Pamela's Conduct in High Life
Author: John Kelly
Date: May 28th, 1741
Full Text
Just as Shamela was the first parody, this work is the first spurious continuation. What happened to Pamela? How is her marriage to Mr.B? Booksellers knew how absorbed Pamela fanatics were and that whatever book sought to answer these questions would sell well.
Pamela's Conduct in High Life was commissioned by bookseller Richard Chandler and written by John Kelly; it was styled and marketed as the “natural companion” to Pamela. The advertisement shows how the two works are presented as a cohesive unit.
Richardson was not only insulted but felt robbed of his character Pamela. He could not "own" his original work, or fix any unauthorized/harmful alterations of possible sequels- unless he establishes himself as the author. It is this publication that pushed him to do some damage control by finally declaring himself the oficial author of the original and promising to produce a sequel of his own. After this a brief advertisement war ensued between him and Kelly- each vying for attention while defending their authorship. Pamela in the Marketplace, the most recent study dedicated to this topic, explain that Richardson was on the defense because of two major elements of Pamela's Conduct.
Date: May 28th, 1741
Full Text
Just as Shamela was the first parody, this work is the first spurious continuation. What happened to Pamela? How is her marriage to Mr.B? Booksellers knew how absorbed Pamela fanatics were and that whatever book sought to answer these questions would sell well.
Pamela's Conduct in High Life was commissioned by bookseller Richard Chandler and written by John Kelly; it was styled and marketed as the “natural companion” to Pamela. The advertisement shows how the two works are presented as a cohesive unit.
Richardson was not only insulted but felt robbed of his character Pamela. He could not "own" his original work, or fix any unauthorized/harmful alterations of possible sequels- unless he establishes himself as the author. It is this publication that pushed him to do some damage control by finally declaring himself the oficial author of the original and promising to produce a sequel of his own. After this a brief advertisement war ensued between him and Kelly- each vying for attention while defending their authorship. Pamela in the Marketplace, the most recent study dedicated to this topic, explain that Richardson was on the defense because of two major elements of Pamela's Conduct.
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