Samuel Richardson’s New Nation: Paragons of the Domestic Sphere and Native Virtue

Samuel Richardson’s New Nation focuses on four novels, taking new and varied approaches in analyzing the construct of native English virtue and the role of the domestic sphere within eighteenth-century England. Ewha Chung not only examines Richardson’s use of such themes but also links the novels to historical developments that inevitably heightened the sense of English superiority so crucial to the age of imperialism. The powerful influence of Richardson’s literary nationalism inspired eighteenth-century readers in England and Europe. This work investigates the phenomenal investment in Richardson’s characters and demonstrates beyond question the far-reaching impact of his work.