it. For I shan't subject my poor mother and father to the ignominy of-" In the end Mr. B is so impressed with Pamela's virtue that he reforms his rakish ways and marries her, which is supposed to be the reward, I guess, for Pamela's chaste behavior. It's a Cinderella rags-to-riches fantasy, with a Prince Charming who's not so charming.”